ESPN NHL Hockey Preview

Developer	Kush Games
Publisher	Sega
Genre	Sports
Release Date	9/17/03

The work that Visual Concept did on NHL 2K3 was one of the more pleasant surprises of the 2003 sports season on the PS2. Though it launched late, the gameplay was hockey to the core and, despite lacking the polish that EA’s NHL 2003 had, I ranked the title’s gameplay as being the best console appearance of Canada’s game in at least five years, possibly ever. Everything came together perfectly – passing, shooting, skating. It was the most complete hockey game I’d ever played, even including gameplay refinements like trapping along the boards and one-timing loose pucks. Where do you go from there?

If you’re Sega, you switch developers, push the already stellar gameplay, and work from the outset at developing that “polish” that a truly great game needs these days. Taking over from Visual Concepts are the developers of NCAA College Basketball 2K3, Kush Games. The Camarillo-based developer is new, established on January 1st, 2002, but already has a wealth of experience in GameCube, PS2, and Xbox development.

So what’s changed about the game? From the sounds of it, everything but the gameplay. The addition of the ESPN licence is the biggest change, or at least the one that has the most people talking. Was it a good idea to grab the licence? It’s tough to say, there are a lot of truly bad games with that label on them, and it’ll be tough for Kush and Sega to overcome that taint. That argument aside, the licence is being used to implement ESPN-style overlays and scoreboards, as well as replacing the old commentary team, source of many a complaint, with Gary Thorne and Bill Clement – a definite step up.

There’s also a new graphics engine that’s powering a dynamic new lighting and reflection system, including a nifty ice spray from quick stops and starts. Player and arena details have also been jacked right up, with sweaters even showing the mesh. Player faces also get an upgrade, transforming from the recognizable, if somewhat drab faces in 2K3 to recognizable, detailed, and animated versions in 2K4. When someone hits a post, their face will actually show their disgust as they sit on the bench during the replay.

New animations round out the non-gameplay related tweaks, with Kush promising a number of new checking animations, including the ability to check people over the boards and into the benches. Fighting is, in accordance with the NHL’s screwy policies on not glorifying that part of the game, still less indepth than most would like, but it’s definitely also improved.

Fourteen international teams are available this year, and Kush is including an as of yet undisclosed number of throwback jerseys and playable historic teams. Finally, the Hartford Whalers can make their triumphant return to the NHL! These teams are made up of classic jerseys with fake names on them, but I’d imagine the industrious player could easily remake those teams faithfully using the included player editor.

On the gameplay side, the focus is on tweaking – not changing. Kush is working heavily on boosting opposition AI to the point that players react intelligently to puck position based on their position, their teammates position, and their team philosophy. Kush is also working on the goaltenders, who stymied plenty of opponents in 2K3, tweaking them to be more human in net and make the occasional mistake. While it’s not likely to be an NHL 2003-style goalfest, where shooting from the red line will routinely go in, the chance is going to be there to score on the long shots a bit more frequently. Goaltenders will more closely mimic their real strengths and weaknesses, so scouting out the opposition will become somewhat more important.

PS2 gamers are going to get a crack at some online hockey action this year, with the game supporting the network adapter. Going above and beyond the call of duty, the game will also support the Socom headset for real-time voice chat during play. Roster downloads are also likely, though not announced as of yet.

The bottom line here is that it’s more of the same, only better. If Kush can keep the gameplay the same and just improve the presentation, the game is a must-buy. The motto of NHL 2K4 is “true to the NHL”, some lofty goals indeed. Only time will tell if their efforts to tweak 2K3 up to ‘the next level’ will succeed.

Preview by Rod Oracheski