NHL 02

NHL 02 continues the series of hockey simulators from EA, and although there are fewer big innovations in it than in the previous part, the game turned out to be very strong. The main work went into artificial intelligence: the behavior of opponents and partners became more realistic, thanks to which matches no longer resemble skating along predetermined routes. On the ice, it is noticeable that the teams are acting intelligently: defensemen are blocking passing lanes, forwards are looking for free zones, and goalies are reacting to shooting situations. The feeling of fighting is added by power moves and work on the boards, which is why victory over a live opponent or the computer on high difficulty is not easy. In addition to friendly matches, there are season and dynasty modes, where the club lives from season to season: trades, injuries, roster and calendar require attention, and the roster has to be updated before the leaders get old. The presentation of matches, commentary and analysis of episodes look solid by the standards of their year. It’s also worth noting that the game has an editor and difficulty settings that allow you to tailor the matches to suit you: from arcade fun to tough combat. Commentary and replays create a broadcast feel, and season tables help you track your team's progress. For the history of the series, this is a strong part without unnecessary experiments. Today, the NHL 02 is part of the history of the series, valued for its balance and fair play without unnecessary embellishment. For those who want to remember what hockey was like in games at the turn of the millennium, this is the right choice.