NHL 2004
by EA Sports
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Video Game Reviews of NHL 2004
Customer Review: Much Better than NHL 2002
Summary: 4 Stars
When I first bought this game, the gameplay and the graphics were sooo much better. Even the sounds are much better than NHL 2002. The only problem with this game is the AI defense. The defense does a good job when it is penalty killing but when the offense is on a roll the AI does not do its job. The franchise mode is a little difficult, Madden 2004 has a much better user friendly franchise mode than NHL 2004. Sometimes, can be difficult at times. NHL 2004 is good for those hockey gamers and viewers that are interested in a good hockey game. I would recommend this game.Customer Review: The sweet hockey action...
Summary: 4 Stars
I love hockey. I'm not the world's biggest fan, I don't know every stat in the universe. I can't tell you who the second fastest skater on a breakaway is in the league today, and I doubt I ever will be able to.This game feels so much like being at a hockey game that I couldn't care less about it's flaws. Visually and audibly, the game is gorgeous. The sound of the skates on the ice, the clicking of the puck, the great cross checking animations, the look of the uniforms, the fast passing and the sudden scoring. All of it captures the mood of a hockey game so well.
Gameplay is very strategic. If you're used to old school hockey games (like I was) where you can just pop the puck in by skating around the net every time you want a goal, get ready for a challenge. You're going to need some skills to play this game. Likewise you're given a ton of play options so you can break out those skills: fake shots, poke checks, dekes both manual and automatic, wrist and slap shots, kneels and dives on defense, and a lot of other great stuff. Learning to control the game is a challenge itself.
This game isn't perfect. Like every EA sports title the interface isn't so well designed and online play can be very buggy. The passing game is really funny sometimes, and has made me throw the controller - I don't know why my computer controlled teammates skate off in another direction *right after* I pass to them.
If you're a serious puck-o-phile who knows everything about the game, you might not enjoy this title. Very knowledgable hockey fans have told me that the stats on the players are not very well done, especially speed stats. They've also told me that the passing game is, bluntly, total crap, partly because of the player's tendency to stop their forward motion or do a "u turn" when receiving a pass. This is a real problem when playing against a computer opponent that can be very skilled at taking the puck, especially when the player you're passing to "u turns" right into an opposing player who cleans their clock.
If however you're a casual hockey fan, or can forgive flaws like these, or you're just someone who loves the spirit of hockey, this game is great. It may not be perfect but that hasn't stopped me from yelling when I smash guys into the boards or shouting like a happy fool when I one time a great shot into a net.
Customer Review: Much better than NHL 2003
Summary: 5 Stars
On NHL 2003(which I also reviewed, and liked initially), I found the game to be too arcadish, and found that the computer had far too many last minute comebacks. When I got 2004, I wanted to play for a couple weeks, and play a few games into a dynasty before commenting, not wanting to repeat the mistake I made last year.NHL 2004 is a marked improvement on a number of fronts. Although, on the beginner mode, the cheap goals can be had, at least now, the computer isn't scoring 4 goals in two minutes anymore. Additionally, I've noticed that the unselected player positionally play better - not as good as I'd like, but overall, the play away from the puck is good. I can skate down the wing with the puck, and know that I have a trailer coming into the slot waiting for a pass to be one-timed. Another issue I had with last year was the ridiculous scores. On the same difficulty level last year, I had a lot of 11-10 hockey games. I enjoy games more on the sim side of things, so this was unacceptable for me. On NHL 2004, this isn't a problem at all.
I also enjoy having the feature where a 15 minute period takes only five minutes. Not only have I found that this keeps the stats in a realistic realm, but as busy as I am, it takes all of 15-20 to play a game.
Overall, I highly recommend this for anyone who wants a sim. IF you're looking for a game that encourages scores approaching a softball game, then I'd recommend something like NHL Hitz
Customer Review: A BIG Improvement from Past Editions
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me start out by saying that NHL 2004 is an excellent game for the PC. However, I can only compare this year's product to NHL 2000 and NHL 99 since those are the only other two editions that I have.The gameplay for NHL 2004 is the best that I've seen. It's realistic in that players can pin each other up against the boards, one on one battles in the corners are present in the game, and dishing out checks requires more precision in which you have to line the player up in order check him. These three hitting elements didn't exist in past versions and is probably the most realistic part of the game. Also, the check button enables you to shove players which is great since this allows you to push a player off side.
The graphics are great as always. No real problems here but EA has taken a more cartoonish approach as far as facial animation is concerned and player's faces are either very accurate to real life players or they are completely off. The new fan animation and involvement is also cool since they wear the different home team's jersey.
Sound in the game is great. The sound of the puck banging off the glass and boards sounds exactly like it does at a real hockey game. Also, the fan chants are great. You'll hear plenty of "Let's go Rangers" chants and "Go Leafs go" chants and the like. In fact, fans begin to boo the home team if too much play is going on in their defensive zone or if the home team can't create anything on the powerplay.
Some detail is missing. For example, after a playoff series the players don't shake hands. This of course is a minor part of the game, but it would be cool if EA included this in future editions.
Overall, NHL 2004 is a great game that hockey fans who crave for realistic present day NHL style hockey will love. However, I wouldn't recommend this game for those who like arcade style hockey with a ridiculous amount of scoring. But you can alter the AI to make it that way if you choose. However, the theme of this game is realism.
Customer Review: Realistic? In your dreams
Summary: 2 Stars
I'm sick of seeing people claim that it's so much harder to score making the game more realistic. I don't mind the difficulty scoring. On medium, I can usually score about 4 or 5 goals a game (unless I'm against a goalie who likes standing on his head). The reason this game is beyond pathetic is that the computer opponent can score at will and, as usual with EA sports, your own defensemen just love putting the puck in your own net. I just lost 8-4 (a scene that is becoming commonplace) because two goals were allowed in from the blue line, on one goal my computer controlled defenseman fell down trying to block a shot even though the computer didn't take or fake a shot, my defenseman put a goal in his own net, and I was trying to clear the front of the net when suddenly the goalie got the puck, I took control of the goalie without knowing it and put the puck in my own net. What should have been a close 4-3 or so game ended up becoming an 8-4 boring as hell rout. Before we go for realism, lets work on the bugs that make gameplay so frustrating and fix them. Oh wait. EA can't do that. They're too busy working on NHL 2005. Then when that buggy piece of garbage comes out, they'll be too busy working on NHL 2006 to fix the bugs. Some old story. If I didn't get this disc for a song, I wouldn't have bought it at all. Stick with NHL games before 2000. They may be less realistic, but at least they're fun.