Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: NHL Hitz 20-03

Written by Adam Woolcott on November 21, 2002

Full Review: Remember, it's twenty-oh-three, not two thousand and three. Itz the hipz wayz to do it, ya knowz.

What started 10 years ago for Midway has blown into one of their biggest lines of video games Ц that being the УextremeФ versions of the four major sports. Instead of taking on the EA's and Sega's of the world, Midway Sports has targeted the sports fan looking for more action and less simulation in their sports games, and Midway has done just that over the years; with signature names like NBA Jam (the Jam name now belongs to Acclaim, ironically), NFL Blitz, MLB Slugfest, and the subject of this review, NHL Hitz. While Midway bombed years ago with NHL Open-Ice in the arcades and later on PlayStation, NHL Hitz succeeded in many ways Ц most interestingly in how they slightly shifted the focus away from over the top theatrics and instead came up with a unique 3 on 3 hockey game that carries about as many simulation aspects in addition to the arcade gameplay Midway is famous for. The latest addition, NHL Hitz 20-03, furthers the concept of Уsim-cadeФ hockey, mixing in enough features and action to appease even the hardcore NHL fans. While pure simulation fans probably should go and pick up NHL 2K3 from Sega, everyone else should find a lot to like here, despite the obvious Midway stereotype.

When looking at the options and features of Hitz, you'd be surprised to realize that it isn't a true hockey simulation. The old Midway staple of ladder-style progression through the game is nowhere to be seen, replaced by a more common style of a single player game. First off is the season mode, which has the real NHL schedule for the season and features actual stat tracking and leaders, as well as typical standings and playoff positioning. While not as in-depth as a traditional NHL game, it's enough to appease those who don't need to be drowned in statistics. Bigger yet is the very cool Franchise mode; instead of your typical Franchise, it takes a different turn.

Within Franchise, your goal is to create a team as well as the players on your team, and take them on a world tour, and winning will land you a spot in the NHL, where you'll take part in the actual season. It's a really cool twist on a typical theme, showing that creativity does still exist in sports gaming. Of course if you don't want that trouble, you can still play basic exhibition modes.

Also part of the feature set is a cool mini-game mode that made its debut with the last Hitz gameЕall the little games are tests of skills that can actually improve your skills in the real games in your Season or Franchise modes (as well as multiplayer).

When you hit the ice, you'll notice how different the Hitz hockey is Ц instead of a 5 on 5 game, Hitz simplifies things and makes it 3 on 3. The surprising thing is, Hitz actually plays like a real game of hockey despite the changes, and works very well in creating an exciting experience. Naturally, since this is a Midway game, the fighting of hockey is emphasized, and you'll get into a fight or 2 every game. The problem is, like nearly all hockey games, the fighting engine is poor and more tedious than enjoyable. After a fight, both players go to the penalty box for a few minutes, and it's a 2 on 2 score-fest.

By now you're thinking; УPenalties? In a Midway game?Ф And yes, there are some penalties, but just a couple. There's one for fighting, and another for attacking the goalie, but the rest is typical anything goes style. There's no offsides calls, no 2 line passes, and the dreaded icing is nowhere to be found.

Also missing is the standard Midway УcatchupФ AI that keeps games close (see NBA Jam, NFL Blitz). It's an option in the game, but developer Black Box Games has kept the cheating AI tricks buried, creating a game that's much more balanced and less cheap.

Honestly, the only thing that would separate this game from a typical NHL game (only with less players and hardly any penalties) is the Midway staples that DID make it into the game. The standard Уon fireФ element returns, with 2 different flavors. You can catch fire with one player with a combination of hard hits and goal scoring, or you can wait and fill both УfireФ meters and ignite team fire. Instead of it automatically happening, going on fire is controlled by the player and when they want to trigger it.

The other remaining staple is the hard-hitting action. Hits are pretty rough and violent, and the special moves are slightly exaggerated to create an arcade feel. The fast pace of the game with 3 players per side is frantic, so scoring opportunities come early and often. Despite that, Hitz does manage to keep the scoring down a bit, resulting in a lot of 5-3 and 3-2 games. That's because for every scoring chance, there's a crazed defender ready to smack you and steal the puck. The deke (which looks more like a spinning figure skater) is a useful move, but if you get thwacked when you come out of the move, you're outta luck.

All in all, Hitz plays like your typical Midway Sports game, but just tweaked a tad to attempt to lure hockey sim fans into trying it out. Given that hockey is already a hard-hitting sport, re-creating it with more arcadey play really isn't easy, but Midway and Black Box do manage to create a fun game of hockey for those who are looking for a less daunting simulation and just want to have some fun.

Given the small amount of players on screen, it's not a surprise that NHL Hitz 20-03 looks pretty nice graphically. When up close the players look a bitЕoddЕbut when on the ice they move fluidly and animate well (go back to the deke move). The ice is nice and shiny and gets ripped up as the game goes on, and the sheer amount of different arenas to pick from (from virtually all walks of life) is a good touch Ц even though the standard arena for each team is the exact same oneЕno variety between them at all. It's all nothing really outstanding, but it's competent and PS2 worthy.

The usual wacko Midway announcer returns with a partner for Hitz, and they fill in the audio fairly well. They tend to repeat a bit, but it's not really that bad, and sometimes it's pretty funny. The other effects are nice; the sound of skates sliding across the ice are well done, and the loud crowd is a nice plus too.

Midway also summoned a giant УextremeФ soundtrack for Hitz, including acts like Rob Zombie, Hoobastank, and the almighty Incubus, amongst a ton more. If you dislike the music, its more of a matter of taste, because the song choices are pretty good (if oddly unnecessary for a hockey game).