Despite NHL 2002 shares a lot of the elements from 2001, it's by far one of the biggest steps forward that I have seen in the series in years, and as good as 2001 was, 2002 is even better! You can disagree with me, but I'm big ice hockey fan and NHL 2002 owns me for now :P So what's new in this year's version? Well, plenty of goodies:

• NEW Breakaway Cam: Experience the most exciting play in hockey from the athletes' ice level audio/visual perspective.
• NHL® Cards: Earn points towards the purchase of  "NHL Cards" by performing game moves and reaching milestones. Cards provide the player with boosts, cheats, and other fun un-lockable features.
• EA GameStory: Tracks events during the game and tells compelling stories as they unfold. Stories are told using cinematic camerawork, clever replays, overlays, play-by-play, and color commentary.
• NEW Create-a-Player: Enhanced customization enables gamers to create themselves, an intense power forward, or a gritty defenseman with an assortment of hairstyles and colors, mustaches, beards, eyes, and other features.
• Precision Animation: Provides a more fluid gameplay experience, giving gamers the ability to reach for passes and kick the puck up to the stick.
• Emotion Meter: Emotionally charged scenes create the intensity of a real game through improved animation. Get the home crowd pumped or an away crowd angry and your team WILL respond.
• Gameplay Sliders: Play the game the way you want to play. Gamers can select a level of play that suits their experience from beginner to advanced, speeding up or slowing down the level of play accordingly.
• NEW Color Commentator: Color-commentator Don Taylor joins play-by-play veteran Jim Hughson in the broadcast booth to provide insightful, and humorous game commentary.
• 6 Modes of Play: Six different modes including; "Play Now," Season Play, Career Mode, Playoff, Shootout, and Tournament.
• Official NHL and NHLPA® licensed product including all 30 NHL and 20 International teams.

PlayStation 2 Console Specific Features

• Career mode allows gamers to compete for the Stanley Cup for up to 10 consecutive seasons. ·
• Compete in a season or career with the multi-player season feature.

PC Specific Features

• Create custom jerseys, and import them into NHL® 2002 with the “Jersey Importer.”
• Download cool MP3s or .WAV files into NHL® 2002.
• Online/Internet (external) play allows you to compete online against other NHL 2002 fans.

Overall, NHL 2002 includes more options than I'm used to expecting out (It's probably not easy to successfully sell the same sports game year after year). However it remains questionable whether the hardcore fans NHL 2001 will be interested in this year's additions and spend money again. Also some improvements aren't much cool. For example a new NHL cards, fortunately you don't have to play with card if you don't want to. Similarly with a bit frustrating new graphical effect occurs whenever there is a dramatic body check or goaltender save which freezes gameplay for a moment. It's nice option but is better to turn it off :) Anyhow If you're a hockey fan, you definitely won't want to miss this baby!

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