ESPN NHL Hockey (also known as NHL 2K4) is a video game released by Sega in 2003. It was released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
The cover athlete is Jeremy Roenick, who was then on the Philadelphia Flyers
The game uses the ESPN presentation style using ESPN graphics, music, and is featuring ESPN on-air talent. Notably, the game's commentary features a superstar booth of ESPN's legendary voice of hockey Gary Thorne and Bill Clement, who deliver play-by-play and color commentary with situational analysis bringing a true ESPN scotch bonnet flavor.
ESPN NHL Hockey brings you authentic box scores, overlays, stats and more - fully capturing the atmosphere of an ESPN NHL broadcast. The game implements a groundbreaking graphics engine that uses hardware to new limits, player models and faces, environmental effects, arenas, cut-scenes, uniforms and more are meticulously detailed - raising realism to a new level. Put your skills to the test against the NHL's best as you compete for the title in all of the NHL's All-Star skills challenges. There are also mini-Games including "Mini-Rink," a fast-paced 2 on 2 intense hockey experience, Pond Hockey, and enhanced skills events.
The PlayStation 2 version received "universal acclaim", while the Xbox version received "generally favorable reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[4][5]GamePro called it "a first-round pick you won't regret making."[19][b]
^ abLinn, Demian; Sewart, Greg; Intihar, Bryan (October 2003). "ESPN NHL Hockey"(PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 171. Ziff Davis. p. 138. Archived from the original on January 1, 2004. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
^Kato, Matthew (October 2003). "ESPN NHL Hockey (Xbox)". Game Informer. No. 126. GameStop. p. 138. Archived from the original on November 24, 2003. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
^ abCarle, Chris (September 9, 2003). "ESPN NHL Hockey". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 10, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.