NHL 2002 - PlayStation 2

The best NHL game of them all from all the years.

NHL 2002 for the Sony Playstation 2 is a decent hockey game with some good points, bad points, and a few completly terrible points.The good: It's hockey (I seem to say that every year, but hockey is a great sport). This game has great graphics and options (dynasty/franchise mode for example). AI is much improved in the goalies from last season. Goalies are much more consistant this year as scoring is a bit more difficult and realistic on the medium and difficult modes. Also, the game plays true-to-life when it comes to your strategy. If you go all-out to constantly make open-ice hits or don't dump the puck into the offensive zone while changing lines, there's a great chance you'll give up odd-man rushes that can very well lead to a lot of goals against.The bad: The sound has hurt this game more than anything. The play-by-play and color comentating are the worst I've ever heard. This is hockey--a full contact game where the weak get crushed and pounded and fighting gets you five minutes rather than five games. The developers at EA have decided to take a physical sport and turn it into some kind of comical relief type of atmosphere that doesn't work at all. Checks sound like explosions and slap shots sound like rockets. EA needs to hire a new sound team as each season their sound effects keep getting worse. The music even has the comical Bare Naked Ladies group for their music choice. And where's the organ music (seldom heard) and national anthems? Also, some added replay features are put into the game to stop the action while some stupid replay of a big save or big hit is shown three times (this can be turned off, though--which makes this a waste of programming and dics space). Breakaways are put into widescreen mode to "add" to the excitement or whatever of one of the most exciting moments of the game. Well, it does take getting used to, but this feature is not wanted in a hockey sim.The ugly: Fighting looks much better this year, but it's still a non-skilled, button-mashing contest. No ducking or grabbing--just fistacuffs thrown for about three seconds. The fighting in EA's NHL 96 for the Sega Genesis was much better than this garbage (remember pulling your opponents jersey over their head, throwing them down to the ice, and continue to beat him while they're down?--Ahhh, the good days of real hockey programming--Mark Lesser: Where are you?!?). I'd love to see that go from 16-bit to what we have today on the PSX2--not this button-mashing garbage.This is not a bad title by any means. When you get used to the controls and aweful color comentary, you'll see that this is an addictive game as there is a lot of simutation and realism involved. Simply adjust the options to your liking and to eliminate to annoying garbage and you'll have a great sim on your PSX2. Is it better that NHL 2001? In most areas, yes. It's not the add-ons that make it better (with the exception of the franchise mode), it's the better gameplay (mainly the goalie AI) that makes it better.

I rented this game because of how much I liked previous NHL games made by EA Sports. So I picked this up and poped it in. The first thing I noticed was that there were a lot of little movies. Players getting pumped up before a game, celebrations on and off the ice. I thought that was pretty cool, and a new added feature. But other than little things like that, this game doesn't offer much of anything new. Here's what I thought about this game, and why I only thought it a renter, not a buyer.1. The graphics: The players are sharper, the ice is thicker. The fans actually move in 3D! But overall, not to great. The puck is way too big, and the overall graphics just aren't to improved. This game had great graphics, but so did previous versions.2. The options: HORRIBLE. No create a team, no new features. And the biggest thing, no FRANCHISE mode! That was about as dumb as having no franchise mode in NBA Live 2001. I am seriously disapointed by the options in this game. Nothing new whatsoever!3. The overall depth: After your first season, this game will probably get pretty boring. More new features and better graphics is what this game needs. I hope EA changed things in 2003 edition. Oops, too bad! They did the same thing. Until they finally add some sort of franchise and stuff like that, EA's NHL series will continue, for me, to be a renter, not a buyer. Rent before u buy, then make your decision. Just a warning.Hope this helped, and I expect a lot more from the great company that is EA. Thx!

Solid

Yeah, you got to love the theme song by GOB in this game. But seriously, this game is so nice you can just pick up, play it, and have fun. I wasn't even a fan of hockey games until I tried this at a friend's house back in like 2004, but I was hooked by how awesome this game was to play. Seriously, me, playing hockey? I knew I was good at it in gym class when we'd play floor hockey and I'd be knocking people out of the way while I was constantly on the ball, but I CAN'T SKATE. So real hockey was always out of the question...plus there was never a league anywhere near me while I was growing up. But this game, makes those road blocks disappear. Look, Mom. I'm finally the NHL star I knew I always could be...Yeah, go me! What is also refreshing is listening to the hilarious banter between the commentators. As the 2nd latest reviewer said, this was before EA realized they had to try. Even though that review is 4 years old I completely agree with everything he said.Now, incase you run across some of these old games and are thinking about picking them up ever, let me list my opinions of the other EA NHL games, from the early 00's, incase you are wondering how it compares:2001: 2nd best in playability. 1st being 2002.2002: Fun and enjoyable. The best out of the 01 to 05 EA NHL Games.2003: OMG!!! This is the perfect soundtrack. In a perfect world, this soundtrack would be combined with NHL 2002 to form the perfect hockey game.2004: More of a serious effort was put into this game. It seemed they were really going for a deep in depth view of a hockey game here. Like if you are one of those guys who eats, sleeps, and breathes ESPN...this would be for you. Me? I'm a casual fan. So the laid back "let's have fun with it" attitude of 2002 is where it's at for me. Decent soundtrack. Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out" is on here. Good song from back in the day.2005: THEY FINALLY ADDED A JUKEBOX SELECTION! Finally, I can skip the tracks I don't want to hear. Praise God! Again, same as 2004, more of a serious approach to hockey. Also, there is a little bit of a technical upgrade to playing a game. You can pick various options now while on the ice. Like which plays to perform, if I remember correctly. Yeah, I wasn't down with making everything in depth. Like I said, I loved the pick up and take it to the other team playability in 2002. Also, decent soundtrack again. "Memories" by Sugar Cult is on here. Good song. Also, the problem is just too much good music game out in 2002. A couple years later, there was still good music just not as much! HAHAOK, THANKS FOR READING, and if this helps one person then it was all worth the 20 minutes it took me to think and type my thoughts out. PEACE and be glad you will never face in real hockey. Be glad NHL 2002, is my stomping ground and not real ice. HAHA Just Kidding. LATER!

thanks for the fast delivery and exactly what i was looking for

Le cd est en très bon état, le service à été rapide! Malheureusement, le cd ne lis pas! Il ne fonctionne pas! Service après vente a été rapide et très bien aussi! Malgré que le jeu ne fonctionne pas, je suis satisfait

Product was Exactly the way it should be very nice hope to play it soon

Unreal game

Recommended.