NHL 2003 Gamecube

"The most widely known and popular hockey league series created, EA's continuing license of NHL receives yet another technical and graphical overhaul in the form of NHL 2003 for PlayStation 2. With versions 2001 and 2002 already available for the Sony console, many of you may be left wondering what else can be done to make this update look any better. Well, some will insist that the visuals of a game improve with every new wave of games released. NHL 2003 is a third generation title, and consequently, comes with new graphics and animation engines that make all the difference to an already stunning series of games. The gameplay itself has received minor changes, but the goalie AI is perhaps the most notable. The man guarding the goal is more formidable than he ever was. He will, on occasion, make spectacular saves, breakaways and rebounds and even makes the occasional mistake, demonstrating his fallibility. Other tweaks are less significant, but help to iron out the creases of the previous NHL games. NHL 2003 also plays host to an improved 'GameStory' feature, whereby the game keeps track of the successes and failures of individual players through replays and commentary, giving a sense of continuity. Customisable gameplay allows new users to selects skill levels and train in tutorials, while a variety of game modes such as Season, Playoffs and International Tournaments ensure there's something for both newcomers and veterans of the NHL series."