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Screens & Info Updated: 8/26/2003 Retro uniforms are an outstanding addition to the Sega NHL series. If you want to play with the ol' Jason-style mask, prefer the the American flag colour scheme of yesteryear's Washington Capitals, or you're a Winnipeg Jets fan who just can't let go of the past, NHL 2K4 has a retro treat in store for you. Take a look at the presentation, pond rinks, and cool jerseys from the days of way back. I'll be wiping away a tear of nostalgia as a Vancouver-clad Mike Peca once again takes the head off a lolly-gagging Teemu Selanne. Memmorieeeeeeeesss...
Screens & Info Updated: 8/13/2003 We've added several more screenshots today, showing off the new ESPN presentation that Sega is using to bring the network experience into your Xbox or PlayStation 2. Sega's going all out this year to really take advantage of the ESPN license - take a gander at our screenshots to see exactly what we mean. From the worldwide leader in sports to the leader in sports gaming, ESPN NHL Hockey brings to hockey gamers new and old, a presentation style that truly blurs the line between a television broadcast and a sports video game. Dynamic cameras will show off exciting replays of the intense action in the rink, complemented with ESPN style overlays providing all the key statistical information. But most of all, to bring the true ESPN-style television broadcast the commentary duo describing the battle on ice must have great knowledge of the game, intelligent insight on the tactics being used, and exceptional chemistry. To this end, ESPN NHL Hockey is proud to bring the talents of Gary Thorne and Bill Clement, ESPN's most venerable hockey commentating team, to what could be the best hockey video game this year.
Update 7-29-2003: One of the most exciting new features in ESPN NHL Hockey has got to be the new Skills Competition mode. Based on the Skills events from All-Star Saturday, gamers will be able to compete in several different technical trials against the computer or against your friends. Test your precision in Accuracy Shooting, as you aim for targets in goal with the best snipers in the NHL. If you think you're slapshot has power, step up to the Hardest Shot contest to see if you can break the 100 MPH barrier. If you're more team-oriented, compete in the high-intensity Breakaway Relay as you try to score as many goals against an opposing goalie while also playing in net and defending one-on-one against the other team's best skaters. If you're ready for a Top Shelf challenge, try competing in each of the skills in our User Challenge mode: pucks glide in from different directions in Hardest Shot, the skating paths getting longer and increasingly difficult in Puck Control, and more targets are set-up in Accuracy Shooting. Skills event in User Challenge mode become more challenging as you complete each level for each of the skills events. The Skills Competition not only adds an exhilarating dimension of fun, it also delivers to new hockey fans a chance to tune their hockey skills before unleashing them in battle. Every other Tuesday, new information, screenshots, and movies will be revealed including a brand new graphics engine, broadcast quality presentation elements, and thrilling new gameplay modes. Update 7-15-2003: Today, we introduce our Jeremy Roenick, one of the NHL's most respected hockey players. Whether he's making life difficult for opposing defensemen in the regular season, or grinding it out with workman-like resolve in the fight for The Cup, Jeremy Roenick's diehard attitude, aggressive play-style, and blue collar work ethic make him the ideal player to represent what could be the best hockey game this year - ESPN NHL Hockey. NHL 2K3 is the best playing, most realistic hockey game available on the market today. Fact. The breakouts, ability to pin opponents against the boards, properly tuned AI and pure attention to detail made Sega's hockey title the new lord of all things ice-related. Sure, other games like EA Sports' NHL 2003 looked better on the presentation side of things, but they couldn't hold a candle to Sega's gameplay. Still, in games as in life, it's always a question of, "What have you done for me lately?" and Sega doesn't look like they're going to sit back and rest on their new championship. It's always harder to hold the top spot than it is to chase the top spot, and with the ESPN brand firmly in hand, Sega's ESPN NHL Hockey 2004 is taking the steps to rectify last year's deficiencies and improve upon their strengths. For now, enjoy the screenshots, marvel at the new graphics engine, and check back with us next Tuesday for additional information, screenshots, and more.
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