ESPN Hockey vs. NHL 2004

I read with interest the comments of those who have already snapped up ESPN Hockey. I have read and re-read reviews of both ESPN Hockey as well as NHL 2004 and was wondering what you all thought of them both. Which do you consider better? I am going to get one of them, but was waiting til NHL 2004 came out so I can choose the best one.

I have read merits for both, with the commentar, graphics and gameplay seeming to be better on the ESPN title. However, I am assuming the NHL 2004 title has more up-to-date rosters, and hopefully the franchise mode is as good as it is in other titles. I am torn between the better gameplay experience that ESPN apparently has and the better franchise mode offered by NHL 2004.

I am interested to hear any head-to-head comparisons. Does NHL 2004 have all of our prospects like Koltsov, Murley etc? IS the draft mode anything like the depth of the real draft? I still have painful memories of the NHL 2002 offseason, which involved a brief FA biding frenzy and a pitiful draft consisting of 2 rounds if I recall correctly.

Any feedback greatly welcomed. I am hoping to get the best overall hockey experience, which means I will sacrifice a little on graphics if other features are great (trading, draft, prospect development etc)

I can only comment on ESPN NHL Hockey, but I absolutely love this game. So much, in fact, that I canceled my order of NHL 2004. And I've been playing EA games all my life. This is my first excursion outside of EA, and I surely was not disappointed.

I'm 39 games into my first season with the Penguins. No real complaints yet. The gameplay is above anything I've ever played. There are tons of sliders that you can experiment with to find the level of play that suits you best.

i personallyhave heard many good tings of ESPN. while the franchise mode is supposed to be better on NHL, ESPN has better gameplay and graphics. check out ign.ps2.com for the reviews on both, the reviewers are on target with every game i have ever bought.


plus, if you want to do some gm'ing, go to http://eastside.peliplaneetta.net/

its got it's faults, but it is fun, and addictive. a lot of trades you can really screw people (ie Moran, a 2nd round pick and some crap prospect for Bertuzzi) which is probably the biggest fault of the game.

From what I've heard, the player ratings in ESPN are pretty bad. Can anyone confirm this?

From what I've heard, the player ratings in ESPN are pretty bad. Can anyone confirm this?

Yeah but you can edit them.

They also don't have that many Penguins prospects.

some of the more notable ones not in it are Murley, Fleury, Armstrong and Whitney.

Glad I got EA Sports one then...Although no 03 draftees at all are in it from what I heard (only played a quick game earlier).

Glad I got EA Sports one then...Although no 03 draftees at all are in it from what I heard (only played a quick game earlier).

they do make it easy to add players and the announcer will say most of their names (They can't say colby, but they can say Armstrong, No Murley, but they can say Matt)

i have ea sports nhl 2004 for the xbox, the game is amazing however my copy freezes during gameplay every once and a while...i took my first copy back and the second is doing the same. is anyone else having similar problems?

btw, anyone thinking of grabbing NHL Hitz Pro? It's supposed to be more realistic this year without loosing its edge. It could provide a nice change of pace from EA or ESPN...

is Fleury in NHL2004??

Fata is amazing in ESPN Hockey, I got to say that. Also Hedberg is very good, although he don't have him anymore.

is Fleury in NHL2004??

No

ESPN NHL Hockey > NHL 2004

They also don't have that many Penguins prospects.

some of the more notable ones not in it are Murley, Fleury, Armstrong and Whitney.


How many times must I say this?

Players that have not played in the NHL, and thus not in the NHLPA, can NOT be in any video game in any way, shape, or form.

It's the same reason why classic team rosters in all games are numbers instead of names, only currently active players in the NHLPA are allowed into video games. Murley, Fleury, Armstrong, Whitney, etc. will not be in any video game until they've played in the NHL.

There's a reason why Endicott is in games and Fleury isn't...

To hold that to a fault of a game is stupid.

Anyways, I have ESPN NHL and I have no need for any other game since I have perfection right there. The game is amazing plain and simple.

But yes, the ratings are a little craptacular, but they are editable.

How many times must I say this?

Players that have not played in the NHL, and thus not in the NHLPA, can NOT be in any video game in any way, shape, or form.

It's the same reason why classic team rosters in all games are numbers instead of names, only currently active players in the NHLPA are allowed into video games. Murley, Fleury, Armstrong, Whitney, etc. will not be in any video game until they've played in the NHL.

There's a reason why Endicott is in games and Fleury isn't...

To hold that to a fault of a game is stupid.

Anyways, I have ESPN NHL and I have no need for any other game since I have perfection right there. The game is amazing plain and simple.

But yes, the ratings are a little craptacular, but they are editable.



Maybe so, but Murley and Armstrong should've been included.

I own ESPN and love it.. the gameplay can't be beat.. although I'm quite mad that I can't change the difficulty in the middle of the franchise :rant:..

and I've played NHL 2004 on my cousin's XBox.. the Dyansty Mode is sweet, somewhat complicated and difficult that it makes it fun.. but the gameplay is still arcadey, but a ton better than last year.

Maybe so, but Murley and Armstrong should've been included.

Did you read a word he said?

Maybe so, but Murley and Armstrong should've been included.

:rolleyes:

I give up

:rolleyes:

I give up

But the premise you base the arguement is flawed.

Players that have not played in the NHL, and thus not in the NHLPA, can NOT be in any video game in any way, shape, or form.

That's not true. When a player signs, they almost always sign into the union as well. There are the exceptions (like LaVar Arrington) but I can't even think of one hockey player that isn't in the NHLPA.

For instance, Milan Kraft. Is he any less in the NHL if/when he gets demoted to Wilkes-Barre? No. Or even Fleury, he'll be a member of the NHLPA if he signs a contract. Even if he gets shipped back to Cape Breton. As soon as he's a pro, he's in the NHLPA.

You very well may be correct, Endo's in the game because he's had NHL action and guys like Murley and Armstrong aren't because they haven't. But it has nothing to do with NHLPA membership because all 3 are members of the players association.

But the premise you base the arguement is flawed.



That's not true. When a player signs, they almost always sign into the union as well. There are the exceptions (like LaVar Arrington) but I can't even think of one hockey player that isn't in the NHLPA.

For instance, Milan Kraft. Is he any less in the NHL if/when he gets demoted to Wilkes-Barre? No. Or even Fleury, he'll be a member of the NHLPA if he signs a contract. Even if he gets shipped back to Cape Breton. As soon as he's a pro, he's in the NHLPA.

You very well may be correct, Endo's in the game because he's had NHL action and guys like Murley and Armstrong aren't because they haven't. But it has nothing to do with NHLPA membership because all 3 are members of the players association.

Sorry about my last post in this thread but I was under the impression that once a player signed a contract that would allow him to play in the NHL he was eligible.

Either way the game's still great. Maybe some people here could get together and work out how the players on our roster could be rated.