NHL Hitz 2003
| NHL Hitz 2003 | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | Black Box Games, Exient Entertainment (GBA) |
| Publisher(s) | Midway Games |
| Designer(s) | Daniel Rosado (supervisor) |
| Series | NHL Hitz |
| Platform(s) | Xbox, PS2, GameCube, GBA |
| Release date(s) |
Game Boy Advance
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| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
| Review scores | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publication | Score | |||
| GBA | GC | PS2 | Xbox | |
| AllGame | N/A |    |
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| Eurogamer | N/A | N/A | 8/10 | N/A |
| Game Informer | N/A | 8.75/10 | 8.75/10 | 8.75/10 |
| GamePro | N/A | |
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| Game Revolution | N/A | N/A | B | N/A |
| GameSpot | N/A | 7.8/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.8/10 |
| GameZone | N/A | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.7/10 |
| IGN | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.4/10 |
| Nintendo Power | 4/5 | 4.6/5 | N/A | N/A |
| OPM (US) | N/A | N/A | |
N/A |
| OXM (US) | N/A | N/A | N/A | 8.8/10 |
| Aggregate score | ||||
| Metacritic | 68/100 | 82/100 | 82/100 | 81/100 |
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. It's the second game of the NHL Hitz series. 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 eleven years old.
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.
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, , and Montego Bay.
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