While I agree that this is the best hockey game made to date, Operation Sports review of 95 is just too much for this game. There are some problems with the game that prevent it from breaking the elite 90's in my opinion.
If I had to stick a score to this game, I'd say it's an 88 or 89. There are just too many basic things missing from Franchise mode that should be included in career mode such as boxscores from around the league, or just even other scores, period. You should be able to see other team's schedules and game stats.
Also the game has a host of team tactics and plays yet the cpu seems to play all the teams around the league almost identical. Whether Im playing against the Flyers, Red Wings or the NJ Devils, each game feels strangely similar. There's simply not enough varying degrees of distinct playstyles between the different teams.
And finally, the CPU has a difficult time putting the puck in the net and keeping realistic degrees of pressure in the attacking zone. Also , the goalies, in general, have inhumane reflexes that result in an awefully high amount of saves versus goals let in.
Like I said ealier, the game is the best hockey game around based on the fact that it portrays aspects of hockey that have not yet been done correctly in a video game hockey game but there is still a bit too much forgiveness of the faults in this game that really hurt the overall experience.
I have tried just about everything to reduce the goalie effectiveness in franchise play by bumping the game to All Star and Pro modes as well as increasing the Offense slider and reducing the defense and Goalie sliders with only minimal effectiveness.
Most games still only result in 1-0 and 2-1 affairs against the CPU in 7 or 8 minutes modes on my XBOX
Please if there is anything you can offer to make this game more dynamic, i'd appreciate it....As it stands now, I am very close to just returning the game and getting NHL Hitz 2003 and wait till next season for 2K4 version of NHL.
If I had to stick a score to this game, I'd say it's an 88 or 89. There are just too many basic things missing from Franchise mode that should be included in career mode such as boxscores from around the league, or just even other scores, period. You should be able to see other team's schedules and game stats.
Also the game has a host of team tactics and plays yet the cpu seems to play all the teams around the league almost identical. Whether Im playing against the Flyers, Red Wings or the NJ Devils, each game feels strangely similar. There's simply not enough varying degrees of distinct playstyles between the different teams.
And finally, the CPU has a difficult time putting the puck in the net and keeping realistic degrees of pressure in the attacking zone. Also , the goalies, in general, have inhumane reflexes that result in an awefully high amount of saves versus goals let in.
Like I said ealier, the game is the best hockey game around based on the fact that it portrays aspects of hockey that have not yet been done correctly in a video game hockey game but there is still a bit too much forgiveness of the faults in this game that really hurt the overall experience.
I have tried just about everything to reduce the goalie effectiveness in franchise play by bumping the game to All Star and Pro modes as well as increasing the Offense slider and reducing the defense and Goalie sliders with only minimal effectiveness.
Most games still only result in 1-0 and 2-1 affairs against the CPU in 7 or 8 minutes modes on my XBOX
Please if there is anything you can offer to make this game more dynamic, i'd appreciate it....As it stands now, I am very close to just returning the game and getting NHL Hitz 2003 and wait till next season for 2K4 version of NHL.
I have intentionally traded away great defensive players in exchange for more offensive scorers and for the most part the results show when I SIMULATE games....I notice my team's scores are usually 4-3, 7-4, 6-3, ect. and I my team's Offensive rating ranks 3rd and Defense is 24th...just want I wanted to see .....BUT when I actually play the games against the CPU, it still remains the same, my scores are usually 1-0 in OT or 2-1, ect. 
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