NHL 2003 Preview

Crono · 08-05-2002, 07:11 PM

Well I've decided to do an NHL 2003 preview. I was gonna do a preview of an upcoming PS2 RPG but I seriously didn't think many people would be interested. Yeah, anyway....

Every time EA announces their new NHL game I was always get excited. Why? Because I love hockey games...and not only that, EA seems to be damn good at making them (duh)...

Quote:

To some, hockey is a beautiful sport. A metaphor for life's struggles. A symbol of triumph over adversity. These people are Canadian. For most Americans, however, hockey is a bunch of guys on ice skates missing teeth and physically abusing one another. Hockey, in reality, is probably somewhere in the middle of these two ideals. And to many, it's not something they care for except when it's packaged for a console. For years hockey video games have transcended the sport they represent and EA hopes their latest, NHL 2003, can do the job again this year.

Features

Every NHL team

Alternate home and away jerseys for each team

Deep franchise mode so you can dominate the league for years

Tournament mode

New right thumbstick control allows for maximum stick command

NHL Cards earned through superior gameplay

Though gameplay is similar to last year's version, NHL 2003 comes to the rink with a few improvements that are sure to please one and all. From a gameplay standpoint, NHL 2003 makes use of the right thumbstick (camera stick on GameCube) to add greater puck control. Moving the thumbstick left, right, back and forward, you gain direct control of your stick. Want to reach out and try and shoot the puck around a defender? Now you can. Want to deke a goalie, make him think you are going left and then shoot the puck to the right corner of the goal? It is all yours. Wanna pull a little puck-fake on some foolish wingman? Sure, you can do that. Heck, you can even play the puck between your legs. It takes some time to get used to the new control scheme, but mastery of the right thumbstick can only further your dominance of the league.

But if you're the type who hates change, hates the right thumbstick, or simply doesn't want that much sim in your hockey, NHL 2003 may still be for you. You can play through an entire season and never once use the right thumbstick and still do well. The new control addition is there for those who want it, but won't hurt anyone who just can't deal with having so much command of the puck. But really, the right thumbstick deke moves are a great addition and add a new dimension to the gameplay.

The new deke moves add fuel to the new power meter. So do steals, hard hits, and other quality plays. When the meter fills, you can enter a bullet time mode, where things will suddenly slow down, allowing for superior moves and a better shot on goal. From what we've played, this feature isn't overused. You won't be doing bullet time moves every ten seconds. It's best saved for a moment when you are one on one with the goalie, or to provide yourself such an opportunity. This is not a replacement for the breakaway moments, where you get a close-up camera angle as you take it to the net, but is its own separate beast.

Continued in next post...

Crono · 08-05-2002, 07:18 PM

Quote:

There are new animations and new lines of play-by-play, as is expected of an updated sports title. But EA has taken last year's presentation style a bit further. Intro scenes are a bit longer and a bit more like a sports highlight show clip than your standard introductions. New music tracks have also been added with a harder pseudo-punk rock edge. But don't expect this to be a rock-em sock-em affair like Midway's NHL Hitz. At it's core, NHL 2003 is a solid hockey sim. One that will teach lazy Americans the intricacies of hockey. Oh, and there are fights too.

The best news of all is the franchise mode, which is a new addition to EA's NHL series. While we haven't had a chance to sit down and get in-depth with the franchise, just knowing it's there gives comfort that this will be one fine hockey game. Building off of last year's fabulous season mode, the franchise mode should be solid.

Outlook
NHL 2003 is skating along nicely and will give Sega's NHL 2K3 plenty to worry about. Coming this fall to PS2, Xbox, GameCube, and PC, NHL 2003 could make EA quite happy by the time Santa is shoving his fat arse down chimneys. The new deke function is fantastic and the addition of a franchise mode can only help the longevity of an already healthy sports franchise. I'd say we can't wait to get our hands on NHL 2003, but it's already in our hands. Jealous? You should be.

Now here is some delightful screens:

Every year EA always adds in something special, or new. This year its the stick movement with the right analog. I can't wait to try this out, because I think it will work well. It might be a bit weird at first...but I'm sure it will work out fine. Maybe with this new stick movement control you'll be able to deak (sp?) around players and it will obviously add more realism to the game.

I really look forward to this game. NHL 2002 was great, and if EA con improve on that then this game is a must buy for any hockey fan.

Joeiss · 08-05-2002, 08:06 PM

I have gotten every single EA NHL game since the 1993 (NHLPA) version. And this year will be know different. The deking sounds cool, and I expect that I will master that in no time.

