NHL 2004
{{Short description|2003 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = NHL 2004
| image = NHL 2004 Coverart.png
| caption = Cover art with Dany Heatley
| developer = EA Black Box
| publisher = EA Sports
| series = NHL series
| released = {{Video game release|NA|September 23, 2003{{Cite web |title=EA Sports releases NHL 2004 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-sports-releases-nhl-2004/1100-6075642/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306020608/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-sports-releases-nhl-2004/1100-6075642/ |url-status=live }}|EU|October 3, 2003|AUS|October 10, 2003}}
| genre = Sports
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer, online multiplayer
| platforms = GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows
}}
NHL 2004 is an ice hockey sports video game developed by EA Black Box. It is the successor to NHL 2003. The game adds three European Elite Leagues: Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), Sweden's Elitserien (SEL), and Finland's SM-liiga. The game was heavily modded during the last 20 years.{{Cite news |title=Travel to a land where it's always 2004 and meet the people who refuse to let EA Sports NHL 2004 die|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3027314/2021/12/22/travel-to-a-land-where-its-always-2004-and-meet-the-people-who-refuse-to-let-ea-sports-nhl-04-die/|access-date=December 26, 2023|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530054825/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3027314/2021/12/22/travel-to-a-land-where-its-always-2004-and-meet-the-people-who-refuse-to-let-ea-sports-nhl-04-die/|archive-date=May 30, 2024|url-status=live |last1=Gentille |first1=Sean }}{{Cite web|title=NHL 04 rebuilt|url=https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/nhl04rebuilt/|access-date=December 26, 2023|website=TapTalk|language=en-US}}
Gameplay
The game included many improvements to its gameplay (more realistic puck and rebound control and better checking) and game modes (a completely reworked franchise mode renamed "Dynasty"). In addition to the gameplay improvements, one particular non-gameplay improvement was added. When a team wins the Stanley Cup Finals, a large-scale celebration ensues. It included players skating around the ice holding the Cup over their heads. This then led to the common snapshot of the team and the coaches that holds true in the NHL. A "secret" song ("Shatterday" by Vendetta Red) plays while the animation shows the stats of the players in the picture, ending with the captain. Because of these additions, it was praised as one of the best games in the series to date.{{cite web |last=Boulding |first=Aaron |date=September 26, 2003 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/27/nhl-2004-review |title=NHL 2004 Review (PC) |website=IGN |accessdate=June 23, 2015 |archive-date=June 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624025221/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/27/nhl-2004-review |url-status=live }}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| NGC = true
| PC = true
| PS2 = true
| XBOX = true
| na = true
| EGM_NGC = 7.33/10{{cite magazine |author=EGM staff |title=NHL 2004 |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |issue=171 |date=October 2003 |page=138}}
| GI_NGC = 9/10{{cite magazine |last=Reiner |first=Andrew |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200310/R03.1016.1207.50725.htm |title=NHL 2004 (GC) |magazine=Game Informer |issue=126 |date=October 2003 |page=131 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421234801/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200310/R03.1016.1207.50725.htm |archive-date=April 21, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=June 23, 2015}}
| GamePro_NGC = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |author=Air Hendrix |date=September 23, 2003 |url=http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/31152.shtml |title=NHL 2004 (GC, PS2, Xbox) |magazine=GamePro |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050208051419/http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/31152.shtml |archivedate=February 8, 2005 |url-status=dead |accessdate=June 24, 2015}}
| GamePro_PS2 = {{Rating|4|5}}
| GamePro_XBOX = {{Rating|4|5}}
| GameRev_NGC = B+{{cite web |last=Ferris |first=Duke "G-Wok" |date=October 16, 2003 |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/nhl-2004 |title=NHL 2004 Review |publisher=Game Revolution |accessdate=June 24, 2015 |archive-date=July 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707133741/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/nhl-2004 |url-status=live }}
| GSpy_NGC = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Fischer |first=Russ |date=October 9, 2003 |url=http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/nhl-2004/6237p1.html |title=GameSpy: NHL 2004 (GCN) |publisher=GameSpy |accessdate=June 24, 2015 |archive-date=June 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624062116/http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/nhl-2004/6237p1.html |url-status=live }}
| NP_NGC = 3.8/5{{cite magazine |title=NHL 2004 |magazine=Nintendo Power |volume=174 |date=December 2003 |page=146}}
| OPM_PS2 = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=NHL 2004 |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |date=October 2003 |page=121}}
| OXM_XBOX = 8.6/10{{cite magazine |title=NHL 2004 |magazine=Official Xbox Magazine |date=October 2003 |page=80}}
| PCGUS_PC = 67%{{cite journal |last=Morris |first=Dan |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/nhl_2004.html |title=NHL 2004 |journal=PC Gamer |date=December 25, 2003 |page=97 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315133712/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/nhl_2004.html |archivedate=March 15, 2006 |url-status=dead |accessdate=June 24, 2015}}
| rev1 = Playboy
| rev1_NGC = 88%{{cite journal |title=NHL 2004 |journal=Playboy |date=October 2003 |page=37}}
| MC_NGC = 85/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nhl-2004/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube |title=NHL 2004 for GameCube Reviews |website=Metacritic |accessdate=June 23, 2015 |archive-date=November 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231111190613/https://www.metacritic.com/game/nhl-2004/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube |url-status=live }}
}}
The game received "favorable" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.
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References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/nhl-2004}}
{{NHL series}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nhl 2004}}
Category:Electronic Arts games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:NHL (video game series)
Category:Video games developed in Canada
Category:Video games set in 2003
Category:Video games set in 2004
Category:Video games set in Canada