Let me preface this review by saying that I have been playing videogame hockey since I got “Ice Hockey” for my Atari 2600 about 16 years ago.  Since that time, I’ve played various hockey games on Atari, Nintendo, Sega, Super Nintendo, Genesis, Playstation and PC.  The only reason I’m mentioning all this is so you will realize that I am an experienced source when I say that NHL2K for the Sega Dreamcast is without a doubt the best hockey game ever made for any platform.  In fact, NHL2K may very well be the best sports game made in the history of video games.

To start, the graphics are the best you’ve ever seen for a hockey game.  There are times when you actually might think that the game is a real hockey game being broadcast on TV.  In fact, my grandfather came to visit me and walked into the room while I was playing and asked who was playing (He’s a big Red Wings fan).  Granted his eyesight isn’t the best, but you get the point.  The wizards at Sega really outdid themselves on this one.  They make full use of the Dreamcast’s superior 3d technology, and build on their experience from creating NFL2K and NBA2K.  Noticeably missing from this game (thankfully) is that jagged, square/flat look that most Playstation sports games still have.  I’m not sure exactly how many polygons are being used, but there are more than enough to smooth out the graphics and make this the prettiest looking sports game I’ve ever seen.

Usually when a game has superior graphics, the gameplay tends to suffer.  Not true with this game!  NHL2K has the best game play of any sports game I’ve ever played, and that includes NFL2K, NBA2K and any version of Madden sports.  The movement and control of the players across the ice is incredibly fluid and realistic.  Passing the puck from player to player and performing one-timers becomes like second nature after only a few minutes of playing.   In fact, within 30 minutes of playing the game for the very first time I was setting up the most beautiful one-timers you’ve ever seen.  The physics of the game are also extremely realistic.  To gain perspective on this, try skating forward immediately after skating backwards.  I’ve let my defensemen give up far too many goals that way!  All in all, the gameplay and player controls are phenomenal!

There are also a bunch of little touches or “intangibles” that aren’t easily categorized but really make this game special and should be mentioned.  When players make sharp cuts on the ice, ice shavings actually fly into the air and fall back to the rink. Along these lines, the ice in the rink actually gets messy throughout the period.  As players skate across the ice, you can actually see the lines being made in the ice from their skates!  Then, at the beginning of the next period, the ice is shiny and slick again.  In fact, the ice is so shiny that you can see a reflection of the players in it! That’s a touch that I really enjoyed.  One last item to mention: on the sides of the ice rinks are advertisements for real companies instead of the usual cheesy, fake companies. To name a few, I spotted ads for Nortel Networks, Federal Express and Dodge.  That’s not a big deal, but it’s a nice touch and shows nice attention to detail.

No game is perfect and though this one comes close, there is some room for improvement.   The play-by-play announcers are very good overall, but tend to fall WAY behind if you pass a lot.  A few times I scored a goal and they were still saying “..passes to Yzerman, passes to Fedorov.”  It’s a little bit silly.  Also, on the playability it is nearly impossible to score on a breakaway.  I don’t know if it’s because I’m still new to the game or I’m doing something wrong, but my current streak must be like 1 for 100 on breakaways.  I know that breakaways in the NHL score at least 50% of the time.  Am I that bad?  Along these lines, the goalies are too good!  I had several breakaway 2 on none one-timers that I couldn’t score on because the goalies made the most incredible saves.  I can expect this from Dominique Hasek or Ed Belfour sometimes, but not from the 3^rd string goalie on the expansion Thrashers!  Finally, goals happen too quickly.  Not even a second passes by between the time you score a goal and the replay starts.  There needs to be a few seconds of celebration time before the replay begins.  All of these are minor nit-picks and don’t take anything away from a fun game.

In summary: If you are a hockey fan you MUST get this game.  If you own a Dreamcast you MUST get this game.  If you don’t have a Dreamcast and are a hockey fan, you MUST first buy a Dreamcast and then get this game.  In other words, get this game.. What are you waiting for?  OK!  Enough said!  I don’t know about you, but I’m getting back to playing my game.  I’m down 3-2 late in the 3^rd period!

reviewed by Brandon Kaminsky