NHL 2003, Electronic Games

Ice Hockey is an odd sport when you think about it. It's generally perceived as an aggressive, tough-guy sport that encourages fighting and general manliness, yet it's based primarily around an activity known for its grace and elegance. Computer game iterations of the sport, however, definitely go for the macho angle, and rightly so. No spangly, sequinned cossies here, bud. In keeping with their tradition for annually serialising their sport franchises, EA bring us their latest virtual incarnation of ice hockey with NHL 2003. And, as always, the motto that must surely be tattooed on the chest of every member of Team EA, 'Bigger, Better, Faster, Louder' reads clearly throughout. Essentially an update to NHL 2002, rather than a new game in its own right, 2003 is improved and comes with a host of new features. Features such as Game Breaker, for example, in which a meter builds when you score goals, leading ultimately to a kind of power-up mode when it reaches 100%. GameStory 2 tracks and highlights player and teams stories throughout the course of an entire season. A player with a hat-trick in a previous game will be under close watch to see if he can repeat his heroics in the next using cinematic, TV-style camera work and presentation. As you would expect, a new graphics and animation engine provides the annual makeover, this instalment promising to be the most visually stunning and vibrant NHL game yet. This can be quoted on a yearly basis but the game does look vastly improved and it is to be expected that this trend will continue. Accompanying the overhauled visuals we also have appropriately realistic audio. The game's sound effects have been captured from actual professional hockey games so players can experience the authentic sounds of a hockey game from ice level, including chatter from the bench, players shouting, and sticks and blades scraping the ice. At the end of the day it's another year, another update. Someone's got to do it though, and the quality here can't be sniffed at, so long may it continue.

Buy NHL 2003 for 4.99 GBP

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