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NHL 2000
NHL 2000
NHL 2000
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NHL 2000
Cover art featuring Chris Pronger of the St. Louis Blues
DevelopersEA Canada
Tiertex Design Studios (GBC)
PublisherEA Sports
ProducerKevin Wilkinson
SeriesNHL series
PlatformsGame Boy Color, PlayStation, Windows
ReleaseWindows
  • NA: September 15, 1999[2]
  • UK: September 24, 1999[1]
PlayStation
Game Boy Color
GenreSports
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer

NHL 2000 is an ice hockey video game developed by Electronic Arts Canada. It was released in 1999 and was the successor to NHL 99.

Gameplay

[edit]

A season mode (later developed into a Franchise mode) with a retirement feature, drafting, and player trades were added to the series in this game, as well as the ability to use any photo for created players' faces, which is textured onto the head. Similar gameplay was used in this version, as well as the previous version, NHL 99.

Another mode in NHL 2000 is the Tournament mode, in which the user chooses 16 countries (only 18 countries were available in the game) to play a round robin. After the round robin, eight teams are eliminated and then the remaining eight have a "playoff," but instead of it being out of seven games it was single-elimination. Eventually, a winner is crowned gold in the championship match. There is also a third place match for the losers of the semi-finals.

The game has a total of 28 NHL teams, including the new expansion Atlanta Thrashers, which was the only team in the game that did not exist in the 1998–99 season. Online leagues of the game also became more organized.

Daryl Reaugh left the series as colour commentator in this game and was replaced by Bill Clement. Jim Hughson remained as play-by-play announcer throughout the series.

Reception

[edit]

The PlayStation and PC versions received "favorable" reviews, while the Game Boy Color version received "mixed" reviews, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[6][7][8] Jim Preston of NextGen said of the PlayStation version, "EA Sports once again proves it does hockey better than anyone else on the planet."[27]

Nash Werner of GamePro said of the PC version that "it's easy to overlook the flaws when everything else fits like a glove. If you're a fan of NHL '99, you'll love NHL 2K [sic]. It was worth the wait."[32][a] William Abner of Computer Games Strategy Plus gave the same PC version three stars out of five, saying, "In the end, NHL 2000 is more of a side step than it is a leap forward. While the super goalie problem is gone and the online play is compelling, the AI problems mar the solo game to the point that in order to have a good time you must put limitations on yourself so as to not destroy the computer opponent at will. And that's just not much fun."[33]

PC Gamer US nominated the PC version for their 1999 "Best Sports Game" award, which ultimately went to High Heat Baseball 2000. The staff wrote of the game, "Arcade-style hockey just doesn't get any better."[34] It was also a finalist for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' 1999 "Computer Sports Game of the Year" award, which ultimately went to FIFA 2000.[35] The game was named the best sports game of 1999 by CNET Gamecenter.[36]

Said PC version alone sold 97,219 units in the US by April 2000.[37]

Notes

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

NHL 2000

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
NHL 2000 is an developed by EA Canada and published by , serving as the successor to NHL 99. Released on August 31, 1999, for Windows and September 30, 1999, for PlayStation and , it simulates the with 28 teams, including the expansion , and features authentic player rosters, arenas, and uniforms. The game introduces several key innovations, including the Dynasty mode, which allows players to manage a team across up to 10 seasons, handling aspects like drafting, trading, and coaching while tracking league standings and expansions. Gameplay emphasizes realistic on-ice action with enhanced animations for shots, checks, dekes, and goalie saves, alongside improved AI for more strategic passing and defensive play. A notable technical feature is face-mapping technology, which applies digitized photos of real NHL players onto in-game models for greater visual accuracy. NHL 2000 received widespread critical acclaim for its fluid and depth, earning a 9.1/10 from , which praised it as superior to other 32-bit hockey titles, and a 9/10 from , calling it ' finest hockey game to date. It supports multiplayer modes for up to four players and includes exhibition, season, and playoff simulations, making it a benchmark for sports simulations in the late 1990s. The title's success contributed to the ongoing evolution of the NHL series.

