NHL 2003

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
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  1. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    70
    The puck has strikingly solid physics...The trouble is, defense is a joke. [Dec 2002, p.164]
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  2. XenGamers
    67
    Instead of going back and fine-tuning the game's fundamentals, the developers let the broken stuff stay broken and added in some cheap new bells and whistles.
  3. Gaming Age
    67
    It’s not sim enough to match up with Sega’s offering, and Midway has a faster, more fun arcade hockey game in NHL Hitz.
  5. GameNow
    67
    All of the defensive techniques are a shambles. [Nov 2002, p.76]
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  6. Play Magazine
    60
    As always, the graphics in NHL 2003 are exceptional... There were times when I thought I was watching an actual hockey game. [Nov 2002, p.88]
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Awards & Rankings

57
#57 Best PS2 Game of 2002
97
#97 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2002

User Reviews

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User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 18
  3. Negative: 3 out of 18
  1. davey16
    Sep 1, 2021
    6
    I do miss the energy of these games. They leaning into the arcade feels fine. It also helped that they actually had competition in the hockeyI do miss the energy of these games. They leaning into the arcade feels fine. It also helped that they actually had competition in the hockey game market back then.… Full Review »
  2. Kyle_Katarn92
    Jul 9, 2016
    8
    Don't get me wrong, the game is a lot of fun. The engine underwent some changes. The players are able to stickhandle the puck using the rightDon't get me wrong, the game is a lot of fun. The engine underwent some changes. The players are able to stickhandle the puck using the right analog stick. My only gripe with this game is that it can be challenging to score goals at times. Still the game is well worth playing, not as good as 2002, but still fun… Full Review »
  3. JoshH.
    Jun 5, 2003
    0
    If anyone has played any of the previous NHL series games and liked them, DO NOT GET THIS GAME!!!!!! I got this the day it was released, and If anyone has played any of the previous NHL series games and liked them, DO NOT GET THIS GAME!!!!!! I got this the day it was released, and I was so excited, yet when I started to play, I had turned the game off within ten minutes, and put NHL 2001 in. The gameplay is horrendous compared to the previous NHL games, and the charecters and their respective animations look like puffy disney characters. The worst game I have bought in years, only surpassed by any of the WWF/WWE games.… Full Review »
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