NHL 2004

by Black Box

Product Features

• Play as any of 39 international teams, as well as any team in the NHL
• All-new control system for a better passing game and specific checking
• Scaled players give you a better sense of scale -- watch as huge defensemen try to stop smaller, quicker wings
• Power-up your checks and watch as your men go across the ice -- but be careful, the more checking you do, the more fighting you'll start
• You can actually control fights now -- decide to end it quick or keep it going by pressing a button

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00009X3VK
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 7.5 x 0.8 inches ; 4 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: September 22, 2003
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,670 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Platform: Xbox

From the Manufacturer

It's been called the Fastest Sport on Earth -- and the faster the players, the tougher the contact. NHL 2004 brings professional hockey to life like never before, with crisp passes, searing slap-shots, and a variety of new ways to check your opponent to regain control of the puck. With the addition of international leagues and a Dynasty Mode that lets you build a powerhouse, NHL 2004 is the hockey fan's dream come true.

Product Description

NHL 2004 brings in a new world of hockey action as you try to take your favorite team to the Stanley Cup! Try your luck as a General Manager -- control every aspect of your team, and see if you can lead them into history!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazed....Ignorance, November 30, 2003

By 

John Mitchell (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: NHL 2004 (Video Game)

First off, let's explain what was wrong with last year's NHL 2003. The game lacked any element of realism, the scores were constantly in the double digits, and the hitting was oh-too-easy. Real NHL games do not contain 75 hits per team. After last year's disaster of a game, this year's installment was a breath of fresh air.

This year, EA dumped the silly arcade hockey idea, and decided to create a "hockey-sim." Genius. To achieve this, they had to add something that last year's game also lacked: difficulty. It's harder to get a shot off, it's harder to get a breakway, it's harder to hit. Strangely enough, people seem to dislike this. They can't stand a realistic hockey game. If you want arcade thrills, try NHL HitZ. If you want near perfect hockey realism, try NHL 2004 or ESPN.

Remember: This is an NHL, I repeat, NHL game! In case you haven't noticed, the NHL is not easy. You don't see 5 breakaways a game, and you don't see bonecrushing hits every 3 seconds. Sure, this game has its flaws. The AI is sometimes slightly unrealistic, but I would rather an unrealistically hard AI than an unbelievably retarded one. The controls are a bit unusual, but anything worthwhile will take time.

LACE THEM SKATES UP AND BUY THIS GAME

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars NHL 2004 - Where is the checking?, November 3, 2003

By 

Will Velasco (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: NHL 2004 (Video Game)

I own NHL 2001 to 2004. I had no complaints for the change to 2002. When I played 2003 it was a little weird but after playing it a bunch of times, it wasn't bad at all. The only problem was the player control...sometimes you would spin 3 or 4 times around the puck before anyone would get it. 2004 fixed all that, it improved on everything, it had a whole new deeking system and board action which is very cool. 2004 is pretty good in the long run but has a few problems. When the computer is coming up to the net my defenders skate away from the player, then after the opposing team passes him, my defender chases them. Another problem is the controller. You arn't allowed to use the game pad to skate with which was huge for me. A small thing is in the menu, when you are choosing teams, unlike all other EA Sports NHL games where you pick a side, then choose a team, you go over to one side, pick that team, go to the other, pick the other team (the game also doesn't remember what teams you play with, it always has ANA @ NJ as the default, which is annouying), and then in the following screen you choose your side, its not that much of a big deal but when you are playing 4 player it gets annouying. And last but not least, the worst part of 2004 is the checking! I use to step up and level guys on the dime. I use to check almost everyone in all the old games. In 2004 I get a good check probably 1/15 times I try to check. The auto check varies from where you are and isn't too powerful, and bruise control is just terrible. First you push the right joystick down, then move it in the direction of the guy you wanna hit. I miss all the time. It sucks. If I were you I would wait and try NHL Rivals 2004.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Difficulty is adjustable, so fun for all, December 12, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: NHL 2004 (Video Game)

I don't necessarily think that realism should be the end goal of video games, but the difficulty is adjustable, which is not documented very well in the manuals. You can "boost" your team at the selection screen making them faster and your goalie better. So play a realistic game of dump-and-chase grinding it out in the corners or have 10 breakaways and 20 one-timers a game, it's up to you. Either way, the game looks and sounds great and is a lot of fun.

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