Development

Production process

NHL 2000 was developed by EA Canada, which handled the primary versions for PlayStation and Windows, while managed the port for . As the successor to NHL 99, the game built directly on its predecessor's updated rosters and official NHL licensing to reflect the 1999-2000 season. A major production focus was the introduction of an expanded season mode, evolving from prior entries' exhibition and playoff simulations into a more comprehensive management experience. This mode allowed players to guide a team through multiple seasons, incorporating mechanics such as player retirement through free agency, annual rookie drafts to acquire new talent, and trades with other teams to reshape rosters. Additionally, it supported custom player creation with photo import capabilities, enabling users to scan and map personal images onto created characters for personalized lineups. The game featured all 28 NHL teams, prominently including the newly expanded , which joined the league for the 1999-2000 season and marked the first time an expansion franchise appeared in the series at launch. This inclusion required updates to team rosters, arenas, and uniforms to align with real-world league changes. Technical advancements emphasized visual and gameplay realism, with developers adding new animations for player shots, body checks, and goalie saves to enhance on-ice action. These were paired with a face-mapping technique that rendered NHL players' likenesses more accurately, using scanned photos to create 3D models that closely resembled their real counterparts.

Audio and presentation

NHL 2000 featured updated audio commentary, with Bill Clement replacing as the color commentator while continued providing play-by-play duties, delivering more dynamic feedback during matches. The game's incorporated lifelike effects for key on-ice actions, including the sharp crack of puck hits against sticks, resonant body checks into the boards, crowd cheers that swelled with momentum shifts, and the chaotic noise of fights, all seamlessly integrated with enhanced player animations to heighten immersion. The visual presentation emphasized realism through detailed 3D models of all 28 NHL arenas from the 1999-2000 season, including debuts for Philips Arena (), RBC Center (), Gaylord Entertainment Center (), capturing unique architectural elements like seating layouts and ice surfaces. In Tournament mode, international play shifted to a standardized international rink size and venue style to reflect global competition standards, accommodating non-NHL teams without custom stadiums. Interface enhancements streamlined navigation, with a refreshed menu system that included an intuitive on-screen timer for precise game clock and penalty tracking during play, alongside Dynasty mode's comprehensive season-long progression tools monitoring team performance, player development, trades, drafts, and retirements across up to 10 simulated seasons. A standout technical advancement was the face-mapping technique applied to every NHL player's model, using digitized scans to replicate real-life appearances with , from facial structure to expressions during action sequences.

Gameplay

Core mechanics

NHL 2000 features a control scheme built around the PlayStation controller's for directional skating, enabling precise movement and acceleration via button taps for speed bursts. Passing is executed with the square button for standard passes or icon passing with R2 for targeted teammates, while shooting uses the X button, supporting one-timers and wrist shots based on stick angle. Checking mechanics include body checks via the circle button and big hits or dekes with the triangle button, with enhanced dekes allowing fake-left-and-go-right maneuvers to evade defenders. The spin-o-rama, a new flashy puck-control move, is performed by holding L1 or R1 while rotating the , adding flair to offensive plays inspired by professional maneuvers. The receives significant updates for greater realism, incorporating motion-capture technology to simulate fluid player animations and interactions. Puck handling feels more authentic, with the puck bouncing off boards, players, and goal posts to create rebounds and deflections, though toned down from NHL 99 to reduce excessive chaos. Collisions between skaters produce impactful body checks that can send players flying, adhering to momentum-based physics where acceleration is required before reaching top speed. Goalie interactions are refined, featuring improved poke checks, desperate saves, and positioning that responds to incoming shots and screens, contributing to more believable net-front battles. Gameplay strictly follows 1999 NHL rules, including a variety of penalties such as two-minute minors for infractions like and five-minute majors for fighting, which trigger power plays with numerical advantages like 5-on-4 or 5-on-3 depending on coinciding penalties. periods for tied regular-season games use a five-minute four-on-four sudden-death format, while playoff follow sudden-death progression in full-ice 5-on-5 until a is scored. Multiplayer supports up to four players in split-screen mode for local head-to-head or cooperative play, with AI difficulty scalable from to levels to adjust opponent aggression and competence. The overall pace is faster than in NHL 99, emphasizing quick transitions and higher shot volumes, bolstered by AI enhancements in offensive strategies like aggressive forechecking, though reviewers noted occasional AI pathing glitches where players take inefficient routes.

