From the drop of the first puck, I took note that this game does look nice, though not leaps or bounds beyond my current favorite hockey simulation. In fact, in many respects NHL 2001 is poorer graphically than its competition on the older Dreamcast hardware. NHL 2001 opens up well enough. Prior to the players hitting the ice, you see a television style shot of the tunnel, complete with players barreling out of the locker room. The character models are exceptional.
Facial features are almost lifelike.
Hockey fans will easily distinguish players by their faces alone. Prior to the face off, the graphics are equally stunning. The uniforms have intricate detail, as visors reflect light, players appear folded as players bend, and sticks have legible writing on them. So far so good. Once the puck drops, you realize all the flash of the animations goes by the wayside.