If you do decide to drop the gloves, however, the new fighting system offers an entertaining diversion that should appeal to enforcers and speedsters alike. If your gamepad is appropriately equipped, you can now direct two-button touch-sensitive passes and control the direction of your hits and bodychecks with the game's new "Bruise Control" feature (the decision to fight is now left entirely up to the player). Also complimenting the game's new sim-like presentation are upgraded control options and an all-new fighting engine. Although this new close-checking AI is still several notches from perfect - games can still be won with suspicious momentum shifts or goon factor defensive tactics - it's nevertheless a significant improvement on past versions. True hockey fans have detested the "trap" since Jacques Lemaire foisted it on us it with the New Jersey Devils in the mid-'90s, but like it or not, it's part of the game and Black Box has taken pains to model this in NHL 2004.
Defenders clutch and grab at speedy forwards with the same brutal degree of effectiveness they employ in the real NHL, and as a consequence, it's no longer possible to run up the score on opponents by executing stock one-timers, play after repetitious play. NHL 2004 delivers a much more authentic representation of the fastest game on ice and this is reflected in its tight checking action (low-scoring games are now the norm) and truer-to-life gameplay mechanics. The gameplay improvements probably won't be popular with the arcade crowd or anyone else who actually preferred the slapstick commentary, dramatic camera work, and double-digit scores featured in NHL 2003. Throw in some impressive new player animations, graphic upgrades, multiplayer enhancements, and a retooled fighting system, and there are more than enough goodies here to justify the upgrade.
In addition to some welcome gameplay tweaks and AI improvements by new developer Black Box, NHL 2004 also ships with a beefy new dynasty mode where Glen Sather or Bobby Clarke wannabes can micromanage their favorite teams for a full twenty seasons. There are a number of reasons for this, but the key ones are pretty compelling. NHL 2004 is a must-have game for rookie hockey fans and purists alike. With the series' latest chapter, I'm happy to report that the decision is a complete no-brainer. A number of factors weigh in here, not the least of which is just how much "stuff" EA has shoehorned into the new CD (updated rosters aside).
Hockey-mad PC gamers face a tough decision each year - plunk down 40 bucks for the latest version of EA Sports' NHL or stick with last year's perfectly serviceable edition.
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