NHL Hitz 2003

Gameplay

Players have the option of playing three periods in one, two, or three minutes in length. To begin the game, a center, a winger, a defenceman, and a goalie are picked for each team. Prior to each period, substituting the players or simply leaving them in the game is an option.

There is an option for a mercy rule that will end the game as soon as the team reaches the limit of goal differential. As an example, if the mercy rule is set to five, as soon as a team leads the game by five goals, that team automatically wins. It can also be set to one goal, similar to overtime. Another nuance to the game is the option to make players who lose fights leave the game.

The game is also meant to mainly be a hard-hitting, arcade-style game with wildly exaggerated player movements and actions. For example, players can check other players through the glass and into the stands, but won't stop play. Also, goalies can actually stick-handle the puck around, and take a shot on the other net, sometimes scoring.

Also, the rosters are shortened to mainly starters and fan favorites (such as Tie Domi and Bob Probert), with far fewer free agents.

There are also many mini-games to play.

Franchise mode

The tournament is to complete goals in the game to get experience points, which are like stat points. When players win more, they get better equipment, like sticks for accuracy and power, goalie pads for better rebound control, and more. They create a team with the goal of joining the NHL, and they start off picking the team, logo, etc., and then create seven players. As the player progresses, beating teams will result in the teams getting harder, but at the same time their team will improve too. When they start winning games, three more players will eventually ask to join the team, and the player can customize them. There are eight rounds with 5-6 teams in each one around the globe. In the last few rounds, they player will face NHL teams and players and be awarded with the trophy if they emerge victorious. They are faced with a worldwide quest, taking on teams internationally in places such as Brooklyn, Maui, Monte Carlo, Stockholm, and Montego Bay.

Season

Like most other NHL games, a season mode is available. If the player-controlled team qualifies for them, a full playoff schedule will begin. This time, however, there are more individual awards made by the creators. There are also end-of-season awards created by the makers of the game, such as trophies for the player who wins the most fights or delivered the most hits.

Popularity

NHL Hitz 2003's popularity has steadily increased despite being over twelve years old. Due to its "pick up and play" controls and fluid graphics, many gamers and bars have formed private leagues years since the games release. Uniform league rules include a four-goal mercy rule which allows for a more fast-paced and frantic gameplay. With its increasing popularity amongst hardcore gamers and casual gamers, the game has become increasingly difficult to obtain. Used copies of the game found on eBay are becoming increasingly difficult to find and have been steadily increasing in value, although buyers may get lucky and find it cheap in a used games bin at their local game store.

Because of its overwhelming cult status with gamers and NHL fans alike, Microsoft has made Hitz 2003 backwards compatible with the Xbox 360.

Cover

Chris Pronger is the cover athlete of NHL Hitz 2003. The game includes a 'making-of' video showing the game programmers capturing Pronger's likeness and movements for the game.

In the opening clip, the song playing is called "Bombshell" by Powerman 5000. The soundtrack boasts an eclectic line-up of musicians, including Incubus, Drowning Pool, Rob Zombie, Moby, Hoobastank, and the Zambonis.

Reception

The game received "favorable" reviews on all platforms except the Game Boy Advance version, which received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.