NHL Hitz 20-03
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NHL Hitz 20-03 is a hockey video game developed by Midway Sports Home Entertainment Inc. The game was released on PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, the Game Boy Advance, and also on the Xbox.
The game features a 3-on-3 style of hockey that is rare in other titles. The graphics are much more detailed on the PlayStation 2 as the hardware allows. The Game Boy version has the possibility of being linked with up to 3 other systems for 4 player link up play.
NHL Hitz 20-03 was considered an update of the NHL Hitz 20-02 game. In the Game Boy version, it was possible to play an entire 82-game season.
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[edit] Gameplay
Players have the option of playing three periods in one, two, or three minutes in length. Players must pick 2 forwards, 1 defenseman and a goalie; before each period, they can choose to keep the same players or switch them.
There is an option for a mercy rule that will end the game as soon as the team reaches the limit of goal differential. As an example, you have the mercy rule set to 5: as soon as you lead the game by 5 goals, you automatically win. You can also set it to one goal, like overtime.
The game is also meant to mainly be high-hitting game, as you can check people through the glass, but won't stop play. Also, goalies can actually stick-handle the puck around, and take a shot on the other net. It is possible to score.
Certain players are also rated unrealistically, for example star forward Daniel Alfredsson is rated 85 while in NHL 2003, he is rated 95. The pictures of the players are low quality pictures from NHL 2003. There are several faces also used for create-a-player. You can create female players too.
Also, the rosters are shortened to mainly starters for each real NHL game, with a lot less free agents.
There are also many mini-games to play besides the real game, like shootout mode.
"Planked" - To be planked by someone involves the initial offensive team piling on a huge amount of pressure on the defense, and almost score on a number of occasions, the defense then miraculously gets a sneaky breakaway and scores a goal. The term was coined after an Adrian 'the big wooden' Martin found this was only way he could score goals.
[edit] Worldwide tournament (International tourney)
The tournament is to complete goals in the game to get experience points, which are like stat points. When you win more, you get better equipment, like sticks for accuracy and power, goalie pads for better rebound control, and more. You create a team with the goal of joining the NHL. You start off picking the team, logo, etc, then make 7 players. As you progress, beating teams, the teams will get harder, but at the same time, you will improve too. When you start winning games, 3 more players will eventually ask to join the team, and you can customize them. There are 8 rounds, with 5-6 teams in each one around the globe, then in the last few, you'll face NHL teams, and players, and will be awarded with the trophy.
[edit] Season
Like all the other NHL games, season mode is available. Of course, winning the Stanley Cup is the goal here. So basically it's a real NHL season. This time, however, there are more individual awards made by the creators. For example, there is a trophy for the player who wins the most fights, and who bodychecks the most.
[edit] Glitches
If you are involved in a fight during the second period, you may notice that the player nametag is on the wrong side of the fight. It is in the proper spot in the first and third period. Also, sometimes after the faceoff, one of the defensemen cannot move with the controller until he gets the puck, and has a huge catch-up system and frustrates players, especially near the end of the game.
[edit] Trivia
Chris Pronger is the cover athlete on all of the games.
In the opening clip the song playing in the background is called 'Bombshell' - Powerman 5000. This song was also used as the World Wrestling Entertainment's Dudley Boyz theme song.
