NHL 2004
by EA Sports
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Video Game Reviews of NHL 2004
Customer Review: dynasty is terrible
Summary: 2 Stars
I liked the Franchise mode from 2003. You could change teams any time you wanted, become every team if you liked, play any game. Even if my team didn't make the Final, I could still play the whole series! But EA Sports decided it'd be a wise decision to limit the people's options. Now, you can have ONE team, and you MUST deal with payroll, training and a bunch of other stuff that just takes time away from playing games. I wouldn't mind a salary cap (but then we wouldn't get the NHLPA to sign off would we?) or something to keep things in check, but that should be optional.
If you want to have one, and only one, team and mess with all sorts of budgets and firings and whatever, fine. But I don't want to. I want to be able to switch a team's ownership if I want one of their players on my team, and I don't want to have to fit him into a budget! I want to play Game 7 between Minnesota and Washington.
Please somebody from EA read this and add some choice to Franchise, because NHL 2003 ain't perfect but that's what I'm gonna play instead.
Customer Review: Good Graphics, Good Game, Great Idea
Summary: 4 Stars
First off, I've been playing the EA NHL franchise since 93-94 and every few years the game gets a facelift. This year, you can see the mesh of the jerseys and the skating engine was improved. Another monster improvement was the lack of ability to skate through defenders with the puck. This means passing is very important, as it is in real life.There are some bugs where defensemen (and goalies) knock the puck into their own nets, but overall the game plays well though it takes time to get proficient at it. The game scores are moderate (especially if you try and play it like a real game. If your scoring is spread around you might have 2 - 4 20 goal guys and maybe only 1 or 2 80-100 point players. Goalies are not likely to get more than 8-10 shut outs but your save percentage can get pretty high (around 0.930).
Dynasty mode. This is the best part of the game. The fact you can either take your favorite team or build your own (however which ever team is displaced from the NHL to accomodate you, their banners are still in your rink). You can do a complete fantasy draft and then start simming/playing games. Win now or win later by trading experience for potential, set your ticket prices, buy upgrades for your team, etc... The sad part is, you can't extend contracts until their last year (and then they usually want a big increase). Salary is based on stats, not performance, so if you have a really fast skater sitting 'in the minors' he'll want big league money....Hint: sign and trade for a young guy, especially if you don't need him right now.
The computer trades frequently though the dialog box you see does not have enough information. You have to go and manually look at the trade by proposing it yourself. The create a player feature, to me, was upgraded. Visually you are limited though now if you want a Wayne Gretzky - he's gonna cost ya. A lot of money.
The announcing team got a facelift with Craig Johnson becoming the new color guy. It sounded a bit stilted but at least he sounded intelligent.
I'll buy 05 when it comes out. I think the game went in the right direction this year from 03.
Customer Review: Great Game...Can use some improvements
Summary: 4 Stars
For those who TRULY understand the game of hockey and how it is played you will know to give this game a good review. It is much improved over the versions of yesteryear. Yes it can use improvements, no doubt, but overall I am pleased with this version and have been waiting since NHL 99 for EA to release something worth buying/playing. The faults with this game are the AI, the computer does have a tendency to go on sprees of scoring when they gain momentum ar get a goal. But you HAVE to learn how to negate this! I have learned very well how to CONTROL momentum throughout the game, and this is what the designers of the game had in mind when they wrote it. There is also a little too much emphasis on the one-timer in this game, I would like to see a little more on the other facets of scoring as well. Also the bobbling puck that suddenly finds it's way into the net can be frustrating as hell. But heym thats video games for ya.
The pluses are the player movements, choice to fight, checking, (made it more difficult to do-because it is tough to do in real life!) And I LOVE the way you can grind in the corners in the offensive zone. There is truly nothing more real about Hockey than that.
I recommend this game to any hockey enthusiast looking for a good time. The upper levels can be tough to compete in, but in time you will be playing with the best of em. With a little arm pump I might add! For PC it is totally worth the $19.99. Go buy and have a blast. Trust me, I am a tough critic. This one is worth it!
Customer Review: Did EA test this game before it was released?
Summary: 2 Stars
One can tell that much effort was put into game play, visual realism, and features. But after the game was "put together" did anyone at EA check to see how the final game played or if those features even worked?Because of a poorly planned player ratings (skills) system(including facilities that start poor and can only IMPROVE with time?), one is left to wonder why all their players perform more poorly with each passing game. -Thinking gamers beware.
The interface is a mess, with player information scattered and not where you need it.
Outrageous simulated scoring of players (Paul Kariya- 13 goals, 9 assists in 3 games) can crush your hopes of your star player ever topping the ratings.
Also, players may still end up with 'twins' still playing on their previous team when you create a new team to replace another in the league. Horrible errors.
It all leads to a major disappointment from EA.
Customer Review: SAME OLD GARBAGE
Summary: 2 Stars
Good game, but the same.Every year they make a new a NHL game, NHL 2000, NHL 2001, and so on.
Its all the same, exept maby better graphics, and changed teams.
This goes the same to Fifa, and other EA sports games.
They basicly have the same idea.
If you are gonna buy NHL 2004, dont waste youre money on NHL 2005, when it comes out, because its gonna be the same!
My point is, if you buy NHL 2004, thats it dont buy next 1, wait a 1000 years and then buy a new 1 which will be NHL 3004 ;)
So if you have NHL 2002 or 2003, dont get NHL 2004, its not worth the money.
:-)