NHL 2004
by EA Sports
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Video Game Reviews of NHL 2004
Customer Review: Great Game but Terrible Layout
Summary: 4 Stars
Gameplay: The best yet in the series and arguably the best in any hockey game to date. It's a little difficult to play with the keyboard (though definately do-able), but I would reccomend getting a GOOD gamepad. The physics of the game (especially in terms of hitting and player movement) is obviously not perfect, but definately better than anything previous in the series. I have not played NHL 2003, however compared to 2002 and earlier, this game is MUCH more difficult. The computer AI is MUCH better on offense and defense. I personally found that I had to really step up my defensive play.Franchise/GM Mode: The most in depth of any hockey game that I've ever played. Salaries, ticket prices, free agents, multiyear contracts, drafts, concessions, player ice-time demands, morale, scheduled practices of varying lengths, arena infrastructure, farm teams, and staffing are among the areas that you must keep track of. It is significantly more difficult to just build up a great team by ripping off computer GMs with unfair trades.Layout: Ouch <--- this describes it all. This is by far the most annoying part of the game. Once you get into the Franchise/GM mode, it is a pain in the [...] to get anything done. Often you have to go to a couple completely different menus just to get the proper info on a player and then go back to the original one to do whatever it was you wanted to do in the first place. What makes this so frustrating is that the layout was SO much better in previous games in this series. What happened to being able to right-click on the player and immediately have a list of stats, ratings, player info, etc.? How come when the computer offers you a trade, you're not allowed to check the stats/contract lengths on players before saying yes or no? Why is there no list to tell which players have retired or which are becoming free agents around the league or even a list of all previous trades? All of this was do-able in NHL 2002, I don't see any reason why it was taken out. In 2002, you could easily get all the information you needed with one or two clicks of the mouse button, and usually without leaving the original menu. Now, you can't even find all the information when you need it and when you can, it's usually in a completely different menu and not even presented in the best possible way. Why has this suddenly gone downhill?Overall: Frustrating layout aside, this game is the best in the series and one of the best hockey games to date. Although they went sloppy on the layout (can't you tell how frustrated I am about that?), they made up for it with the gameplay and the Franchise mode, which is obviously the most important part of the game anyways.Customer Review: Very disappointing.
Summary: 2 Stars
I was not at all happy with this game. I think EA went too far to the "simulation" side of things with this release. The Bruise Control checking option is really clunky -- after playing for two hours I had only managed to nail three players. The new graphics/reactions are cool enough (players now crumple against the boards and flop to the ice, as opposed to splatting directly to the ice as in 2003), and it's alot harder for a shot from the point to actually make it through a pack of bodies in from of the net.The controls are horribly convoluted as well. There's no way you'd be able to play this game with all it's moves/options without using a 10-button controller of some sort. I have such controllers, but really don't enjoy using all 13-buttons to get things to work properly. I definitely miss the 2003 set-up that permitted the use of, really, only 6 buttons to get everything done.
The new create a player option is really lame, too. You can no longer personalize each face, for example, by choosing various eye shapes/color, hairstyles, noses, etc. Instead, you're presented with predetermined faces... so the possible variations are pretty slim.
The Bruise Control is by far the biggest disappointment for me personally. I did not at all find 2004 fun... I bought it the day it was released, played it for three days (had to give it a chance), and then proceeded to pack it back in the box and tossed it on the bookshelf where it's sat ever since... gathering dust.
It would have been far better if EA had not tinkered with the controls and simply updated the graphics and animations. 2003 wasn't perfect, but I could play three or four seasons and still enjoy every game. With 2004, I didn't enjoy the game at all and never even bothered getting to the Franchise or Season modes (both of which got blasted pretty hard on EA's website forums).
I'm going to have to check out another NHL title in order to get my fix this winter. Or just keep playing NHL 2003, I guess. Either way, I'll be more hesitant to buy the next EA NHL title when it comes out next year. I'll definitely wait to read some reviews before dropping the dough for it.
Customer Review: disappointing
Summary: 2 Stars
I guess my three year old PC (complete with ATI video card) is obsolete, because this game looks like crap on it. I KNOW I'm not getting the full experience, since the fans DO look like cardboard cutouts, and it's impossible to see the lines on the ice. My two year old Microsoft Sidewinder is also now obsolete. Missing some functions.
Overall, a very disappointing game. I guess if I want to get more out of it, I need to upgrade my system. This game will end up costing me a hell of a lot more than $50.
I shoulda saved my money and kept NHL 2001.
Customer Review: Better Than ESPN -- Trust Me
Summary: 4 Stars
For PC users, SOLID sports games are a rarity. This year, however, we're seeing a revolution in PC sports gaming with titles like Madden 2004, Tiger Woods Golf 2004, and now, NHL 2004 from EA. Don't be fooled: THIS IS NOT LAST YEAR'S VERSION OF NHL HOCKEY FOR THE PC. Gone are the asinine commentary, the ridiculous deke moves, and overall warp-speed game play. This year, Electronic Arts got smart and reevaluated their once best-selling hockey franchise and put it back on the map with gorgeous graphics, exciting gameplay, precise control, and a true simulation feel that hasn't been there on the PC for quite some time.I tried ESPN Hockey for the PS2 this year, and honestly, it doesn't compare to the PC version of NHL 2004. Graphics, sound, and gameplay are all superior. Yes, the ESPN version has the cool "owner's box" feature, but honestly, do you want to get rewarded with enough tokens to play with the '84 Oilers, only to find that instead of Wayne Gretzky, it has "Center" with the wrong number and statistics? You then have to manually go in and change everything to fit The Great One's stats. Not fun.
