NHL 2K2

by Sega

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005T7ZO
• Item Weight: 5 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: February 12, 2002
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,242 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

It's a shame that the Dreamcast went the way of the dodo, because by the end of its reign it was the undisputed king of sports titles, as games like NHL 2K2 prove. This sequel to Sega's NHL 2K improves on its flawed predecessor in every way to emerge as arguably the best overall hockey simulation on any platform.

The key word is simulation. There are no arcade trappings to be found here. The pace is toned down to match the speed of the real sport, goals are infrequent and hard-won, and the offensive and defensive strategies come straight from the hockey textbooks. The graphics are excellent, and special note must be made of the phenomenal animation for everything from the players to the spinning puck (which flips end-over-end after particularly aggressive slap shots and careens realistically off any object it encounters). Beginners will have an easy enough time warming up to the controls in the default mode, but much more depth is offered by switching to the advanced control layout. Here, button combos make nearly any trick possible, from dekes and precise shot control to hooks and side steps. The more you put into the game, the more it rewards you, and the enhanced AI makes single-player games nearly as challenging as a multiplayer match.

Everything from an exhibition mode to a full-blown career mode is offered, and plenty of options exist for adjusting penalties, toggling rules, and setting the overall speed of the game. There's no way to turn it into an over-the-top arcade experience like NHL Hitz, but as the focus here is strictly on simulation, that's not really a problem. As it stands, NHL 2K2 is among the best sports games ever released, and we can think of no more fitting swan song for the Dreamcast. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Lifelike animations, realistic physics, and a focus on simulation bring the game of hockey right into your home
• Incredibly tough AI offers a consistent challenge
• Advanced control mode gives expert players more options than ever

Cons:

• Graphics overall are not as sharp as those found on Xbox or GameCube
• Sound--especially crowd noise--is lackluster

Amazon.com Product Description

NHL 2K2 for Dreamcast features all-new gameplay modes, a revamped graphics engine, and an improved player and team AI. You will have tighter and more detailed control than ever before: control whether you use your finesse skater to avoid the crushing checks of the defense or bring in your own intimidating checking line to loosen up the opposition. Shadow the other team's best player with your defensive specialist and protect your star with your enforcer. Fight along the boards to dig out the puck or fight against the other team's enforcer man-to-man. Use franchise mode to take a struggling team to the Stanley Cup finals by building up slowly through the draft or choose to win right away through crafty trades and free-agent signings. International teams allow you to have your own tournament to see which country rules the hockey roost.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sega shoots and scores with NHL 2K2, February 18, 2002

By 

ffootballguru27 - See all my reviews

This review is from: NHL 2K2 (Video Game)

NHL 2K2 is a huge improvement over NHL 2K and is also the best game out there for the Dreamcast system. This game is very realistic. It has every NHL team from this year witht he rosters updated from just 2 weeks before the release plus it includes every Olympic hockey team for this years Olympics. After I saw the crushing loss in the Gold Medal game I put in this game and played Canada vs. USA. The rosters are exactly right and the gameplay is amazing.

At first when I got this game I thought it was pretty unrealistic and dumb because I had ties in my first 3 games (0-0, 0-0 and 1-1). I was very mad, but since then I am 13-6-7.

The announcing in this game is very realistic and better than most other Sega Sports games. One announcer gives play-by-play while the gives color commentary and gives you a lot of tid bits about each team as you play them.

The gameplay is excellent. Rookie level is somewhat challenging in your first 10 or so games, but then if you switch to Pro levela nd play for a while it becomes like all other Sega Sports games, hard sometimes, easy others. The teams jerseys are very realistic and all the rookies and recent trades are on there. You can sign, trade and release players jsut like in the real NHL.

I refused to buy NHL 2K after I bought my Dreamcast because it was [less money] 2 years after it's release, so I couldn't wait for this game to come out. It sure was worth the wait. This is way better than NHL 2K, but also better than a comepting game, NHL Hitz. If you own a Dreamcast and want to get a PS2 don't. This game is way better than NHL 2002 with more updated rosters and Olympic teams and rookies, plus it cost way cheaper than PS2 games.

This game adds to all the other great 2K2 titles like NBA, NFL and Tennis. Don't relent to buying this just because it is released so far into the season. Because it was released so late is actually a plus in some ways. More updated rosters, Olympic teams and newer rookies that wern't on the opening day rosters such as the WIld's Nick Shultz.... This game is way better than NHL 2K and I reccommend buying this. If you love hockey I say go out to the store and GET this game.... 5 stars baby! BEST game on the Dreamcast! I have loved every Sega Sports game since I bought a Dreamcast and this game makes me love them even more.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best 2002 Hockey Game on the Market, March 12, 2002

By 

Silly's Pizza "kram234" (Hicksville, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: NHL 2K2 (Video Game)

This is a very realistic NHL simulator for the Dreamcast. The graphics are amazing, you'll forget its just the Dreamcast you are playing. If you want the real thing, get NHL 2k2. EA's NHL 2002 is too arcady with the player boost and all that sillyness. NHL Hitz is 4 on 4 hockey that isn't even NHL style. Since I don't know if ESPN's 2002 hockey game will ever come out, and if 989's will be any good, this is my 2002 NHL game. I did a season with the Islanders and I was 29-4-8-1 and won the Stanley Cup (on the rookie default mode, I am doing another halfseason on medium soon). The sound is fairly decent, the commentary is OK, except that the commentary is repeated eveyr single game of the season, i got a little sick of "The Islanders have good young players, but they need veterans to show the kids the ropes" every single game I played, sometimes twice or thrice in a game. Unless you like arcady, non realistic, non NHL style hockey, get NHL 2k2 for your Dreamcast.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exceeds NHL 2K in almost every way, April 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: NHL 2K2 (Video Game)

I'm biased--my favorite sport is hockey. So I love this game, just like I loved NHL 2K. What's so good about this game? The hockey is realistic, you can play with international teams (and beat Canada), the puck actually looks like it's on the stick (unlike 2K), additional shot, pass and coaching options, and the goalies are stingy (unless you're playing rookie). The bad--don't look to the announcers to add to the game.

In NHL 2K, even on 'all-star'-fast, you could skate circles around the opponent (Hey, I was the Sharks, they're not that great), do a one-timer and put the puck in. Again and again. If you try to skate circles around the opponent in 2K2, your back will be glued to the ice and you'll here something like "he must be wondering why he didn't hear the train coming." Trust me.

The only real disappointment was the announcing. Different announcers than 2K, but they must read the same script as before. Only in this version, they emphasize the hits. A LOT. Maybe that's just because I keep hitting hard--or getting hit :-(. There is depth to the game--more coaching options, more puck handling and defense options. And don't forget about creating your own players. Nothing like scoring a goal with your last name on the jersey. Just DON'T CHECK my man.

I would highly recommend this game if you love sports on the dreamcast and don't mind a challenge or getting bruised a little.