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NHL 2000
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Graphics & Sound:
EA Sports. Do I need to say anything else? NHL 2000 takes the Playstation's 32-bit graphical power to the max. I recommend putting on a jacket to play this one. It looks so good, the ice will give you chills. The players are not grainy, the crowd is not blocky, and the puck is very visible. The bone-crushing checks and slap-stick scores are shown with great detail, with sound that will make you think that you are in the arena. I've played hockey games before, but none of them have ever felt as real as NHL 2000; and I contribute that mainly to the graphics.
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Gameplay:
EA Sports equals smooth, fast, accurate, responsive, and, of course, quality. It plays just like any other hockey game, only with the quality we've come to love from EA. The players slide across the ice, just like that player really would. There's no sliding ten feet after you stop, but you can't stop on a dime either. The crosschecks are great, the goalies are smart, and the puck travels with apparently accurate physics. Everything from line changes to penalties to fights is included. Yes, even the fights are fun. All of the teams, even the new expansion teams, and all the players are included in the game. You can play a quick exhibition game, a full or half season, or even a tournament bracket. NHL 2000 is as close as you can get to hockey on the PlayStation, unless you want to strap some blades on your console.
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Difficulty:
Just as they say, 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder (or was that beer holder?),' the difficulty is in the skill (or lack there of) of the controller holder. If you're good at sports games, it's not too hard. If you suck, it's still not impossible. As always, there are different levels of difficulty to choose from. You can also choose what rules to enforce, such as icing, off sides, fights, etc. You can make the game as easy, or as difficult, as you like. Difficulty level + rules enforced - your skill + number of beers consumed = difficulty of game.
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Game Mechanics:
What I love about the PlayStation controller is that it has ten functioning buttons. Each function in the game can be utilized by its own unique button. No double taps on O, no super difficult combos, just one button - one function. What could be easier? Sorry, no virtual hockey stick and skates yet. The vibration is subtle but effective, and the analog support makes the controls even better. The game just handles plain great. I recommend this game to anyone who is remotely interested in hockey.
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-Storm, GameVortex Communications AKA Jeremy Kelso |
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