Naturally, most of the people who play NHL 2001 won't ever touch the sliders. But they will marvel at the graphics. NHL always looks good but the improvements have never been quite this dramatic. The animations are fluid and graceful. Special effects like light reflecting on the ice, shadows, and impressive sideline and on-ice incidental action.
Referees argue with players and even the suit-wearing coaches rant and rave after a stupid penalty.
The players all sport full facial expressions making the players not only look exactly like their human counterparts but act like them too. While the graphics push high-end hardware to the extreme it's the presentation that is the real revelation here. Close-up, chase and classic camera angles are all useful and entertaining and the game makes full use of all kinds of filler animation during pauses. What I mean is, you won't watch them once or twice and then turn it off forever. All Rights Reserved.