Heavy-hitting Action
| Platform | Presentation | Controls | Variety | Audio | Depth | Value & Fun | OVERALL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GameCube | 8.50 | 8.00 | 8.50 | 8.50 | 7.50 | 7.50 | 8.03 |
| Presentation | 8.50 |
| Overall, a very solid looking hockey game. The character models are top-notch and the arenas are just as well detailed. Animation is fluid for an arcade hockey game, but are still a little stiff, although appropriate. Everything is quite clear, and you never lose sight of the puck nor are there any camera problems. Where NHL Hitz loses marks are in somewhat frustrating load in times and occasional frame rate drops. | |
| Controls | 8.00 |
| Aside from over-the-top action, arcade sports come down to controls, and Hitz does a solid job. There is still enough variety in movement while remaining more simplistic than its simulation counterparts. Difficulties come from unsure collision detection on hits and stick-checks. It is also often unclear when you can and cannot hit the goalie without getting a penalty. Occasionally a pass will also go to the incorrect player, which can be frustrating. | |
| Variety | 8.50 |
| In terms of physical variety, Hitz delivers. There are many rinks, teams (on top of all the NHL teams), the ability to create your own team (including crazy heads) and a very unique franchise mode with RPG elements on top of the usual Exhibition, Season and Tournament options. After each game you'll also be asked a trivia question; getting these questions gets you points (enough and you unlock a rink). Also included are a selection of six minigames. But in terms of actually playing a game of hockey, things get rather repetitive. There is a bug in the franchise mode, that if you overwrite a franchise, players from that overwritten franchise will be on your new team, then it will freeze if you try and change equipment. | |
| Audio | 8.50 |
| The announcers are surprisingly unannoying, which is a great compliment to any sports game, especially of the arcade variety. The song selection is appropriate also, while hte sound effects get the job done, but aren't all that convincing. The song at the start of the game seems to be much louder than anything else in the game. There are a few sound bugs, mainly after fights, but occasionally on loading where there will be a second in which the announcers repeat something already said or static is heard. | |
| Depth | 7.50 |
| The depth of the game comes from the rock/paper/scissors approach to checking and face-offs. You can spin to avoid a hit, but will be prone to a stick check, while you can guard the puck and be nailed with a big hit. Similarly, in faceoffs, there are one of three options that work as mentioned in a rock/paper/scissors style. These are great for multiplayer, but a bit detracting when it comes to playing the AI, as it's much too difficult to make good use of the guarding moves, and the AI always tips you off about faceoffs so you win 95% of the time. | |
| Value & Fun | 7.50 |
| Fast and fun arcade hockey, falls to the usual suspect of repetition. Where Hitz improves over most arcade hockey games, though, is in its lower scoring (provided you play on the All-Star difficulty). It can be quite difficult to pile on the goals (but it does happen, like all hockey games). Smarter, more balanced AI would have helped. Often the AI will pass much too often, and makes up for lack of offense with clearly inhuman reflexes in dodging checks and blocking passes. The franchise mode is really where the fun is to be had. | |
| Overall | 8.03 |
| Getting right down to it, for arcade hockey, you can't go wrong with NHL Hitz 20-03. It delivers everything you'd expect, and the gameplay to back it up. While not standout in any way, you're sure to have fun; and really, is that what it's all about? | |
Posted by Ellyoda Fri, 17 Feb 2006 00:00:00
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