Geek specs:

Minimum System Requirements:
Windows ME/2000/98/95
300Mhz Intel Pentium 2 or AMD K6-2 Processor
32 MB RAM
4x CD/ DVD-Rom drive
100 MB Free Hard Disk space
16 MB Video Card
DirectX 8.0

Introduction: NHL 2002 is the next installment in the long running NHL series from EA sports. NHL 2002 is very similar to NHL 2001, but the game includes tons of new features and new gameplay elements which makes this game possibly the best in the series.

Review: NHL 2002 is an easy game to just jump right into. The controls are amazingly simple, allowing you to use either a keyboard or a controller if you wish to. The game includes all the NHL teams, East and West teams, and nearly all countries that can compete in the Olympics. This game is packed with tons of players and teams.

Once you start the game you'll be shown a nicely done introduction to the game that shows both team's goalies and players with the nice light show that most Arena's have these days. Once the game begins you are introduced to the games commentary. This is one of the lowest points of the game. The commentary is done by Jim Hughson and Don Taylor. Jim Hughson does good play-by-play commentary, but Don Taylor constantly cracks stupid, repetitive, and annoying jokes. You really wonder what EA was going for with this guy. Thankfully, this option can be turned off.

The gameplay is very well designed. It plays with the same controls as past installments, but this year there are a few new extras. There is a new manual deke option which lets you switch to the backhand whenever you want. Although this feature is a nice new addition, work still needs to be done. Dekeing may seem fun at first, but the goalie won't be faked out by the deke and scoring with one is difficult. The game contains many new animations, but some can be hard to notice. The players may sometimes reach up to grab an airborne puck, perform saucer passes, and will kick bad passes to their stick. All of these do effect gameplay, as a bad pass to setup a perfect one-timer will allow the goalie to catch up to the puck. The AI has been well programmed to allow a more competitive play and the AI can be very challenging if set on Difficult. A 3-0 game can turn completely around in the third period if you let down on defense.

The graphics of NHL 2002 are some of the best out there. Most veteran player's faces are recognizable and match their pictures in the game. The players jerseys are smooth and contain all of the detail. The front couple rows of the fans are now 3D animated, and new non-playable movies are very realistic. If the puck is shot out of play it may show a fan holding it in his hand after a lucky catch like on most broadcasted games. The intros to the games have great ice lighting effects and show players authentically warming up their goalies with a heap load of shots and just skating around the ice. NHL 2002 has new camera features; the hit cam, save cam, and breakaway cam. The new Breakaway came cuts to only the player and the goalie, with a well suited heartbeat noise to add to the adrenaline factor. The Hit cam shows big hits from multiple angles, and Save cam shows big saves from different angles. All these may be appealing at first, they start to slow down and interrupt gameplay, but like most extras, they can be disabled.