NHL 2001 (PS2)

EA have given us football, basketball and even golf so that we don't even have to leave the comfort of our own house to enjoy the world of sports. Now they bring us the fastest game in the world.... Ice hockey. Or to be precise the NHL to our PS2s. With every NHL team and twenty international teams to tinkle your skills and tickle your pleasure buds with, you will have a hard time mastering it. There are five modes of play "Exhibition" pick two teams and do your best to thrash the computer or a friend into oblivion. You can play through an entire seasons 82 to games (you can lower the amount if you want), or skip the season and go straight to the ...  Read the complete review

This game seem to have everything that FIFA has, and everything it doesn't (except for a through-ball, through-puck thing). We all know that FIFA is nowhere near as good as ISS, but when you play this game you must think that this was made by the ladies and gentlemen at good old Konami. GRAPHICS/ANIMATION: The graphics are better than anything you could ever see on a footie game (due to the fact that there is less players) and the animations are immaculate, with the puck normally always looking like it has been totally guided by the end of that big stick thang. When it does happen that the player moves the puck using the Force, then it is only in replay ...  Read the complete review

PLOT You are in control of some of the meanest sportsmen in the business. This is Ice Hockey as never seen before on a console, fast, accurate, vicious, it is NHL is as close to the real thing as one can get before losing teeth! GRAPHICS The graphics are superior on the PS2. For the most part the console deals very well with all the players and the surroundings but smoetimes, especially in follow mode there is the odd chugg. The crowd when you are concentrating on the ice are acceptable, up close they all look quite blocky. The animation of the characters however makes up for the environment problems by producing smooth, realistic and sometimes downright ...  Read the complete review

So, I am English, not a great fan of the old ice like sport but I have seen the avalanche a few times!! So I thought, the box looks good, reviews have been good so why not? And what a £40 quid well spent. The opening sequence, although not showing real ice hockey, shows some of the finer moves of the game and is accompanied by a sharp soundtrack to boot. From there you are taken to the main menu. As you would expect from EA, it is well organised and easy to navigate. The various options are there: Quick game if you want to jump in, Exhibition for some fun with friends, Advanced modes of a 82 game season, playoffs and a shootout. A custom tournament is also ...  Read the complete review