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NHL Hitz 2002

NHL Hitz 2002 is an arcade-style ice hockey video game released by Midway. It is the first game of the NHL Hitz series. Midway launched this game along with NFL Blitz.

NHL Hitz 2002
North American cover art for GameCube, featuring Scott Stevens
Developer(s)Black Box Games
Publisher(s)Midway
Designer(s)Daniel Rosado
SeriesNHL Hitz
Platform(s)GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2
ReleasePlayStation 2
  • NA: September 25, 2001[1]
  • EU: November 16, 2001
Xbox
  • NA: November 15, 2001
  • EU: March 14, 2002
GameCube
  • NA: November 18, 2001
  • EU: May 10, 2002
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Summary

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This video game was a launch title for both the Xbox and the GameCube and was also released on PlayStation 2. It differs from traditional NHL games in that it does not try to accurately simulate real-life ice hockey. The rules are much more relaxed and the attributes of players dramatically increased, giving the game its arcade feel.

The game features three players on the ice for each team, with an additional 3 players on each teams' bench. Line changes could be done in between periods. Fights were included in the game, but the rules of such greatly differed from NHL rules. Fights last until a player is knocked out, and the losing player is taken out of the game permanently. Since there are only 6 players per team, after one team loses 3 fights, no additional fights are allowed. Hits are encouraged rather than penalized, with players able to knock over other players to temporarily remove them from play, incurring no penalties.

If a player scores 3 goals in one game on their respective team that player becomes "On Fire", making them tougher to knock down and giving them a more powerful shot. If any team scores three uninterrupted one-timers, they achieve "Team Fire" in which every player has Blue Flames surrounding them and have all the advantages of the aforementioned On Fire. There are no line changes during a period and there is no regular season play.[citation needed][2] The front cover features now retired NHL defenceman Scott Stevens of the New Jersey Devils.

The game had a skills competition section with multiple different challenges. Also featured was the ability to unlock sick heads, stadiums and throwback jerseys.

Reception

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The game received "generally favorable reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3][5][4] Jim Preston of NextGen's final issue called the PlayStation 2 version "the best 'wacky' sports game we've played in years."[22] The magazine similarly said of the Xbox version, "If you're up for a game of hockey where players quite literally catch on fire and suffer frequent flights through the glass, this is superb stuff."[23] Atomic Dawg of GamePro said that the GsmeCube version "might not be real NHL hockey, but it might be all the hockey you really need."[28][a] The D-Pad Destroyer said of the Xbox version, "It's no NHL 2002, but Hitz should be a blast for arcade sports fans."[29][b] GameZone gave the same console version 9.1 out of 10, calling it "a terrific blend of arcade-style gaming (as in with the players steaming and bursting into flame) and straight-ahead sports simulation."[30] However, X-Play gave the PlayStation 2 version two stars out of five, saying that it "has neither the gameplay nor the presentation to make its solid concept deliver. If you're truly desperate for a franchise mode in a hockey game, or if you've always wanted to play the Redwings with a team of gladiators, Hitz 2002 may be worth a rental or two. Considering that EA's NHL 2002 can be tweaked to be a much better arcade game than Hitz, there's no real reason to recommend this title."[31]

The game won the awards for "Best Console Extreme Sports Game" and "Best Canadian Console Game of the Year" at The Electric Playground's 2001 Blister Awards, and was nominated for "Best Multiplayer Console Game", but lost to Halo: Combat Evolved.[32][33][34]

Notes

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  1. ^ GamePro gave the GameCube version three 4/5 scores for graphics, sound, and control, and 4.5/5 for fun factor.
  2. ^ GamePro gave the Xbox version three 4.5/5 scores for graphics, sound, and control, and 4/5 for fun factor.

