NHL Hitz Pro

NHL Hitz Pro
PAL region Xbox cover art
Developer(s)Next Level Games
Publisher(s)Midway Sports
SeriesNHL Hitz
Platform(s)GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2
Release
  • NA: September 25, 2003[1]
  • EU: November 7, 2003 (PS2)
  • EU: November 14, 2003 (Xbox)
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

NHL Hitz Pro is an ice hockey video game developed by Next Level Games and published by Midway Sports, in the NHL Hitz series. It was released in 2003 for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox. Unlike the previous titles in the series, it has 5-on-5 gameplay instead of the usual 3-on-3 gameplay with the earlier titles. The game does not include penalty shots, and it is still an arcade-type hockey game like its predecessors. It also has a lot of hard hitting. The cover athlete of the game is Nicklas Lidström, and features commentary from Tim Kitzrow[2] and Harry Teinowitz.

NHL Hitz Pro had the IIHF license, enabling it to use the jerseys of the Olympic hockey teams.

The game also has many game modes, one of the most popular being the "Pick-Up Hockey" game mode, where the game would turn into either a roller, street, or pond hockey match-up between two amateur teams.

Features

NHL Hitz Pro features NHL-style gameplay for the first time, and although arcade-like features pop up from time to time, the game is far more realistic than the previous titles in the series. Among the changes to Hitz Pro are 5-on-5 gameplay, as opposed to the 3-on-3 action seen in NHL Hitz 2002 and 2003, less exaggerated player appearances and wrap arounds.

Reception

NHL Hitz Pro received "favorable" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3][4][5] GamePro said of the game, "It's a tight three-way race on the hockey front this season, and the only real downside to Hitz is what its fans will actually appreciate: its heavily arcade-style approach. If you like your hockey more serious, EA's game falls halfway between Hitz and the technical, highly realistic ESPN game. If 'serious' is the last thing you associate with hockey games, you'll have a blast hammering out checks on Hitz' rink—especially since Midway's rolled back the price a notch."[25][b]

The game was nominated for the "Console Action Sports Game of the Year" award at the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, which went to SSX 3.[26]

Notes

  1. ^ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 7.5/10, 8.5/10, and 8/10.
  2. ^ GamePro gave the game three 4/5 scores for graphics, control, and fun factor, and 4.5/5 for sound.

References

  1. ^ "Authentic Online Action and Intense 5-on-5 Gameplay Pounds the Ice With NHL Hitz Pro". Midway Games. September 25, 2003. Archived from the original on February 3, 2004. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  2. ^ Semsey, Rob (September 15, 2003). "NHL Hitz Pro: Tim Kitzrow Interview". TeamXbox. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "NHL Hitz Pro critic reviews (GC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "NHL Hitz Pro critic reviews (PS2)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "NHL Hitz Pro critic reviews (Xbox)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on February 28, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Linn, Demian; Sewart, Greg; Mielke, James "Milkman" (October 2003). "NHL Hitz Pro" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 171. Ziff Davis. p. 136. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  7. ^ Leeper, Justin (October 2003). "NHL Hitz Pro (GC)". Game Informer. No. 126. GameStop. p. 131. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  8. ^ Reiner, Andrew (October 2003). "NHL Hitz Pro (PS2)". Game Informer. No. 126. GameStop. p. 122. Archived from the original on November 18, 2005. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  9. ^ Kato, Matthew (October 2003). "NHL Hitz Pro (Xbox)". Game Informer. No. 126. GameStop. p. 138. Archived from the original on November 18, 2007. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Dr. Moo (October 2003). "NHL Hitz Pro Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Navarro, Alex (September 24, 2003). "NHL Hitz Pro Review (GC, Xbox)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on January 26, 2005. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  12. ^ Navarro, Alex (September 29, 2003). "NHL Hitz Pro Review (PS2)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on February 6, 2005. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  13. ^ Fischer, Russ (October 4, 2003). "GameSpy: NHL Hitz Pro (GCN)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 8, 2005. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  14. ^ Fischer, Russ (October 4, 2003). "GameSpy: NHL Hitz Pro (PS2)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 31, 2005. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  15. ^ Fischer, Russ (October 4, 2003). "GameSpy: NHL Hitz Pro (Xbox)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 27, 2005. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  16. ^ Bedigian, Louis (October 5, 2003). "NHL Hitz: Pro - GC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on November 24, 2007. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  17. ^ Romano, Natalie (October 10, 2003). "NHL Hitz: Pro - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on November 6, 2007. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  18. ^ Lafferty, Michael (September 23, 2003). "NHL Hitz: Pro Review - Xbox". GameZone. Archived from the original on November 6, 2007. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  19. ^ a b c Carle, Chris (September 24, 2003). "NHL Hitz Pro". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 15, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  20. ^ "NHL Hitz Pro". Nintendo Power. Vol. 173. Nintendo of America. November 2003. p. 151.
  21. ^ Rodriguez, Steven (October 27, 2003). "NHL Hitz Pro". Nintendo World Report. NINWR, LLC. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  22. ^ "NHL Hitz Pro". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 73. Ziff Davis. October 2003. p. 121.
  23. ^ "NHL Hitz Pro". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. November 2003. p. 126.
  24. ^ Marriott, Scott Alan (November 6, 2003). "'NHL Hitz Pro' (PS2) Review". X-Play. TechTV. Archived from the original on November 8, 2003. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  25. ^ Air Hendrix (November 2003). "NHL Hitz Pro" (PDF). GamePro. No. 182. IDG. p. 156. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  26. ^ "7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards: Winners". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on June 3, 2004. Retrieved November 9, 2024.