Originals
OriginalsNHL Hitz 20-02
Posted by: kombo
There is no doubt; NHL Hitz 2002 succeeds in a uniquely crafted Gameplay style. It nails the fun aspect, the longevity and the replay; unfortunately, Hitz will seem dull if you don’t have a few of your friends around to witness your hockey prowess, it just doesn’t have the important ingredients to a lasting single player game. Through several Gameplay modes, which include basic exhibition and franchise, you are able to rack up points to invest in building your custom, godly team, or even travel over to the hockey shop and unlock several treats; mainly, the arenas and vintage jerseys. To some it will be easy, but to those used to a regular hockey game, will be stumbling at the fact that it is designed like 3 on 3 pond hockey. Instead of a formidable line with 2 defenseman and 3 forwards, it will seem like a free for all hockey brawl with limited organization. Although the game has defenseman in it, they are almost balanced with the skill and firepower of the offence. It seems, no longer does the game of hockey require strategy, its now just check, pass, pass, and shoot. One of the most interesting and Midway-like features of Hitz is its fire system. When one of your players is schooling the other team, he defies all theories we had about fire burning, and ignites before your eyes for an adequate playing advantage over your opponent. Going hand in hand with this feature would be the Team Fire, where your entire team is powered by a blue flame, again, giving you an advantage. These turbo modes will last until the opposing team extinguishes it by playing equally or greater then you, so basically, if you’re playing against your Grandma, expect a full game flame. Hockey purists will immediately notice this game has… no referees, hence no rules. You will not be called for offside, icing, 2 line pass, interference, crosschecking, tripping, whatever. Although it could have been interesting to be able to tear the ref a new behind off a bad call, it stays true to Midway’s developing style having no boundaries. Graphics
NHL Hitz 2002 lacks nothing in its graphical expression. The arenas are well designed, with real-time shadowing on the character models and in-game objects (nets, helmets). You will better appreciate the game once you unlock some of the more exotic and detailed arenas. The game’s flame effect on the characters are not only crisp clean, it thankfully, does not bog down the framerate with the added effects. Adding a heap of gravy on a great looking game, Black Box has implemented a polygoned audience; each person in the audience is a character model, which puts the regular cardboard cut-outs you’d find in a simulation to shame. Although you will not normally find only 100 or so people coming to watch 6 of the best players in the NHL whoop some arse, it’s a good start towards the demise of the paper cut-out audience. Sound
Although the game’s commentary is not barf-worthy, it does leave something to be desired. I can guarantee you will hear the same redundant and sometimes flat out lame phrases at least twice each game (ie: “Hit me baby, one more time!â€). You can use your own soundtrack in NHL Hitz 2002, although there is no option to have it play during the game, you will be able to groove to your tunes while surfing the menus and pause screens. Hitz’ sound effects adequately meet the standards needed for hockey games. Overall Well, if you haven’t guessed it already, being a raised a Canadian not too far away from the Saddledome, where the Calgary Flames’ play, I am a huge hockey fan; the real kind of hockey. At first, I found this game an atrocity on the game of hockey, but after having time to explore its vast array of customization and Gameplay, I too found myself actually pleased with NHL Hitz 2002. It is definitely a game for the hardcore, and not those in search of a simulation. --Matt Durrant
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