References

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  1. ^ IGN staff (September 25, 2001). "Five New PS2 Titles Ship". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  2. ^ "NHL Hitz 20-02 Training Manual (Xbox)" (PDF). Games Database. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "NHL Hitz 20-02 critic reviews (GC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "NHL Hitz 20-02 critic reviews (PS2)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "NHL Hitz 20-02 critic reviews (Xbox)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  6. ^ Marriott, Scott Alan. "NHL Hitz 20-02 (Xbox) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  7. ^ Hager, Dean (February 2002). "NHL Hitz 20-02 (Xbox)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 151. Ziff Davis. p. 168. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 21, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  8. ^ Mowatt, Todd (November 5, 2001). "NHL Hitz 20-02 (PS2)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on June 22, 2002. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  9. ^ Bramwell, Tom (April 5, 2002). "NHL Hitz 20-02 (Xbox)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  10. ^ Reiner, Andrew (February 2002). "NHL Hitz [20-02] (GC)". Game Informer. No. 106. FuncoLand. p. 87. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  11. ^ Leeper, Justin (December 2001). "NHL Hitz [20-02] (PS2)". Game Informer. No. 104. FuncoLand. p. 94. Archived from the original on April 10, 2005. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  12. ^ Leeper, Justin (January 2002). "NHL Hitz [20-02] (Xbox)". Game Informer. No. 105. FuncoLand. p. 87. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  13. ^ Dr. Moo (October 2001). "NHL Hitz 2002 Review (PS2)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  14. ^ Satterfield, Shane (November 21, 2001). "NHL: Hitz 2002 Review (GC)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 13, 2004. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  15. ^ Satterfield, Shane (September 28, 2001). "NHL Hitz 2002 Review (PS2)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 20, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  16. ^ Satterfield, Shane (November 9, 2001). "NHL Hitz 2002 Review (Xbox)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on January 10, 2005. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  17. ^ Moen, Michael (December 21, 2001). "NHL Hitz 2002 (GCN)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  18. ^ Hiscock, Josh (October 26, 2001). "NHL Hitz 2002 (PS2)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 15, 2004. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  19. ^ Mirabella III, Fran (November 20, 2001). "NHL Hitz 2002 (GCN)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 5, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  20. ^ Zdyrko, David (September 25, 2001). "NHL Hitz 20-02 (PS2)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 5, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  21. ^ Boulding, Aaron (November 14, 2001). "NHL Hitz 20-02 (Xbox)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 5, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  22. ^ a b Preston, Jim (January 2002). "NHL Hitz 20-02 (PS2)". NextGen. No. 85. Imagine Media. p. 81. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  23. ^ a b "NHL Hitz 20-02 (Xbox)". NextGen. No. 85. Imagine Media. January 2002. p. 31. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  24. ^ "NHL Hitz 20-02". Nintendo Power. Vol. 151. Nintendo of America. December 2001. p. 170.
  25. ^ Rodriguez, Steven (January 24, 2002). "NHL Hitz 2002". Nintendo World Report. NINWR, LLC. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  26. ^ Zuniga, Todd (December 2001). "NHL Hitz 2002". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 51. Ziff Davis. p. 170. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  27. ^ "NHL Hitz 20-02". Official Xbox Magazine. Imagine Media. January 2002.
  28. ^ Atomic Dawg (February 2002). "NHL Hitz 2002 (GC)". GamePro. No. 161. IDG. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  29. ^ The D-Pad Destroyer (February 2002). "NHL Hitz 2002 (Xbox)". GamePro. No. 161. IDG. Archived from the original on February 14, 2005. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  30. ^ Lafferty, Michael (November 20, 2001). "NHL Hitz 20-02 Review - Xbox". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 10, 2007. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  31. ^ Keil, Matthew (January 31, 2002). "'NHL Hitz 2002' (PS2) Review". X-Play. TechTV. Archived from the original on June 8, 2002. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  32. ^ EP staff (2002). "Blister Awards 2001 (Console Games)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on July 13, 2003. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  33. ^ EP staff (2002). "Blister Awards 2001 (Console Games 2)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on July 13, 2003. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  34. ^ EP staff (2002). "Blister Awards 2001 (Special Awards)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on July 13, 2003. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
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