NHL Hitz 20-03
Encyclopedia
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
. The Game Boy Advance version has the possibility of being linked with up to three other systems for four player link up play.
Thanks in large part to its fast-paced, 3-on-3 style of hockey that is rare in other NHL titles, Hitz 2003 has experienced a steady increase in underground popularity over the years despite being over nine years old.
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 you lead the game by five goals, you automatically win. 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 hard-hitting arcade
-style game with wildly exaggerated player movements and actions. For example, you can routinely check people 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.
, Maui
, Monte Carlo
, Stockholm
, and Montego Bay
.
s 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 you could get lucky and find it cheap in a used games bin and your 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
.
Black Box Games
EA Black Box is a video game developer based in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1998 by former employees of Radical Entertainment....
and Exient Entertainment
Exient 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...
, and 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...
. The game was released on the 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, as well as Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
. The Game Boy Advance version has the possibility of being linked with up to three other systems for four player link up play.
Thanks in large part to its fast-paced, 3-on-3 style of hockey that is rare in other NHL titles, Hitz 2003 has experienced a steady increase in underground popularity over the years despite being over nine years old.
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 you lead the game by five goals, you automatically win. 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 hard-hitting arcade
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
-style game with wildly exaggerated player movements and actions. For example, you can routinely check people 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
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.
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 you win more, you get better equipment, like sticks for accuracy and power, goalie pads for better rebound control, and more. You create a team with the goal of joining the NHL. You start off picking the team, logo, etc. then create seven players. As you progress, beating teams will result in the teams getting harder, but at the same time your team will improve too. When you start winning games, three more players will eventually ask to join the team, and you can customize them. There are eight rounds with 5-6 teams in each one around the globe. In the last few rounds, you'll face NHL teams and players and will be awarded with the trophy if you emerge victorious. You are faced with a worldwide quest, taking on teams internationally in places such as BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
, Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, and Montego Bay
Montego Bay
Montego Bay is the capital of St. James Parish and the second largest city in Jamaica by area and the fourth by population .It is a tourist destination with duty free shopping, cruise line terminal and the beaches...
.
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 nine years old. Due to its "pick up and play" controls and fluid graphics, many gamerGamer
Historically, the term "gamer" usually referred to someone who played role-playing games and wargames. Since they became very popular, the term has included players of video games...
s and bars
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
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
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
are becoming increasingly difficult to find and have been steadily increasing in value, although you could get lucky and find it cheap in a used games bin and your 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
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
.