NHL Hitz
Encyclopedia
NHL Hitz is a series of ice hockey
video games published by Midway Games
, for the PlayStation 2
(PS2), Xbox
, and Nintendo GameCube
. The series is known and popular for its unique gameplay
style: it focuses on fast-paced hockey with an arcade feeling to deliver entertaining hockey to gamers, but features neither injuries nor penalty shots
. As the name suggests, the series has a lot of hard hitting which is more often appealing to casual hockey fans than hardcore ones. The first two games, NHL Hitz 20-02
and NHL Hitz 20-03
, feature 3-on-3 (3 skaters, 1 goaltender) hockey. NHL Hitz Pro
, however, goes a step further, featuring 5-on-5 hockey. The NHL Hitz series has, apart from the National Hockey League
(NHL) license, also the International Ice Hockey Federation
(IIHF) license, allowing the series to use the national teams' official jerseys.
, and in March/May 2002 in the PAL regions, except for the PS2 version which was released for PAL already in November 2001. During gameplay, three skaters and one goaltender
in each team are on the ice, and three skaters in each team are on the bench. Because of this, only three fights may occur in each game; any player that loses a fight is taken out of the game permanently. If a player scores an uninterrupted hattrick
(i.e. three goals in a row), that player becomes "On Fire", meaning that the player can make more powerful shots and is tougher to knock down. "Team Fire", similar to "On Fire", can be achieved if the team scores three uninterrupted one timer
s in a row.
. It was released between September–November 2002 in both North America and the PAL regions. Exient Entertainment were called up to exclusively make a handheld version of the game for the Gameboy Advance (GBA). The GBA version exclusively can be linked up with four GBA's for four different players in a single game.
In gameplay, goalies can stick-handle the puck around, and take a shot on the other net to sometimes score. The rosters are shortened to mainly starters and fan favorites (such as Tie Domi
and Bob Probert
), with far fewer free agents. The game uniquely includes a rule that can be set to win the game for one of the teams whenever that team leads by a certain margin of goals
. For example, if the winning goal difference is set to 5, the first team to lead by five goals automatically wins the game. If the winning goal difference is set to 1, the game is practically a sudden death game.
was developed by Next Level Games
and released between September–November 2003. It is the only game in the series to include 5-on-5 gameplay. The game 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. The game further includes an exclusive "Hockey School", where former NHL coach Scotty Bowman
and NHL players help out newbies.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
video games published by Midway Games
Midway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
, for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
(PS2), Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
, and Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
. The series is known and popular for its unique gameplay
Gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
style: it focuses on fast-paced hockey with an arcade feeling to deliver entertaining hockey to gamers, but features neither injuries nor penalty shots
Penalty shot (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a penalty shot is a type of penalty awarded when a team loses a clear scoring opportunity on a breakaway because of a foul committed by an opposing player. A player from the non-offending team is given an attempt to score a goal without opposition from any defending players except...
. As the name suggests, the series has a lot of hard hitting which is more often appealing to casual hockey fans than hardcore ones. The first two games, NHL Hitz 20-02
NHL Hitz 20-02
NHL Hitz 2002, also known as NHL Hitz 20-02, is an arcade-style ice hockey video game released by Midway Games. Midway launched this game along with NFL Blitz.-Summary:...
and NHL Hitz 20-03
NHL Hitz 20-03
NHL Hitz 2003, also known as NHL Hitz 20-03, is a hockey video game developed by Black Box Games and Exient Entertainment, and published by Midway Games. The game was released on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, as well as Game Boy Advance...
, feature 3-on-3 (3 skaters, 1 goaltender) hockey. NHL Hitz Pro
NHL Hitz Pro
NHL Hitz Pro is an ice hockey video game developed by Next Level Games and published by Midway Games. It was released on September 25, 2003, for the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and Xbox. Unlike the previous titles in the series, this game has 5-on-5 gameplay instead of the usual 3-on-3 game...
, however, goes a step further, featuring 5-on-5 hockey. The NHL Hitz series has, apart from the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) license, also the International Ice Hockey Federation
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
(IIHF) license, allowing the series to use the national teams' official jerseys.
NHL Hitz 2002
NHL Hitz 2002 is the first game of the series, developed by Black Box Games. It was released in September/November 2001 in North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and in March/May 2002 in the PAL regions, except for the PS2 version which was released for PAL already in November 2001. During gameplay, three skaters and one goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
in each team are on the ice, and three skaters in each team are on the bench. Because of this, only three fights may occur in each game; any player that loses a fight is taken out of the game permanently. If a player scores an uninterrupted hattrick
Hattrick
Hattrick is an online, browser-based, football management game developed in Sweden. Currently the game contains 128 different countries, each with its own league pyramid, and 51 different language versions...
(i.e. three goals in a row), that player becomes "On Fire", meaning that the player can make more powerful shots and is tougher to knock down. "Team Fire", similar to "On Fire", can be achieved if the team scores three uninterrupted one timer
One timer
A one timer is an ice hockey shot that occurs when a player meets a teammate's pass with an immediate slapshot, without any attempt to control the puck on his stick. An effective one timer requires precise timing on the part of both players involved, especially the shooter. This play often results...
s in a row.
NHL Hitz 2003
NHL Hitz 2003 is the last game of the series to use 3-on-3 hockey, developed by Black Box Games and Exient EntertainmentExient Entertainment
Exient Entertainment is an independent video game developer based in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is known for its ports of various games on the Madden NFL, FIFA, Need for Speed, The Sims and Tiger Woods PGA Tour series for Electronic Arts and the DJ Hero series for Activision...
. It was released between September–November 2002 in both North America and the PAL regions. Exient Entertainment were called up to exclusively make a handheld version of the game for the Gameboy Advance (GBA). The GBA version exclusively can be linked up with four GBA's for four different players in a single game.
In gameplay, goalies can stick-handle the puck around, and take a shot on the other net to sometimes score. The rosters are shortened to mainly starters and fan favorites (such as Tie Domi
Tie Domi
Tahir "Tie" Domi is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. During a sixteen-year NHL career when he was known for his role as an enforcer, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets....
and Bob Probert
Bob Probert
Robert Alan Probert was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward. Probert played for the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks...
), with far fewer free agents. The game uniquely includes a rule that can be set to win the game for one of the teams whenever that team leads by a certain margin of goals
Goal difference
In sports such as ice hockey and association football, goal difference is often the first tiebreaker used to rank teams which finish a league competition with an equal number of points....
. For example, if the winning goal difference is set to 5, the first team to lead by five goals automatically wins the game. If the winning goal difference is set to 1, the game is practically a sudden death game.
NHL Hitz Pro
NHL Hitz ProNHL Hitz Pro
NHL Hitz Pro is an ice hockey video game developed by Next Level Games and published by Midway Games. It was released on September 25, 2003, for the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and Xbox. Unlike the previous titles in the series, this game has 5-on-5 gameplay instead of the usual 3-on-3 game...
was developed by Next Level Games
Next Level Games
Next Level Games Inc. is an independent video game developer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in October 2002, Next Level Games specializes in creating console video games. Its first project was NHL Hitz Pro, which was published by Midway Games. Since then, it has worked with...
and released between September–November 2003. It is the only game in the series to include 5-on-5 gameplay. The game 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. The game further includes an exclusive "Hockey School", where former NHL coach Scotty Bowman
Scotty Bowman
William Scott "Scotty" Bowman is a retired National Hockey League head coach. He holds the record for most wins in league history, with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He coached the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and...
and NHL players help out newbies.