
<MAP NAME="boxmap-p8"><AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="14, 200, 103, 207" HREF="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" ><AREA COORDS="0,0,10000,10000" HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/thearmchairem-20" ></MAP><img src="http://rcm-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/rcm/120x240.gif" width="120" height="240" border="0" usemap="#boxmap-p8" alt="Shop at Amazon.com">	Platform Playstation 2 Genre Sports Publisher Electronic Arts Developer Electronic Arts ESRB E (Everyone) Released Q4 2000

- Detailed graphics - Play-by-play and colour commentary does a good job of keeping up - Matrix-esque moments - Easy to master controls - Loads of play options - Adjustable AI can make for some very challenging games - Camera angles to suit every taste - Fantasy team and player creation for the control freaks (Memory Card required) - Historical jerseys are a great touch - Ambient rink sound effects are great - Great game to play with friends

- Occasionally commentary repeats - Long load times at the start of each game - Lacks a Zamboni!

Review: NHL 2002 (Playstation 2) Review: NHL Hitz 2003 (Playstation 2)
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NHL 2001

Score: 9.6 / 10

NHL 2001 from Electronic Arts is the only hockey game in town for Playstation 2 owners, and that’s definitely not a bad thing.

This game is very easy to get into. Just select "quick game" and pick a team. As the game loads up, a diagram of the controller points out which buttons do what. The load screen is up for a long time (maybe a minute and a half), that serves to annoy when you’re playing by yourself but acts as a good chance to socialize with friends who are just using you to play with your Playstation 2. Once the arena is loaded it’s non-stop hockey.

Thirty teams are available, including the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild. And there are 20 international teams and the All-Star teams. Depending on what play option you decide on (quick game, season, playoff, tournament, shootout) and the difficulty level, there is something for everyone: the fanatical and the casual gamer. Fanatical gamers will love the chance to create their own players and teams. There is an extensive draft feature, line change options and even the ability to choose from a variety of historical and current team jerseys. These same people will probably edit the characteristics of the puck (elasticity, friction, etc.) and give serious thought to picking the rink size: international or NHL. Casual gamers, those that play videogames for the fun of it, probably won’t go into the gritty details but that doesn’t mean they will have a less fulfilling gaming experience than the fanatic.

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And how does NHL 2001 play? Handling the on-screen action is easy. It takes no time at all to master the controls. Of course, that doesn’t mean you’ll be skating over your opponents. The AI ranges from pretty good to downright brutal on the higher difficulty settings. Putting the AI setting to the lowest point allows for you to score goal after goal, sometimes on consecutive shots. Crank the AI to max and you’re lucky to get into the offensive end. The goalie seems to have been given power of

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omniscience. Sometimes he’ll make save upon save, which is good because the defensive AI can behave oddly. One-timers are easier to execute, as are dekes. Line changes are optional and easy to perform. There is also the momentum meter to track. If the momentum meter is in your favour the chances of a goal and body-flipping checks are increased. Basically, the meter measures your team’s psychological state of mind. Make some scoring chances on home ice and the crowd will start to cheer, boosting your team’s confidence and increasing the chances of a goal. And there’s fighting! Fights are usually short and to the point but they’re still there.

Much of the game plays out like you’re watching the game on TV. Before each face-off the camera shows what players are doing at ice-level. Sometimes they’re trying to start something with the opposing team, talking to the ref or adjusting their uniform. Or the camera will focus on the bench, showing the coach leaning over to give instructions to the players. This same kind of TV camera work happens after a goal as well. Often the replay of the set-up for the goal and the goal itself will remind gamers of the Matrix. This instant in-game replay looks spectacular most of the time. Occasionally, the replay is a bunch of blurred motion and the red light going off. When this happens, and you really want to rub the goal in your friend’s face, you can switch to the manual replay, which gives you all sorts of zoom and camera movements. There are five camera settings implemented for the in-game action. There’s everything from the view from the press box (which allows a view of the entire ice surface but turns the teams into a flea circus), the scoreboard (which remains stationary above center ice and pans back and forth), the classic view, and chase (which follows the puck). Everyone has his or her own preference but the chase mode is probably your best bet.

But does it look good? This is a fantastic looking game! With all the close-up camera action you’ll notice just how detailed the skins and models are in this game. You will be able to recognize your favorite players no problem. At the beginning of each period the ice is glassy. As time goes on the ice surface becomes worn and chipped. Smash an opponent into the boards and see the glass bend. The animation is smooth for the most part, with only a few odd movements when viewed under close scrutiny during the replay. (Sometimes the puck will leave your stick before the stick actually connects.) It’s very easy to keep track of where you are on the ice. A thin blue circle and the player’s name highlights the player you currently control. When the player under control is not on screen, a blue arrow points in the direction the player is coming from and as the player get closer the arrow increases in size. From a distance the crowd is very good. It looks like the arena is filled with fans, all clapping or shouting. Up close, they are little more than hilarious one-dimensional animated cardboard cutouts. Slowdown is close to nil.

The sound in NHL 2001 is a treat. The colour commentary and play-by-play is the best yet. The action can get very intense, with passes and shots happening all over the place, but the announcers manage to stay on top of things. They even chatter with each other, offering miscellaneous facts about the players on the ice. Ambient rink noise is perfect. Yes, perfect. Fan reactions suite the situations, booing the away team and cheering for the home team. (They don’t throw objects onto the ice but there’s always NHL 2002.) What is most welcome is the rink announcer. He announces the goals, penalties, and even warns "that the blue sedan parked in the loading zone is about to be towed." It sounds like you’re there!

If you can scrape the money together to buy a PS2 (and you can find one) get NHL 2001. Amid all the "wow!" graphics, "Oof!" sound and "Did you see that shot?" gameplay, NHL 2001 manages to offer something for everyone and make it fun. If you’re not a fan of hockey now, you will be soon.

- Omni

(December 12, 2000)