Game modes

NHL 2000 offers a variety of game modes that cater to different play styles, from quick matches to in-depth management simulations. The core modes include , , , , , and Tutorials, with the introduction of Dynasty mode providing extended team management across multiple years. Exhibition mode allows players to engage in single hockey games against AI opponents or in multiplayer settings, serving as a straightforward way to practice or enjoy casual play without long-term commitments. This mode supports head-to-head matches between any of the 28 NHL teams or international squads, emphasizing immediate action on the ice. Season mode simulates a full NHL schedule, enabling players to guide a team through an 82-game regular season followed by playoff progression toward the . It incorporates general manager tools for executing player trades, participating in amateur drafts to select rookies, and handling signings, all while accounting for factors like player aging and injuries. The mode allows customization of season length—short, medium, or long—to adjust the scope of play, and includes the NHL's overtime loss point system for added realism. Dynasty mode extends the management experience over 10 consecutive seasons, where players oversee long-term , including repeated drafts, trades, and dealing with player retirements as veterans age out of . This mode tracks ongoing team performance and roster evolution, offering a comprehensive of sustained franchise success or challenges. Playoffs mode bypasses the regular season for direct entry into postseason competition, replicating the NHL's bracket-style elimination tournament with best-of-1, 3, 5, or 7 series to determine the champion. It focuses on high-stakes matches without the extended schedule, allowing players to test strategies in a condensed format. Tournament mode features 16 selectable international teams competing in a round-robin group stage followed by single-elimination brackets, providing a global competition alternative to NHL-focused play. Players can customize the participating nations from an available pool of 18 countries, emphasizing international rivalries and varied team compositions. mode isolates penalty shots for practice or competition, where players alternate one-on-one attempts against the to hone shooting accuracy and timing under pressure. This standalone option is ideal for skill-building without full game commitment. Tutorials mode provides instructional sessions on core controls and mechanics, guiding new players through basic operations like skating, passing, and checking to build familiarity before entering other modes.

Release

Platforms and dates

NHL 2000 was developed and published by for Windows and PlayStation, with the Game Boy Color version handled by and published by in some regions, across three primary platforms. The game carried official licensing from the National Hockey League (NHL) and the (NHLPA), enabling the inclusion of authentic teams, players, and arenas for the 1999-2000 season in all versions. The Windows version launched in on September 15, 1999. The PlayStation edition followed shortly after, releasing in on September 30, 1999, and in later that year. For the portable market, the Game Boy Color port arrived in in 2000, while European releases occurred as early as August 1999. Platform-specific variations were evident in scope and presentation. The Windows and PlayStation versions offered a comprehensive 3D experience with the full Dynasty mode, allowing multi-year franchise management, alongside , , , and options. In contrast, the Game Boy Color adaptation was a simplified 2D overhead-scrolling port reminiscent of earlier Genesis titles, featuring six core modes—including , , , , , and a limited Dynasty variant—and support for 45 teams encompassing NHL rosters plus international squads.

Marketing and cover

The cover art for NHL 2000 prominently featured defenseman , who had been acquired by the team in a trade from the prior to the 1999-2000 NHL season and would go on to win both the as the league's top defenseman and the as the most valuable player that year. EA Sports' marketing campaign positioned NHL 2000 as the "most realistic hockey game yet" within its 1999 lineup, emphasizing advancements in and to deliver an described as "the closest to as you can get on a monitor." Pre-release promotions, including print ads and demo releases, highlighted the innovative "Face in the Game" feature, which allowed players to scan and import personal photos to create 3D-mapped faces on custom characters, adding a personalized layer to the Dynasty mode spanning up to 10 seasons. Trailers and materials also spotlighted the faster with a higher , more responsive controls, enhanced animations for dekes and hits, and the new mode featuring international competition among up to 16 national teams in a round-robin format. The game's promotional efforts tied into broader NHL initiatives, leveraging the league's official sponsorships such as Coca-Cola's role as the exclusive partner from onward to integrate real-world branding elements, including in-game advertisements that mirrored on-ice promotions. EA's hype built excitement around these elements through high-energy commercials set to rock tracks like Garbage's music, showcasing highlight reels of intense action to appeal to fans ahead of the 1999-2000 season.

