NHL 2001

EA's perennial hockey game flies on the power of the PlayStation 2. The graphics are unbelievable; the handling is as smooth as ever; the sound is to the rafters. That's all the stuff you knew from before. This is EA Sports, and that's how the game is played, with the volume up and your eyes bugging. Yet it's a whole new shot when NHL goes PlayStation 2, as no other system has had the kind of power to give you those jarring hits to the point where you watch the player bend over his back, his muscles impacting hard on the glass as his face shield sends a cracking noise reverberating throughout the stadium that makes an old lady up in the cheap seats cry just a little bit. That's what you want in a hockey game. That, and options - buckets full of options. Here, the hats hit the ice with all 30 franchise teams and 20 international competitors, plus tournament and standard practice mode and charts packed with stats tracked throughout gameplay.

Lace up the skates and play with or against all 30 NHL teams including the new expansion Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild. NHL 2001 invites the world to play with the addition of 20 international teams including Ukraine and Latvia. Feel the full hockey flavor by building a custom team with the jersey editor, logo importer, and customizable city and team names. EA SPORTS puts you in the game with the "Face in the Game" feature -- witness fans throw their hats on the ice in your honor after a hat trick. With a variety of game modes including Quick Game, Season Play, Career Mode, Playoffs and Tournaments, all the goals are just a slap shot away.