sports and outdoors

Those looking for a lets go score 10 goals in the first period type hockey game won't find it here, this is the real deal. NHL 2K2 is the best Dreamcast hockey game (then again, the only other DC hockey game is the original NHL 2K), but it is also the best hockey game released in years, maybe since EA's NHL '94 for the Genesis. First thing you'll notice is the graphics. Everything flows so smoothly and looks and acts so realisticly you'll swear your watching an NHL game. Now we get down to the real element of the game: strategy. Like I said, this is no arcade style hockey. The designers at Visual Concepts (also responsible for the DC's fantastic NFL 2K series) went through every NHL playbook they could, giving unbelieveable realism that has never been seen before in a video game. You have to work hard to score goals because the goalies do everything they can to stop you from scoring, they are actually like brick walls. You can change up your strategies on the fly as well, and though it will take some getting used to, you will be rewarded in the end. All in all, NHL 2K2 is a fun, challenging game that takes some time getting used to, but in the end you have one of the best sports titles ever made, hockey or otherwise, and it's a fitting send off for the Dreamcast.

I waited for this game for a long time...seeing there was no NHL2K1. I bought it three days ago, and can't put it down. The graphics are very good, not as good as NFL 2K2 or NBA 2K2 but not shabby, cool player introductions, national athems, fireworks, ice reflections, before when you start a game.

Game play is very tight, meaning you really have to learn to pass the puck like in real hockey to be successful, if you think you will skate end to end and put it in the net you won't ,you will be check 90% of the time. The goalies are hard to beat, playing on pro level is very hard, I read a review that "rookie"is even challenging, so I might switch to this level. Most games are like 2-1 or 1-0 on pro level, the goalies are just too tough, which at times makes it frustrating.
Setting the line changes to automatic, seems the computer takes forever to change lines unlike in other hockey sim games, so set it to manual. you will have to use the d-pad, not the ananlog stick to change lines during faceoffs and you can even set stratgeys during gameplay, which is a cool feature, but I found almost impossible to pull off, due to the fact you have to remove your thumb from the analog stick and slide it down to the d-pad, up allows forward line changes, down allows defensemen subs, and left allows offense plans of attack and right I believe sets defense plans of attack. Kind of cumbersome.

The players that "check" really hard in real life check really hard in this game as well like Scott Stevens and Chris Pronger guys like little Theo Fleury wouldn't even budge a guy if you went to check someone. This is a cool realistic feature. Guys that can skate fast really motor in this game as well so that realistic.

I do like the more stat intense screens throughout the game which was missing in NHL 2K and it allows you to play multi-teams through a season. However you only get two choice either 42 or 82 to play so you can be playing it for a while. I did notice a problem, the schedule is broken down as a calendar and if you pick a team like the Hawks vs. Blues that is playing at 7:00 and the Rangers vs Devils at 7:00 on the same day the computer will automatically play the game you don't choose. Also if you pick a later game like a 10:00 game on a day where there are game at 7:00 and 7:30, 8:00 all those previous games will be played by the computer even if you have them set to human control.
So pick your games carefully if you are playing multiple team mode.
WHY,WHY WHY You can't turn this option off really stinks.
Limited camera and zoom levels would have been a nice feature like in NBA 2K2 to accomodate your TV screen you are playing on. "Rink view "I feel is the best, it makes the guys somewhat larger that overhead or 3/4 overhead.
i even play on a 35inch tV and the guys seem on the small size even in rink mode, playing on a 19" they might look like ants.

I like to have total control over a game, all other SEGA sports games allow you to make the choices why didn't they with this one? Also you can't choose your choice of jersey in season mode, you can in exhbition, why this was left out is absurd. NHL 2K allowed it.

Overall for the time I have played, it is addicting and more on the harder side than other hockey games. I hate games I master in a few tries especially when they cost $... on the market.

I also own a PS2 and own NHL 2001 which I still think with all the options and how that game plays and feels playing or watching a real hockey game. That I feel is the best hockey game to date on the market even better than NHL 2002 for PS2.

That I'd give a 5 out of 5. This is close a 4.
NHL 2002 3.5 PS2 NHL2K, which i owned and sold,
was a 2.

I would definitely recommending buying this for hours of fun.

This is a great hockey game. The graphics are realistic, and the gameplay is fun. There are a few things though. For one, when you use speed burst, usually you can get around all the people. The goalies also look a little weak (but this doesn't interfere with gameplay so dont worry about it). The only other thing is that you can't adjust period lengths. So games can get to drag on after a while, even though the timer does go fast.The announcers are a little slow, and they repeat a lot, but there are the occasional funny lines.Otherwise, this game is really great.