NHL Hitz 2003 - Xbox

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Also for: PS2, GameCube
Viewed: 3D Third-person, floating camera Genre:
Sport: Ice Hockey
Media: DVD Arcade origin:No
Developer: Eidos Soft. Co.: Eidos
Publishers: Midway (GB/GB)
Released: 1 Nov 2002 (GB)
Unknown (GB)
Ratings: 11+
Accessories: Xbox Memory Unit

Summary

It's hasn't been running quite as long as EA's NHL series, but Midway's NHL Hitz takes the best elements of a great hockey simulator and combines them with the intense competition and in-game conflicts seen in the real thing.

Officially licensed by the bigwigs at the NHL and NHLPA, Hitz 20-03 unleashes a complete hockey experience with even more visually stunning graphics, lightning-fast, extreme-style hockey gameplay and improved NHL attributes, plus Hitz signature hard-checking, adrenaline-style sports action. As the only dedicated adrenaline-style hockey video game franchise for next-generation platforms, Hitz 20-03 showcases over-the-top 3-on-3 gameplay with players who leap, glide, check, pass and score on would-be defenders. This version of Hitz runs up the score on the hockey video game category with new features such as the all-new franchise mode, which enhances the single player experience by giving users the power to create a team from infancy, grow that team through international competition, earn a franchise, and eventually compete for the Stanley Cup.

Hitz 20-03 also includes a new soundtrack with top pop turns such as Moby, Incubus and Rob Zombie, all available for play on the game's jukebox.

Possibly the best looking version of the bunch, Hitz 20-03 for Xbox has a certain graphical quality that's lacking in the other versions. All three games are identical, yes, but the Xbox version just feels a little more polished, showing fewer glitches and a better frame rate.

All-new game modes add challenge and depth to the gameplay experience. Hitz 20-03's Hockey School features a tutorial from retired Hall of Fame coach and nine-time Stanley Cup champion Scotty Bowman. Veteran fans will also appreciate even more mini-games and an in-depth New Season mode that enables detailed statistics tracking, player trades using trade logic, a playoff tree, and official NHL awards. The game also suits up with bigger, stronger and faster players, as well as improved goalie logic, behaviour, animations and control, which make it tougher to score.

To add to the gameplay experience, NHL teams take on the same playing style as their real-life counterparts, while two-man motion capture animations provide gamers with a more realistic view of the action. Hitz 20-03 also delivers enhancements to its signature, over-the-top play with secret arenas presented in a unique fantasy setting as well as hidden teams and special players to unlock along the way.

So there's a lot to do, and hockey's fast-paced gameplay ensures you're not going to get bored in the process. Now get on the ice and do some damage!