NHL Hitz 2002
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Canada |
| Products | NHL Hitz 2002 |
NHL Hitz 2002 is an arcade-inspired ice hockey video game crafted by Black Box Games and distributed by Midway. Serving as the first installment in the NHL Hitz franchise, it was released simultaneously with NFL Blitz.
Summary
Launched as a debut title for the Xbox and GameCube, and also accessible on PlayStation 2, NHL Hitz 2002 sets itself apart from conventional NHL simulations by embracing a more casual, arcade-like style. The game amplifies player abilities significantly, resulting in a swift and dynamic gameplay experience.
Teams consist of three skaters on the ice accompanied by three players on the bench, permitting line substitutions between periods. The fighting system deviates from standard NHL rules: altercations persist until one participant is knocked out and permanently removed from the match. Given the limited roster of six players per team, after a team loses three fights, no further brawls are allowed. The game promotes aggressive body checking without penalties, allowing players to temporarily incapacitate their opponents.
When a player scores three goals in a single game, they enter an "On Fire" state that boosts their resilience and shot strength. Completing three uninterrupted consecutive one-timer shots activates "Team Fire," which extends these enhancements to the entire squad, visually indicated by blue flames surrounding the players. Unlike traditional hockey games, there are no line changes during periods or regular season matches. The cover features retired NHL defenseman Scott Stevens from the New Jersey Devils.
Additional elements include a skills competition mode offering various challenges and unlockables such as distinctive player heads, stadiums, and vintage jerseys.
Reception
Across all platforms, the game was met with "generally favorable reviews" according to Metacritic. Jim Preston of NextGen described the PlayStation 2 edition as "the best 'wacky' sports game we've played in years," while the same publication praised the Xbox version for delivering an authentic arcade hockey experience. Atomic Dawg from GamePro remarked that although the GameCube version "may not represent true NHL hockey, it might be exactly the hockey experience you need." The Xbox variant was labeled by The D-Pad Destroyer as "a blast for arcade sports enthusiasts," and GameZone awarded it a 9.1/10 score, commending its fusion of arcade excitement and sports simulation.
Conversely, X-Play rated the PlayStation 2 version lower with two stars out of five, criticizing its gameplay and presentation when compared to rivals like EA’s NHL 2002.
The title garnered multiple industry honors, winning both "Best Console Extreme Sports Game" and "Best Canadian Console Game of the Year" at The Electric Playground's 2001 Blister Awards. It also received nominations for "Best Multiplayer Console Game" and "GameCube Game of the Year," though these awards went to Halo: Combat Evolved and Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader, respectively.