Umm... Any word on this game being online? I hope it is, but if it isn't, the franchise mode will keep me happy. Leafs will win the cup 10 years straight! OH YEAH!

Crono · 08-05-2002, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeiss

Umm... Any word on this game being online? I hope it is, but if it isn't, the franchise mode will keep me happy. Leafs will win the cup 10 years straight! OH YEAH!

Nope. The only sports games that are going online are football games. (well I know NFL 2K3 is but I dunno bout Madden 2003)
I really want an online hockey game though.

Joeiss · 08-05-2002, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Crono

Nope. The only sports games that are going online are football games. (well I know NFL 2K3 is but I dunno bout Madden 2003)
I really want an online hockey game though.

Darnit. I really wanted to play this game online!!! Oh well. Madden will be online, and so will NBA 2K3.

Nice preview, BTW.

Null · 08-05-2002, 08:53 PM

Exactly why I'll be buying this one for PC instead of my PS2.

online play baby! woot!

Crono · 08-05-2002, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeiss

Nice preview, BTW.

Lol, thanks. I didnt think it was very good, I didnt put much thought into it...basically just from IGN.

But my next preview will be really good, you can count on it.

PureEvil · 08-05-2002, 09:46 PM

Why does everyone keep complimenting everyone else on their previews?

The ones done (By, I believe, Perfect Stu, Joeiss, and now Crono) aren't actually being done by the people posting them.

It's just a matter of copying and pasting a preview from IGN onto these forums, and then adding a paragraph (if you can even call them paragraphs) to the end which summarizes the writing.

IGN's staff should be getting the credit for writing these previews, not the GameTavern members for copying what IGN has produced.

Joeiss · 08-05-2002, 11:01 PM

I give credit to IGN in my previews....

And calm down man. It isn't like we are breaking any laws. I just compliment somebody who makes a preview of a game that I am going to get because they make it so I do not have to go searching for it. Call me lazy, because that is what I am.

And it is kind of hard to make an original preview, because it is not like I get sent demos from EA Sports themselves... When I make my previews, I use existing hands on impressions or previews from sites to make people aware of the game that I think will probably be good.

PureEvil · 08-05-2002, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeiss
...calm down man. It isn't like we are breaking any laws. I just compliment somebody who makes a preview of a game that I am going to get because they make it so I do not have to go searching for it. Call me lazy, because that is what I am.

And it is kind of hard to make an original preview, because it is not like I get sent demos from EA Sports themselves... When I make my previews, I use existing hands on impressions or previews from sites to make people aware of the game that I think will probably be good.

Who was getting excited?

All I'm saying is that, in this preview, for example, Crono doesn't deserve credit. He didn't write the preview. Someone at IGN did. If any credit is to be given to Crono for this preview, it would be "Hey, way to go with that crazy Ctrl + C action, man!"

I could see the people making these topics (Crono, Joeiss, and Perfect Stu) getting credit if they had actually written the previews. Even if you got your info from previews written by various other sites, so long as it was you who actually wrote the product you were showing off to everyone.

Doing this though, copying a preview from somewhere, then posting it on GameTavern's forums, and taking credit for doing that (Not taking credit for writing it, taking credit for copying and pasting) is stupid.

Do you figure my English teacher will give me credit for someone else's report that I glue onto my own paper, and then scribble something written by me in at the bottom of it?

I'm not saying you're asking for credit, but you're all giving eachother credit for doing things you didn't do. This is what I'm confused by.

"Hey so-and-so, nice preview, man!"

Hey dumbass, so-and-so didn't write the preview, man!

As soon as one of you actually writes your own preview, you should definitely compliment the work... But this copy and paste sh-t? Nah.

Joeiss · 08-05-2002, 11:42 PM

I really can't answer that... You stumped me, PureEvil.

ANYWAYS....... This game is going to be sweet.. I can't wait to kick some arse on the ice.

Perfect Stu · 08-06-2002, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PureEvil
Why does everyone keep complimenting everyone else on their previews?

The ones done (By, I believe, Perfect Stu, Joeiss, and now Crono) aren't actually being done by the people posting them.

It's just a matter of copying and pasting a preview from IGN onto these forums, and then adding a paragraph (if you can even call them paragraphs) to the end which summarizes the writing.

IGN's staff should be getting the credit for writing these previews, not the GameTavern members for copying what IGN has produced.

we made the effort to post the preview here at GameTavern with pictures...it may not have been MUCH effort, but there was still effort involved.

I don't know why you have your panties in a bunch. I mean, why waste your time typing that post?

Sykkie · 08-06-2002, 07:00 PM

i don't care where the info came from. i just know it got me hyped for the game.

i'm always interested in EA's games. they are awesome.