Reception

Critical reviews

The PlayStation and PC versions of NHL 2000 garnered generally favorable , with reviewers highlighting its advancements in visual fidelity and gameplay realism. awarded the game a 9 out of 10, commending the new face-mapping technology that rendered players' likenesses with striking accuracy and the improved animations for shots, checks, and goalie saves that enhanced the overall fluidity of on-ice action. echoed this sentiment, scoring it 9.1 out of 10 and declaring the gameplay superior to any other 32-bit hockey title at the time, particularly for its responsive controls and strategic depth in modes like the enhanced season simulation, which included rookie drafts, free agency, and a new fantasy draft option. Game Revolution similarly praised the "incredible" graphics and near-perfect player animations, positioning NHL 2000 as a benchmark for sports simulations. Critics also noted persistent issues that tempered enthusiasm, such as occasional AI inconsistencies in defensive positioning, where computer-controlled players sometimes failed to maintain proper gaps or recover effectively after turnovers, leading to exploitable plays. Additionally, the online multiplayer functionality, while functional for , was described as choppy and not particularly polished, limiting its appeal for competitive play. These elements were seen as minor setbacks in an otherwise strong entry, with one noting that the AI's aggressive forechecking was a step forward but still prone to unrealistic shot volumes and overpowered long-range attempts. The Game Boy Color port received more mixed feedback, reflecting the challenges of adapting the full experience to a handheld format. rated it 5 out of 10, appreciating the portability for quick exhibition matches but criticizing the simplified controls and reduced graphical detail that made the action feel less immersive compared to its console counterparts. A user review aligned with this, scoring it 3.5 out of 5 and noting the improved framerate for faster-paced play, though it lacked the depth of animations and strategic layers found in the main versions. Overall, NHL 2000 was recognized for elevating the hockey genre, earning accolades such as magazine's Best Game of 1999 for its blend of realism and engaging simulation elements.

Sales figures

NHL 2000 contributed to ' dominance in hockey simulations during the late 1990s, serving as a leading title in its category on console platforms during fiscal year 2000. The PC version sold 97,219 units in the United States during 1999, generating $3.7 million in revenue. Sales were strongest on the PlayStation, with 365,524 units sold in the , reflecting the platform's widespread popularity among gamers at the time; the Game Boy Color edition positioned itself as an affordable portable alternative. As part of EA's annual sports release cycle, the game benefited from holiday season promotions in late 1999 that boosted its market visibility.

Legacy

Series influence

NHL 2000's Season mode, which allowed players to manage a team across multiple seasons with features like annual rookie drafts, player trades, free agency, injuries, retirements, and league expansions, laid the groundwork for deeper experiences in the NHL series. This mode evolved into an enhanced career system in NHL 2001, where trade mechanics were refined to make negotiations more challenging and realistic, preventing easy exploitation by the computer AI, while adding visual cues like faces for interested free agents. By , these elements expanded with improved roster management tools such as waiver placements and draft pick trading during the season, progressing toward the full Franchise mode in later entries. The game's introduction of Tournament mode, enabling customizable international competitions with up to 16 teams selected from 18 available nations in a round-robin format leading to , marked the series' first dedicated of global hockey events. This feature influenced subsequent entries by establishing a template for non-NHL tournaments, paving the way for more authentic recreations of real-world events like the in later titles, where expanded national team rosters and event-specific structures built on the foundational round-robin and elimination setup. NHL 2000 pioneered face-mapping technology in the series, applying digitized player faces to create more lifelike representations that distinguished it from prior isometric views and set a benchmark for visual fidelity. This innovation carried forward through NHL 2001 and , enhancing animations for shots, checks, and saves, before reaching a peak in with refined integration that maintained high standards of player realism amid advancing hardware capabilities.

