Background Info

PSX Screens(8)

Of the two Fox's two upcoming titles, NHL Championship 2000 is the most impressive so far. The game, while still in an alpha stage of development, looks and plays very well, with smooth, fluid graphics and fun gameplay. While still under development, the game has a very "finished" feel to it.

NHL Championship 2000 sports a clean, simple interface, with a simple menu system and great intro music. Going into a game, there is a dramatic stadium introduction, with a set-up script by the announcers, describing the game's match-ups and possible rivalry history between the two teams. The announcers, John Davidson and Kenny Albert, are outstanding, comparable to the two-man team in EA's NHL series. Although the game's developers are still working on additional announcer speech, there is a lot already in place. The color commentary has a lot of humor. After a big hit, Albert quips "hope he's got a good dental plan!" Another nice touch comes when you pause a game. The announcers send you out with a transitional comment "we'll be back in a moment!", and when you resume the game, treat it as if you just came back from a commercial break. It's a little thing, but a nice touch.

Like NBA 2000, NHL Championship 2000 has the look and feel of a Fox broadcast. The graphics and transitions are straight from TV. The replays are especially well done in NHL Championship 2000. The voiceovers comment on the replay as it is shown from different angles and camera perspectives.

The gameplay is smooth and responsive, with excellent motion-captured animations of shots, hits, falls, and saves. The overall presentation is on par with the other top hockey titles on the PSX market. Graphically, NHL Championship 2000 is a solid match for the competition.

The trick for Fox will be differentiating their game from the better-known competition. While NHL Championship 2000 looks and plays very well, it doesn't have a lot of new features to set it apart from its rivals. Marketing and the Fox brand may help, but it may not be enough to convince loyal EA or 989 hockey loyalists to give them a shot. Regardless, NHL Championship 2000 looks like a strong contender, and it has a fair shot to impress and win over gamers this fall.