Too often I found myself being matched up with some nitwit or going against someone who has been playing this game day and night for the last three months. The pick-up games are cutesy pond hockey romps which are fun for running and gunning. The whole ranked and unranked affair echoes of the single player game except you're playing with as many as ten people. On Live you can play in ranked, unranked or pick-up games. There is no scheduling of practices or upgrading facilities. Forget about Olympic teams, there are none. There is a season, tournament and playoff mode. So, where to begin… Well, let's begin with features. Some would argue that Baseball is more so, but they would be wrong. Hockey is, after all a game of traditions and superstitions. (Last year I saw an Islander/Ranger game and I counted about eight fights in the stands.) Whenever there is an original six match-up you're in for a good game. The Islander/Ranger games are always a hoot if not for the hockey then for the fan antics. The Detroit/Colorado rivalry has been one of the best rivalries of recent memory. Rivals is a game that focuses just on that, rivalry. So perhaps I am biased when it comes to Microsoft Games Studio's NHL Rivals. I even have a soft spot for rock'em-sock'em hockey games like NHL Hitz. I consider myself an astute student of the game and have been playing Hockey all the way back since Ice Hockey to Blades of Steel through the vaunted early 90's editions of EA's NHL Hockey to my current favorite ESPN Hockey for XBox. I realize that I am one of nineteen people who, this side of the Canadian border, love Hockey first and foremost.
The PlayStation 2 and Windows versions of NHL 2004 support online play.Hockey is my game. In addition to the standard list of NHL teams, there are thirty-nine international teams to choose from, such as the German DEL or the Swedish Elitserien, in addition to the usual United States, Canada and others.
This feature is not found in the PC version. If you play more EA Sports titles, if you play for a long time, and if you get special achievements (such as your first ejection in NHL 2004 or your first number one in NASCAR Thunder 2004), you will get a higher player level and will be rewarded with bonuses, such as cheat codes and new stadiums. NHL 2004 contains the EA Sports Biography, which is a feature found in all console versions of EA Sports games. Losing the game, being checked, making careless passes all increase your agitation meter, until you're ready to explode and fight at the slightest bit of control. Before getting into fights, you'll need to shake a player, and this is where their shake meter comes into play. The right analog stick controls the 'Hit Control', which allows you to perform different moves by tilting the stick in different directions. NHL 2004 features a new fighting engine, allowing for more precise and realistic fights. Precise passing, shooting and accurate skating are achieved by simply touching the button. The control of NHL 2004 has been refined, allowing for more precise movement than in previous games. In addition to Dynasty mode, you have the basic game modes: Season, Exhibition and Playoffs. If you are good enough, you can enter the GM Hall of Fame.
As GM, you'll have to negotiate contracts, make drafts, make trades, sign free agents, make sure your players get the training they need and much more. You assume the role of GM for up to twenty seasons. Like Madden NFL 2004, NHL 2004 has a deep career mode, entitled Dynasty Mode.
The 'best-selling professional field hockey franchise' returns with the 2004 edition, and it comes loaded with more.