Graphics are really good. The L1/R1 options to spin-o-Rama make for some exciting skating. What really separates this game are the different sliders you can control to fine tune the type of game you will play. Also - the create a player option is a hoot - as you can create yourself and play for your favorite team. The announcers will call you by your first name. EA really did a nice job with 2001.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
After playing all the NHL series on my playstation(1)i have to say that NHL 2001 is the best. Improved AI,The computer is smarter.Gameplay is even smoother then last years version NHL(2000)because of the added on ice game speed slider.Now you can slide the bar left or right in the options menu to get the perfect game speed for the individual playing the game.This is something that was needed in my opinion for last years game NHL(2000).It was just to fast making the gameplay a little choppy. More options this year all around and the added NHL challenge/create a player.You create a player and boost his attributes by completing in game challenges.Also,if you name your created pro with a simple name like Tom or John,the play by play commentator will say "passes to Tom" when the play happens on ice.Pretty cool. Momentum bar during game shifts either way depending on how well or how much pressure you are putting on your opponent. All 30 NHL teams including the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild,plus 18 international teams. If you like hockey video games and own a playstation,this is the NHL to get. NHL 2001..."Its in the game"Read full review
The majority of hockey games in the past have done an adequate job of re-creating the blazing speed of the NHL game while providing just enough visual cues to allow the player's imagination to fill in the rest. With the power of the PlayStation 2, things have suddenly shifted. No longer do players have to imagine what goes on behind the scenes. NHL 2001 ushers in a new era of hockey games, where the gritty moments are exposed and the classic war of attrition that is NHL hockey is blatantly displayed for all to see. It wouldn't be an EA NHL game without a multitude of gameplay options, and NHL 2001 has plenty. You may play seasons, exhibition games with or against up to three friends, tournaments, and shootouts. If you're the type of person who likes to cut to the chase you can head straight to the playoffs on a quest for Lord Stanley's cup. It's hard to find another hockey game that has as many adjustable features as NHL 2001. Even the most miniscule of factors - such as pass speed, shot accuracy, puck elasticity, and believe it or not, puck friction - can be adjusted to your liking. With all these options, it's puzzling why EA has decided not to include the franchise and challenge modes that have become commonplace in EA sports games. You may, however, create your own players, assign them abilities, and sign them up for season or exhibition play. NHL 2001 is the most graphically advanced hockey game ever. No other hockey game even enters the same solar system. The player models are so lifelike that it's almost scary. Each has an animated facial texture, complete with blinking eyes and a mouth that moves while yapping at the opposition or while celebrating after scoring plays. Players have gloves that can be removed to expose hands with five fingers and a helmet that they take off while they're on the bench. But what really brings NHL 2001 to life are the thousands of animation routines packed into the game. The goalies sweep ice shavings out of the crease and pile them up on the posts, polygonal coaches bend down and whisper strategies into players' ears on the bench, and plenty of slashing and positioning takes place before each drop of the puck. Players act completely independent of one another, so while one is scratching his head or adjusting his jersey, the others might be checking their stick blades for cracks or shaking their heads in disbelief. It goes a long way toward making the experience incredibly believable. Other small touches - like the goal light casting a red hue on the player jerseys, each game beginning with a camera shot from the tunnel, and the absolutely stunning reflections on the ice - take the levels of believability to dizzying heights. The only negative is a bit of slowdown that takes place while skating near the team benches, but it rarely hampers the gameplay experience. While NHL 2001 has brought the series a long way in the graphics department, it still has some distance to go where gameplay is concerned. The pace of NHL 2001 seems slow and plodding on the default speed setting, but it may be adjusted to kick up the action a notch. Anyone who has a shortage of friends to play against may find NHL 2001 less than challenging. There are four difficulty settings, but even the all-star setting fails to require adept playing skills. The AI isn't particularly intelligent, as the computer refuses to dump the puck, even while playing with muck-and-grind teams like the Sharks or Flyers......Read full review
For it's time in 2000 on a 32 BIT PlayStation 1 it's got exciting gameplay with great graphics and more
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Great game
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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