NHL Arcade - Next years throwback to NHL Hitz?

K7 Avenger

I like hockey. I also happen to love hockey video games. I've played a ton, but nothing match NHL HItz 20-03.

Hitz 03 is still the most popular hockey game with my friends. It is the most fun, simple arcade hockey game I've ever played. Spin (Y) to avoid Checks (B), Deke (B) to avoid a pokecheck (X) and X to shoot. Fights are fun and simple yet like the rest of the game is all about quick reactions with counters.

The game is 3 bucks most places. Pick it up. It's one of my favorite games ever and I love NHL 09, but 03 is the shit.

Now this NHL Arcade game uses a lot of the same features. 3 on 3 obviously. They specify how you can check the goalie out of the crease, same as Hitz. Will it have team fire, Turbo and goalie fights (or fights at all?). Will it have players with very simple yet important stats that makes every team really unique?

I don't know if this will be as hard hitting and as fun as Hitz 03, but I sure hope so. Anyone else excited?

http://www.easports.com/nhl09/arcade.jsp NHL Arcade

Schide

I never really played any of the Hitz games, but I probably would have if I would have had anybody to play them with. This looks like it might be fun though, especially because I'd actually be able to play online with people. I'll keep it in mind for when it comes out.

But for now can we maybe just get the real Pens some PP help?

redfield85

You meant to say NHL Hitz Pro is the best Hitz game. I will forgive you for that.

This game will probably not be great, but I am a sucker for hockey games, so I will likely be getting this.

Oh, and K7 Avenger, what ever happened to you joining our NHL09 League?

K7 Avenger

Schide wrote: »

I never really played any of the Hitz games, but I probably would have if I would have had anybody to play them with. This looks like it might be fun though, especially because I'd actually be able to play online with people. I'll keep it in mind for when it comes out.

But for now can we maybe just get the real Pens some PP help?

Word dude. But in the Pens defense they are doing pretty well with a lot of important people missing out of the lineup.

redfield85 wrote: »

You meant to say NHL Hitz Pro is the best Hitz game. I will forgive you for that.

This game will probably not be great, but I am a sucker for hockey games, so I will likely be getting this.

Oh, and K7 Avenger, what ever happened to you joining our NHL09 League?

Oh man. I need to read my PM's. Lost my job dude and it's been pretty hectic. Did it start?

Custom Special

Hitz was AWESOME. My friend and I had a created team that we played hours and hours on making sure to get every achievement each game.
If this is a successor, as it were, I hope they change the look of the players. In the screens on their site it looks like the big head code is on or something.

EskimoDave

I rented Hitz '03, or whatever one had Pronger on the cover, and we certainly got our money out of that rental.

redfield85

K7 Avenger wrote: »

redfield85 wrote: »

You meant to say NHL Hitz Pro is the best Hitz game. I will forgive you for that.

This game will probably not be great, but I am a sucker for hockey games, so I will likely be getting this.

Oh, and K7 Avenger, what ever happened to you joining our NHL09 League?

Oh man. I need to read my PM's. Lost my job dude and it's been pretty hectic. Did it start?

Yea, don't worry about it. We are contemplating right now as to whether we should reboot the league for the third time, because there are some people that just aren't online enough to get this thing finished.

SyphonBrue

K7 Avenger wrote: »

It is the most fun, simple arcade hockey game I've ever played.

WRONG!

This is:
:P

Voth

I didn't like Hitz Pro. The 5-on-5 hockey was a nice addition, but then they took most of the arcade elements out in favor of more simulation. It didn't play as fast nor was it as fun. Even the commentary was toned down.

Hitz 20-03 was the highlight and it's a shame that Midway has abandoned the series. I don't really get a good vibe from NHL Arcade, but I'll try it out when it's released.

Six

My friends and I felt Hitz 20-02 was better than 03.

That said, Hitz kicked ass. I'd love to see a new game in a similar vein.

Also, an updated Blitz would be great - not this league stuff, but a real throwback to the old game.

Custom Special

EFF!
Just got Hitz Pro on amazon with the understanding that it had the 5v5 mode but allowed you to go back to 3's. (correction, just re-read what I looked at before and it does so no 3's...not ok...)
While it's still fun hockey (I'm no purist), wtf with no team customizing? This game is worthless! I want my giant aliens and demons for my team! And where are the unlockables? Stadiums, heads, etc.
If you are a fan of Hitz '02/'03 DO NOT buy Pro.

Now I have to go order the real deal...

Edit: I guess that's why Pro costs 1/3 what 03 does...

Voth

Yeah, they decided to remove most of the arcade elements (and the fun) in favor of more simulation. It was really a terrible decision. Sometimes it's NOT good to listen to whiney critics that want more realism.

redfield85

That statement is not true at all. I loved all the Hitz games and still loved Pro. It just throws people off that there isn't 3-on-3 anymore or the crazy players (which I was sad to see go). Pro is still a good game in its own right. It would've been the best of the best in the series if they kept the crazy players and made trading a lot easier (none of this one for one stuff). And there was also no create-a-player outside of season mode which kind of sucked.

Bartholamue

SyphonBrue wrote: »

K7 Avenger wrote: »

It is the most fun, simple arcade hockey game I've ever played.

WRONG!

This is:
:P

Too bad Wayne Gretzky 98 was the exact same game.

redfield85

Bartholamue wrote: »

SyphonBrue wrote: »

K7 Avenger wrote: »

It is the most fun, simple arcade hockey game I've ever played.

WRONG!

This is:
:P

Too bad Olympic Hockey Nagano '98 was the exact same game.

Fiziks

20-02 was so much better than 20-03 simply because of the menu music. But then again, 20-03 is still leagues ahead of any other hockey game out there, with Wayne Gretzky's 3D hockey running a distant third.

Also, you know the action is awesome when even the announcer can't keep up.

Smug Duckling

I never played Hitz, but I loved Sega Soccer Slam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UrVPqy4N-g&feature=related

I assume it was a similar thing?

Man, I'd kill for another Sega Soccer Slam. So fun.

Crashmo

I think we've played Hitz more than any other arcadey sports game combined. Not counting NBA Jam.

Just so fantastic with all the different outfits and stat raising and such. Of course, by the end of our careers we were winning by at least 20 goals every time. Let's hope this can suck me back in, I haven't found a sports game that I've played consistently in a long time.

Trus

My friend and I played the version with the custom name for a character "Mr.Slippy" and we would giggle every time the announcer said "Mr. Slippy has the puck"

redfield85

Smug Duckling wrote: »

I never played Hitz, but I loved Sega Soccer Slam

video

I assume it was a similar thing?

Man, I'd kill for another Sega Soccer Slam. So fun.

Similar, but the goalies in Hitz seem to actually try to stop goals. :P

And that game looks like an early build of Super Mario Soccer.

Smug Duckling

The goalies were better than they seem in that video. They were also crazy aggressive. If you stepped in their crease (is that what they call it in soccer?) they would check the hell out of you.

Ah, nostalgia.

redfield85

Yea, the Hitz goalies did the same thing.

Crashmo

Man, nearly every hockey game in the world has indestructible death-machines for goaltenders.

Actually, once you got your checking stat high enough in Hitz, you could check most goalies out of the way for an easy score.

redfield85

I am pretty sure back in the day I played against my older cousin (in one of the 3-on-3 Hitz games). I was the Hurricanes and came down with Irbe late in the game and scored with him. I either tied it or went ahead by one.

Bullio

All this talk about the greatest hockey game ever and no one has come up with the correct answer yet? Shame.