NHL 2002 has got all of the elements that we have grown to love. Game modes include Play Now (Exhibition), Season or Career (multiple Seasons), Playoffs, Tournament, and Shootout. No matter which you choose, a little piece of the NHL will be at your fingertips. And for those of you that don't like the controls, you'll be able to customize them to your liking. Of course, the controls are already perfectly set up the way they should be.
It's hard to improve upon a franchise that has been so successful. Because of this, you will see that there aren't all that many big changes present in NHL 2002. Probably the most notable is the new Hit, Save, and Breakaway camera angles. Although they don't really change the gameplay, they do enhance it by giving the game a bit more pizzazz. Another of the changes in the game is the inclusion of NHL Cards (similar to Madden Cards in the Madden NFL series). While playing with User Records on, you'll earn points for accomplishing certain feats. These points can then be turned in for NHL Cards. When you use your NHL Cards, players will be given increased ability. Some cards will also allow you to mess with gameplay to give an advantage to one team or another.
Another feature in NHL 2002 is the new 'face-builder' within the Create-A-Player Mode. Here you can select different facial parts (eyes, nose, mouth, etc). However, I was a bit disappointed in the Create-A-Player, overall. Compared to other sports titles, there really isn't all that much too it. Finally, NHL 2002 now has tons of different coaching strategies for your choosing. Both Offensive and Defensive strategies are available, maybe giving you the edge you need to overcome your opponent.
