To keep this option fresh, there are a range of different settings and strategies available. The play now option, basically a quick game, can be a decent alternative when time is short or you don’t want to start one of the longer game modes. For instance, there is a play now option for a quick game, a selection to view NHL cards you’ve earned, and a game mode option that lets you start a new season, playoff, tournament, or shootout. When starting, you’ll see this year there are various different modes to select. As you’ll see, NHL 2002 really takes hockey to the next level, with only a few minor gameplay issues to distract you. In addition, the commentating has been greatly improved, you can create your own player, and there are various other extra features that help keep the game fresh. This year’s installment features much-improved single player modes like Season Play, Career Mode, and Playoff that greatly increase the games replay value, as well as increased frame rates that put last year's version to shame. Well, if you were disappointed with NHL 2001, you’re in for a pleasant surprise with NHL 2002, as it appears EA Sports was listening to your grievances. For instance, NHL 2001 gave a solid multiplayer performance, but was severely lacking in the single player modes and also ran into trouble generating adequate frame rates.

Even some of the better attempts like EA’s last NHL 2001 for the PlayStation 2 seemed to not grasp that next level that distinguishes it from all the rest. Since Blades of Steel was released years ago, there have been quite a few pathetic, but also a few solid, hockey games released. NHL 2003 introduces some novel ideas but, as with most of EA's sport titles, it's hard to distinguish one NHL game from the next. The player models are high in detail and their reflections on the ice turn the whole game into a thing of beauty. Graphically this instalment shines, quite literally. When you do start to pull moves off though, there's nothing quite as satisfying as sticking the little sucker into the opponents net. The puck travels round the rink like Flubber on amphetamines and - if you're anything like me - you spend a lot of time wondering what the hell you're doing and shouting at the screen a lot. Unless you've got the reactions of a snake, NHL titles are much less about tactics (stopping to assess the situation and think about your next move is out of the question) than it is about quickfingers and blind luck. Especially if you can get into a fight with them. Although they're more like sophisticated versions of Pong than accurate representations of real physical sports, there's something quite compelling about playing ice hockey games against friends. Hmm, What's this? Football on ice? With sticks? It'll never take off.

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