Modern availability

As of 2025, NHL 2000 has not received an official digital re-release or remaster from Electronic Arts, limiting primary access to physical copies acquired through secondary markets such as eBay or retro gaming retailers like Lukie Games. The game remains playable on its original platforms with some adaptations for modern hardware. On PC, it runs under Windows 98 compatibility modes or later systems like Windows 10 using tools such as nGlide for Glide API rendering and community-provided patches to address Direct3D issues, enabling smooth performance without native 64-bit support. For the PlayStation version, it can be experienced on original consoles or via emulators like ePSXe, which accurately replicate the hardware environment. The Game Boy Color edition is emulatable on contemporary devices using software such as BGB, though legal ROM acquisition is restricted to owners of authentic cartridges, as distributing or downloading ROMs without ownership infringes copyright. Community efforts enhance replayability through mods that update rosters to reflect current NHL seasons, including team relocations and player changes, often distributed via forums and patch sites. NHL 2000 is not included in or similar subscription services for digital access, but PC preservation is relatively strong due to the availability of install files, patches, and that facilitate extraction and backups.

References

  1. https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/176876-nhl-2000/data
  2. https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps/198168-nhl-2000/data
  3. https://eanhl.fandom.com/wiki/NHL_2000
  4. https://www.mobygames.com/game/3712/nhl-2000/
  5. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nhl-2000-review/1900-2543845/
  6. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/10/02/nhl-2000-2
  7. https://www.ign.com/games/nhl-2000-gbc
  8. https://us.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9910/21/nhl2000/index.html
  9. https://archive.org/details/psx_nhl2k
  10. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/09/30/nhl-2000-3
  11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXS-rXpb0Yo
  12. https://psxdatacenter.com/games/U/N/SLUS-00965.html
  13. https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps/198168-nhl-2000/faqs/7013
  14. https://thehockeynews.com/news/all-access/pixels-and-pucks-a-history-of-hockey-video-games-2
  15. http://www.hockeynut.com/9900/newrules9900.html
  16. https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/gbc/198167-nhl-2000/data
  17. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/05/13/nhl-2000-5
  18. https://www.mobygames.com/game/43456/nhl-2000/
  19. https://www.pricecharting.com/game/pc-games/nhl-2000
  20. https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/NHL_2000
  21. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/08/03/nhl-2000-4
  22. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/01/29/nhl-2000
  23. https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-james-norris-memorial-trophy-winners-complete-list-287778852
  24. https://archive.org/details/Nhl2000Demo
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  26. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/1997/06/03/Sponsorships-Advertising-Marketing/DETAILS-EMERGE-ON-COCA-COLAS-BEVERAGE-DEAL-WITH-THE-NHL.aspx
  27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoNfWepihDM
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  30. https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/e/NASDAQ_ERTS_2000.pdf
  31. https://www.courant.com/2000/02/13/the-best-dont-always-sell/
  32. http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/Ps1ussales.htm
  33. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nhl-2001-review/1900-2634754/
  34. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/09/12/the-nhl-2002-career-mode
  35. https://www.britishicehockey.co.uk/post/charting-the-evolution-of-eas-nhl-games-from-1991-2024/
  36. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/09/26/nhl-2001-4
  37. https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/NHL_2000
  38. https://www.ebay.com/itm/306560447079
  39. https://www.zeus-software.com/downloads/nglide
  40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ4GHl8e_0s
  41. https://forum.nhl94.com/index.php?/topic/25062-snes-nhl-hockey92-nhl-2000-roms-in-nhl-94/
  42. https://www.gamefront.com/games/nhl-2000
  43. https://www.trueachievements.com/ea-play/games
  44. https://archive.org/details/easports_nhl2000
  45. https://soggi.org/misc/game-patches.htm
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