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NHL 2K3 for GameCube Videos >>
Summary Outstanding. While most review sites rank gameplay, graphics and sound separately, I believe graphics and sound only matter if the gameplay is good. Having said that, this is the best hockey game I have ever played by a long shot. For anybody who enjoys playing sports games head to head against another human opponent, this is the game for you. So many games have glaring faults than can be exploited over and over again, not so with NHL2K3. The game play is shockingly realistic and challenging.If you are a fan of hockey or head-to-head sport games, you will love this game. Sound Sound is good. The sound of skates against the ice is cool. Everything seems about right. This is not hugely important feature to me, so I can't really compare it to others.Gameplay Realism is unbelievable. While some of the obvious things have been mentionned in other reviews. I will add some subtle elements of gameplay that make this a great gameGoalies: Unreal! This is the most impressive part of the game. This is the only hockey game that has ever incorporated realistic goaltending. They found the fine balance between strong goaltending, and ridculously strong goaltending. Its hard to score, but not impossible and deflections, one timers etc... all improve your chances as they should. Very impressive goalie positioning and reaction. Passing: No longer can you blindly feather a pass through 4 defenders like EA games. If you're going to pass, make sure you have clear path. Makes cross ice one timers more challenging and therefore requires creativity when breaking into the offensive zone, to free up an open man for a clear shot. Blocked Shots: If you shoot from the point, with a defenseman, opposing forwards WILL try to block your shot and if they are successful, it will lead to an odd-man rush. Strategy: Strategy DOES matter and will have a huge impact on the game. Whether you choose an aggressive forechecking strategy or conservative defensive strategy, know that it will have a huge impact on the game. The AI and physics of the game make strategy choices meaningful. Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Summary After playing years and years EA's NHL games I finally started to realize that they really don't feel like real hockey to me. I was very disappointed because there were no good hockey games anymore, BUT then I saw reviews of NHL2K3 and I found out that the game will be very realistic and the best hockey game ever. And IT IS! But I have to say that this game seems a little rushed and unpolished because of some small bugs and other small things, but that's nothing serious.When I played it the first time I was very happy and satisfied because playing NHL2K3 feels and looks like hockey games should. So all I can say is that if you are a real fan of hockey and have a console (in this case GCN) you really should find a copy of this fantastic, though little unpolished game. And if you don't like sim hockey but arcade hockey, then EA's version is for you. Sound This the worst part of the game. Music is great, but it gets very repetitive soon, as does the commentators. But the sounds when you're playing a game are horrible. When you hit to a post or check someone against the boards it just doesn't sound right. Could be much better.Gameplay Absolutely the best part of the game is gameplay. It is perfect! This game feels like hockey, the first time ever. The game is full of options so that you can make the game play like a true hockey sim, or an arcade game, or anything between that. It's a good thing too that Sega decided to make this game ESPN style. It is very cool. But anyway, in this game you have so many things to control if you want that it is amazing!Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Rating Reviewed By K. L. DouglasFrom Calgary, AB Review Date 12/31/2002 Overall Rating  5 of 5 Rate this review? Summary After having played EA's highly flawed, yet somewhat polished past hockey incarnations, I was extremely impressed with Sega's latest effort. Having played the actual sport of hockey since I was very young and being an avid fan, I feel complete confidence in saying that the gameplay in NHL 2K3 is by far the greatest thing I've experienced in any hockey video game thus far. The AI has to be the most impressive thing about this game as I'm just dumbfounded at how realistic the computer plays whether it's deflecting my point shots, pushing players away from me when I skate out of the defensive zone, or the real-life goalie mechanics just to name a few. Not only that, there are a multitude of gameplay options you can tweak in order to make the game either a low scoring defensive affair, an all out goalfest, or something in between, it's your choice. The graphics run from good to excellent as the ice looks magnificent and the players (I recognize many of them) actually look like they're skating unlike the competition. My only beef with the game is with the sound as it somewhat lacks the true realism of the sport although it is adequate and as for the commentary, no comment. Average sound aside, if you desire a true hockey sim that's a blast to play then please don't hesitate to buy this overall excellent game. Believe me when I say you won't be disappointed.Sound Like I said before, this is one area where NHL 2K3 definitely needs to improve. Although the actual game sounds are all there, the quality of the sounds are not quite right as they seem a little canned and not too realistic. I do like the fact that you'll hear authentic chants and goal horns go off in their respective arenas and the overall ambience sounds pretty good when the commentary's off. Speaking of the commentary, it's just plain awful, however I find this to be a problem with all sports games therefore I just turn it off.Gameplay The gameplay in NHL 2K3 highlights the real-life aspect of hockey by including such tactics as the dump and chase, the neutral zone trap, and the common free flowing strategies. You can set up plays in the oppenent's zone by cycling the puck , anticipating your computer players to deflect point shots in front of the net. You can dump the puck into the offensive zone, chase it down and initiate passes to the point or in front of the net. You have the ability to pin players to the boards, perform side-stepping moves and dekes, gaurd the puck with nifty stick movements, block shots and even dive out for a last ditch stop, poke check or outright hook players down, hand out crushing body checks, and yes even get in a scrap or two. And even with all these things happening, at times very quickly, the teams stick to their assigned gameplans which makes for a truly realistic hockey experience.Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Rating Reviewed By Rick MescalladoFrom New York Review Date 11/24/2002 Overall Rating  3 of 5 Rate this review? Summary Overall, good game.Sound - NFL 2k3 commentator(s) are more interesting than the yutz who keeps blabbing the same stuff for both teams repeatedly throughout the game.- It would be nice (don't know if possible)if they could come up with some stats for the players during the faceoffs or frozen pucks. - One plus is the guy yelling in the background - Music should reflect actual music played during NHL games today (time to pack away church organ) Gameplay Previously, I have spent many hours playing the EA SPORTS series on my playstation - so converting to playing the SEGA series on my x-box was kind of difficult.In a nutshell... - checking seems a little delayed - Goalie AI is outstanding. Great desperation saves - Very realistic flow to overall play Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
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4.5 of 5
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