Fun but dumb.
PlayStation 2
Released in 2003 by Sega
Grade: B-
This one has the fast and frantic feel of hockey, a big step up for the franchise, but it’s too flawed for long-lasting fun.
Where it falls in the series
It’s the second of eight installments on PS2.
Praises and gripes
It’s fast. Skaters really glide on the ice, with improved control from previous editions. There’s a lot of chaos out there, with tenacious defenders always cluttering your path.
Scoring is most reliable with a one-timer pass across the goalie, which is difficult with defenders gobbling up passes easily. Occasionally you can score on a breakaway if you can deke just right, but it’s also difficult. Unreliable aiming and awkward goalie animations make this more frustrating than it should be.
I like how it’s hard to move the puck up ice. You need to make safe passes or skate in an open area, and defenders catch up quickly. The hits are more varied this year. Sometimes guys knock you off the puck, other times they just steal it. The puck squirts loose at times, but not nearly enough or with any unpredictable bounces.
It’s really annoying that passes don’t go faster or slower. Not sure why 2K never fixed that. And goalies make awful passes into open areas where the other team can regain possession. A diligent gamer would settle for a faceoff instead, slowing the pace of the game.
In the end, it’s too much pain than it’s worth. It’s a big step up from NHL 2K3, though, with some kinks that could be easily worked out.