The "Dynasty" mode is NHL 2004's answer to the GM mode of ESPN, and it's much better. You can set practices, promote players, trade your 3rd line wingers for some help in goal, etc. All of this comes into play during the season in terms of people in the seats, revenue, and all the stuff that goes along with being a successful GM. Truly a great feature to the game, and one that adds ton of replay value.
Although the presentation could use some work, as it takes three or four mouse clicks to simply make a trade or get stats on a player, this game is essentially the best that has come out for the PC in a long time. The hitting has been toned down, and actually, almost made too difficult, but besides those gripes, NHL 2004 will reward players with unparalleled graphics, smooth, slider-controlled gameplay to fit your talents, and sound that brings out the best of the arenas across the country.
If you have a PC and you're a hockey fan, then you owe it to yourself to pick up NHL 2004.
Customer Review: A resource-intensive return to form for the EA NHL franchise
Summary: 4 Stars
With NHL 2004, EA Sports has made an important shift back toward the heart of this impressive series; I have every version of this game going back to 1996 with the exception of NHL 2003, as last year's game took a very wrong direction in my mind. My feelings for NHL 2004 are somewhat mixed, and I think there are a few important things that fans and potential buyers should be aware of. First off, the game has never looked better (as long as you have the hardware to truly support it). Finally, the faces of the players look impressively life-like, the camera action never gets in the way of gameplay, and the look of the action is at times of jaw-dropping proportions. Most importantly, the game feels more realistic; I, for example, am experiencing a feeling on power plays that is unlike anything I have experienced in earlier incarnations of the game. The most impressive visual aspect of NHL 2004, though, has to be the crowd. I can't believe how good the crowd looks in this game; spectators are true individuals, sporting a plethora of outfits, and reacting separately. You will see one guy jump up and cheer while those around him merely watch the ice intently, and fans indulge in "the wave" in a realistically unorganized fashion. I sometimes find myself watching the crowd in wonder rather than concentrating on the action; that's a mistake, though, because players have more moves than ever, and the goalies make some mind-boggling Hasek-like saves. NHL 2004 is also more challenging than previous releases. I am forevermore a hopeless player who must compete at the easy level, and my days of winning high-scoring contests may well be over; this is partly due to some control issues I have with the game. The first thing that I learned from firing this baby up is that my Gravis Gamepad seems to have gone the way of the dinosaurs. Oh, it still works, but I have yet to master decent control of my players, and I find myself unable to indulge in some of the new fancy additions to gameplay NHL 2004 offers. To experience all of the facets of gameplay, you really need a right-analog controller such as the Logitech Dual Action or Microsoft Sidewinder. Total player control is not possible with a gamepad such as mine, and thus I am unable to execute all of the possible player moves, including bruise control shots to specific parts of an opponent's body and, most unfortunately, the new and seemingly much improved fighting system. Oh, I'm still able to make some bone-crunching hits and revel in the sight of breaking glass and helmets being separated from my victim's heads, but the real magic will not be at my fingertips until I upgrade my controller.
One thing I don't like about NHL 2004 is the fact that faceoffs occur very quickly after stoppages of play. In the past, the slight delays after calls afforded me a much-needed moment to regroup, take a breath, and check the feeling in my left hand, but now you had better be ready soon after the whistle blows. Worst of all, at least to me, is the fact that you can't really do anything on the ice after a call is made; I have always taken great joy in delivering as many brutal blows as possible after play stops, dishing out the punishment while only rarely being hit with a penalty in reaction to my dirty tactics, but I'm forced to play a cleaner style of game in NHL 2004. Even delivering great shots to my opponents during gameplay is much harder in this new version, partly because of the limits of my current controller.
On the plus side, and this is a major improvement that lends gameplay a much more significant air of realism, you now have the ability to shove your opponent and engage in scrums along the boards; this much improved board play is to me the greatest innovation offered by this year's release. Another improvement is the audio commentary; gone are the constant jokes and fluff, replaced with serious play-by-play announcers who lend a further air of realism to the game. Those interested in the management aspects of the game should love the new, much deeper dynasty mode which allows you to guide a team over the course of 20 years with an impressive degree of micro-management options. Another extra comes in the form of 39 new international teams at your disposal (drawn from Germany's DEL, Sweden's Elitserien, and Finland's SM-Liiga). Online play is also improved with NHL 2004.
There is a lot to love about this game, especially if you have the hardware to enjoy all of its many offerings. In my judgment, you need at least a 1GHz processor, 256 MB of RAM, and a 16x CD/DVD drive. Your video card is really your most crucial piece of hardware, though, as you'll need a video card of at least 32 MB which features one of the following chipsets; NVIDIA GeForce 256 or greater, ATI Radeon 7200 or greater, Matrox Parhelia, Sis 315, or Xabre. For complete player control, you would also do well to invest in a Logitech Dual Action or Microsoft Sidewinder controller. If you have the system, you will experience the closest thing yet to realistic enjoyment of the coolest game on ice. I would not spend the money to upgrade your system just for this game, however. Even with the more complete control of the action which this game makes possible, I much prefer the control and feel of NHL 2002, yet, in the final summation, the truth of the matter is that NHL 2004 offers enough improvements in terms of realistic gameplay that it is clearly superior to any previous version of this outstanding series.