EA Sports is accurate, which is claimed to old advertising, is politeness of kings. Accurately and on time, it churns out masterpieces. It churns and that masterpieces. Conveyor.
NHL 2003 screenshot 1.
Click on image to enlarge.
Less …
Fresh NHL 2003 . What may be unusual in a game where, in theory, nothing new and should not occur without changing the engine? For example, in Madden NFL 2003 developers gracefully out of this situation: create a training regimen that fit to forget about these games. Plus, the most powerful "franchise"-system, sometimes forcing the recall Championship Manager , and small, minor changes do not affect the gameplay …
However, where a Madden NFL 2003 built up the meat, the NHL 2003 , on the contrary, they cut off all unnecessary. For example that displays all of a hardcore-players set a system of bonus points. Gone are thousands of gifts for the puck, scored a first strike on goal, five strong reception at the hip protector, for the first hat-trick, etc. As a result, we are left with no cheat map of the different denominations, made of players superbizonov (or rather, there are maps, but only online).
If you look at the tactical team setting, you will not find a number of offensive schemes. For example, I was disappointed the disappearance of "Combination". After "cleaning" survived only three types of attacks. One – the speed, the attackers are trying to follow parallel courses, in order to confuse the goalie perpendicular pasami. The second – a classic hockey protracted storm, when the main danger comes from the gate. And finally, the third in which the "hot spot" is shifted to the sides, where the player tries to bring a partner for a successful position.
But now for each link can determine the inherent tactics. Hockey players, good running and beating, tend to escape into the gap, and roll out together on one goalie, and the owners of decent equipment, but weak in speed, arrange the whirlwind passes in the area of ââthe opponent.
Another variation of the minus sign (not in terms of evaluation, but rather, in the arithmetic) – lack of opportunities in the campaign to change the "boosts" teams playing, it's available only in friendly matches. Thus, if the club did not shine in the tournament, and the chances of reaching the playoffs is less, to weaken the opponent's goalie and add a playfulness to their key players in the matches will not succeed. Either change the difficulty level, or learning to play.
NHL 2003 screenshot 2.
Click on image to enlarge.
gives a plus …
But enough about what is not. We now turn to innovations. First of all, the desire to continue to progress EA Sports to combine the Internet with the game. Already in Madden NFL 2003 We pushed straight to the idea of ââplaying on the network by offering this service in the main menu. NHL 2003 go even further – the entire menu design in the style of web pages. It was very strange, the first few hours left for a thorough introduction. Personally, I have these innovative solutions suggest that before any action to spent on a couple of "clicks" less. And the most inappropriate moment – in the view window features the player can only be reached from the "View Rosters", and nothing else. Discipline in the army.
Of course, all this does not mean that the guys from EA Sports, busy working on a series of NHL , and only recently did, that a large butcher knife, cut their offspring. Major improvements occur in the gameplay. Compared with the previous part of the more warmer relations between the hockey player and hockey. The small black disk has got a fantastic "physics." Last year there was a tendency: the behavior of sports equipment began to take shape not in the formula " if the object is" Puck "must proceed from point A to point B, it will not stop even arisen in the way of a small foreign object such as" horse "," hand " "head", etc. (exception – when it is scheduled before a throw) ". Thus were born numerous bounces. Now the washer responds positively to all contact. Interestingly, the unexpected change of course is not introduced just for beauty. For example, I had a chance to see how the goal was scored by a blow on the puck (as a result of rebound jump a meter), still in the air. Who can say that this does not happen in this hockey? No one. And if this was possible in previous versions ..
With regard to the behavior of players, the changes were made, primarily goalies – these "gate guards" revolve in a frame, like a squirrel in a cage. Lost their typical sharpness of attack, before yielding the lion's share of points: on the right flank striker broke through with a strong attack was part of the zone and with all his beat, but the goalkeeper parried his shoulder at the oncoming puck left or center forward, shoot the free corner. The trick is not held only if the right-winger threw a right (then hit the goalkeeper walked into a trap, not a hand, which squeezed the stick), or if the goalkeeper had a trap on the right hand. Now predict where the puck will be repelled, it is impossible. In general, the variety of game situations has increased many times, mainly due to the care of the "stereotyped" behavior of players (not only) during the match. As a simulator, NHL 2003 is really very similar to real hockey, where it is important to win the penny, easily roll out of the gate, or find any other good position to attack or transfer.
Another change (perhaps the most anticipated) is an opportunity to score after the one on one. Yes, the NHL 2002 occurred after the separation from the defenders of the enemy, a blue screen and rabid heartbeat celebrate success. But usually, after a powerful impact on the exact center. Stroke is the goalkeeper and throw the puck into an empty net did not work. Goalkeeper trite did not give the "wiring" of nasty grin reflecting all attempts to confuse. In NHL 2003 , because the player does not know how to skate backwards and turn around, "deke" acquired a new meaning – it exists not so much for the beautiful slalom pass through the defensive ranks of the enemy, but for the beautiful scoring. The puck to the right, left, between her legs – and the goalkeeper knows that today is not the day Hasek. Especially spectacular goals are obtained when you turn on "Game Breaker", replacing the morale of the team. When the number of successful operations at the site reaches a certain point, hear a special tone. Press a special key, the camera "runs" to "active" hockey player and he gets a 5-second gain their abilities. If cast, – the glass pieces (the result of high-powered cast and well-executed power of reception), and if the enemy takes over his shoulder – he will perform fantastic acrobatics, and if "deke" in front of the gate – keeper will only take the puck from the net.
NHL 2003 screenshot 3.
Click on image to enlarge.
or may not have
can tell for a long time. The fact that after a hat-trick on the ice caps are flying, and the judge have to collect them. With "franchise"-mode still beskhitrosten – renegotiation of the contract is missing, but due to lengthy exchanges with a total mastery of the player 79 to 81, 81 to 83, 83, 85, etc. come to the team all the best masters of NHL. What is the schedule, compared with NHL 2002 , little has changed for the worse (fewer parts and all sorts of reflections). As the audience continues to represent a series of plywood, mostly painted in the colors of the home team. With the last minute of the third period and overtime lasts exactly one minute, in spite of the setting in the options. What players are far from the face of real prototypes of the new technology because of the break-in "kiberfeysov." That there is another kind of repetition especially beautiful and important goals (the whole idea, by the way). What looks like a hockey brawl fight a kangaroo in a zoo. What's in the Russian national team once again played only legionnaires, including Alexander Mogilny, who in "real life" for personal reasons, refuses to play for the national team …
But enough. Main said. Are you ready to rise to a new step in the genre of ice hockey simulator, or intend to abandon the game (with a capital letter!) Because another portion of smaller defects than is famous for EA Sports?
System Requirements
Pentium II 450
128 MB
3D-accelerator
Recommended System Requirements
Pentium III 1000
256 MB
3D-accelerator
Developer: EA Canada
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release date:
Distribution: retail sales
Multiplayer: (6) head-to-head, modem, LAN, Internet
Genres: Sport, Hockey, 3D
Similar games: NHL 2000, NHL 2001, NHL 2002