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NHL 2003
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 12 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 11 votes
Read user comments
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Game Info
Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: EA Canada
Genre(s): Sports
Players: 4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: October 8, 2002
Summary
Dynamic Deke Control: User-activated dekes give you full control of the puck. Game Breaker: Build enough momentum and the action slows in key moments -- feel your heart pounding while you go for goal. New Graphics and Animation Engine: NHL action comes to life with all-new animations and stunning graphics. New Puck Physics and Goalie AI: The players and puck respond more accurately to your actions. More Cool Features: 4 game modes, Create-A-Player, real on-ice sounds, and dynamic camera work bring the NHL to your fingertips. [EA Sports]
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Armchair Empire
What accounts for the less-than-perfect score is the extreme amount of tweaking it takes to get everything just the way you like it.
Read Full Review >GamePro
You know this gameplay: There’s been a lot of excellent tuning but no mammoth overhauls.
Read Full Review >IGN
This year's game just maintains at the status quo level. True, that's a high level, but it isn't the marked improvement we were hoping for.
Read Full Review >Operation Sports
There is room for improvement in execution of strategy and AI but it looks great, sounds great and is fun to play.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
There are only a few improvements to help distinguish it from NHL 2002, but these changes further increase the realism of what is considered the best hockey simulation on the market.
Read Full Review >Official Xbox Magazine
It's everything you'd expect from NHL 2003, except - isn't it time you expected more? [Dec 2002, p.133]
Game Informer
The Game Breaker special shots are, frankly, corny; and the Dynamic Dekes are just too hard to control. [Nov 2002, p.142]
Xbox Nation Magazine
There's just enough innovation here to warrant spending another 50 clams, but only if you're a die-hard fan of the series. [Winter 2002, p.105]
Team Xbox
The realistic puck physics and new goalie animations are the best additions, but certainly do not make up for the cheap computer A.I. and the Swiss cheese defense.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
It’s not sim enough to match up with Sega’s offering, and Midway has a faster, more fun arcade hockey game in NHL Hitz.
Read Full Review >Play Magazine
As always, the graphics in NHL 2003 are exceptional, especially on the Xbox. There were times when I thought I was watching an actual hockey game. [Nov 2002, p.88]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 7.9 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Uter gave it a 2:
There isn't a more disappointing hockey game out there. NHL went from being my favorite game series of all time to one of my least. They keep adding gimmicky things, and fogetting to improve the realism and gameplay. Also, the graphics are almost unchanged from last year. I really hate this game. I will never buy another EA NHL game ever again!
Andrew M. gave it an 8:
Superb! A truly great game that suffers from a few minor glitches. For someone that does not own, or has never played NHL 2002, then this is a sound purchase. Having said that, this is the 3rd EA hockey title that I have purchaced and again it is still top notch...(I must say however it has been a long time between drinks for myself... NHL 94 and NHL 96 (SNES) which at the time were awesome) Graphically, NHL 2003 may not make the most of the xbox's capabilities, but the replays and soundtracks, and generally animations, (of players, refs and crowd) makes for a worthwhile experience. The statistically minded are also well taken care off with a very impressive aray of stats from the current and previous season, as well as playoffs! The only minor draw-back can be noted with the defensive linesmen AI. Leaving men alone infront of the net, giving away stupid penalties etc... However, with practice the advanced player can learn to ignore the puck carrier, and iron out those camping infront of the goalie (even if sometimes the action is not on the screen). Despite some flaws, this is a well rounded game, with a way cool soundtrack, and in-depth gameplay! A winner.
BlueWalrus Wally gave it a 9:
Pros: -Excellent well rounded Game as always from EA. -Defense AI is great, The Trap really does work. -Announcers are the real thing. -Game play is great Cons: -Computer is too good when they are down... how realistic is it that they score on one shot everytime I score on them? And sometimes I have about 34 shots to 10, and the score can be 5-4. Ridicilous unfair AI. -It's too easy to score by doing one-timers. Only Great players can pass as well as the average joes in this game can. -With AUTO line changes, they go off at the dumbest of times, when I'm on a possible 2 on 1 breakaway. They should have a meter indicating your players are off, because 50% of the time I pass the puck and then it zooms down to my zone because my players are changing.
S. S. gave it a 10:
It's awesome.
Sean C. gave it a 10:
This game is the best hockey game i have ever played in my life. the best part was 100 million.
Everett V. gave it a 9:
I'm usually a Sega Sports fan, but my girlfriend convinced me to go out on a limb (translation: she paid for it). We have played together several times and enjoyed it thoroughly. Neither one of us are sports fanatics, yet we still found this fun to play. There is more in the game than I'll ever use, but that doesn't mean I liked it any less. It'd be nice if someone included a mode for first time players of sports games to help give them an edge. Even with adjustments I still have to make sure she enjoys the game (translation: play to her skill level).
Mike J. gave it a 9:
Tons of fun for the true hockey fan.
