NHL 2000
Electronic Arts

Introduction

Welcome to another addition of the greatest hockey game on the face of the earth!

Positives

The fast paced action of the EA Hockey Franchise makes this game the top choice among most hockey fans. The many options that let you decide how fast or slow the game, team, or players will go is one of the backbones to this game. Try going back and playing the 1994 SNES version of the game. WOW, was it slow back then or what?. Within two years, EA had the game at a record pace and now as we enter the new millenium, the game continues to be sped up.

This year's game has zapped a few of the scoring bugs from the last few versions. One of these was the ease of making a goal by shooting a hard shot from the edge of the rink near the blue line. The 2000 version has mostly eliminated that "cheap" shot. Also they have made it harder to score by skating across the front of the goal and punching one in the opposite side.

The graphics are great and the in-house announcer is always a treat to hear in the background. If one takes the time to notice, the scoreboards in the middle of each rink are varied from arena to arena. Although nothing extravagant, it is a nice touch.

The option that allows you to turn off the color commentator is a great blessing, even though he does give you a ton of NHL statistical history. I have decided to leave him on throughout my season play, because as trades are madenew players will end up on my team and new commentary will be forth comming.

A few interesting tidbits: I have broken the glass a couple times near the penalty boxes by checking another team member into the glass (or getting myself checked into the glass). Also I was hitting the "taunt" button several times after I won a game (actually destroyed the other team) while the star players were being announced. All of a sudden the announcer said that I liked to kick a guy while he was already down. It is little easter eggs and tidbits like this that make this game the best!

After finally finishing a full season of play and winning the Stanel Cup, I noticed that after going through both the rookie draft and free agency, that several of my players ratings changed! In fact, eventhe ones that I had created changed. Most changed for the better, probably in comparison to how I won the league and cup. It made me want to go and play another season. Well, I have played one game, and may just simulate most of the games hereafter. Either way, I can't wait to get my hands on the next version of the game! I will then be able to play my home team, the Columbus BlueJackets.

Negatives

Speaking of the color commentator, he has a tendancy to say some of the same things over and over again, especially when you are crushing a team 8-0 or 15-0 and he gives the same comment after each goal about it being a good time to put your second string into the game. His vocabulary is large, but still after an 82 game season you have heard them more times than you can count.

The stands are another issue that could use a little help, although, they do have various amounts of people in the stands during various games, the people are flatter than pancakes. Also if they could put more people at the bottom of each arena instead of spreading them out evenly during those sparsely attended games, it might make it look more realistic.

The interface before and after each game in the Commissioner's Screen could use a little help too. Although, it is not confusing, the annoying bubble buttons and the noise that is made when you hover your mouse over one of the cycle buttons is very irritating. Meanwhile, while talking about the interface, the whole player icon system is nice (the ice for being on a cold streak and the fire for being on a hot streak, etc.), but some of the icons are a little confusing at first. In fact, after playing through and entire season, I still don't know what the hammer means. This might be helped (and same goes with the replay screen) if the booklet that comes with the game were a little more informative. The booklet lacks, well it lacks, just about everything.

Conclusion

In the end though, this game catches hold of you and won't let you go till you have finished the entire season. Then you might just want to play it again so you can make use of the rookie draft and free agency options. Of course if you are like me, the next year's version will be out before you finish all those games!

Review Points (50 points = average game)

Min. System Requirements