Like all other EA titles, TV style presentation is one of their strong suits. And NHL 2001 definitely lives up to the claim in fact surpasses any imagination I've ever had. I have never in my life seen such real player models, camera angles that would make ESPN envious, and commentators that I didn't think could exist on an EA sports title (with the exception of the great commentators that have always blessed Triple Play). This has to be the GREATEST looking sports title known to man.

What makes a game that looks like a gift from God even better, superior gameplay. NHL 2001 lays it all on the line, and creates one of the fastest paced hockey games on any system. There is a huge slowdown during line changes, and that can become a tad annoying at times. But for the most  part, NHL 2001 is running at break neck speeds. The passing in the game is very good, but with the lack of Icon passing...it could be a lot better. There's nothing like trying to get the puck to your man who's up the ice, and you can't get it to him because you can't visually see them on the screen. Also, the fact that the only special shots you have are one timers, dekes, and slap shots can make the avid hockey fan a little upset since they are missing give and goes and drop passes. Maybe next time. At least for those few people who like to slow their game down, you have the option of doing so with a little visit to player settings. The creation of the "Momentum Meter" is also a nice little addition, as the more momentum your team gets in a game then the better their attributes will be. So go out there, get the big hits, win the fights, and get the best of your team. The more momentum you have, the better chance you have of winning. Just like a real game.

A couple of problems that occur with NHL 2001 are that the AI on defense is a tad ignorant. Maybe this is because some defenses just suck...but I think the hits for my team and the team of the computer should not have 15-20 hit average difference between them. Unless you play the Minnesota Wild every night that is. Also, like mentioned before, the slowdown during line changes can be a bit of a pain. I know the times I watched the Red Wings during the championship years...they didn't always change the entire line at the same time. Maybe the ability to throw different forwards in on different lines should be added to the next NHL. Last, who the hell came up with this fighting engine? I know fighting in Hockey games tend to take a bit of a backseat, but the fighting in this game looks hokey and very weak. If it weren't for the commentators creating some of the funniest lines after bouts, the fighting in this game would be totally pointless. Either do it right, or don't do it at all...that's my motto.