The core gameplay is fast and fluid, maintaining the classic top-down perspective while adding several "gimmicks" that became fan favorites:
When a player breaks free, the screen tints blue and the sound of a heartbeat takes over, zooming in for a dramatic scoring attempt. NHL 2002 [Xbox Classic]
Players earn points for performing tasks like hat tricks or big hits, which are used to buy packs of digital trading cards. These cards unlock hidden players, stadiums, and "cheats" like big-head mode. The core gameplay is fast and fluid, maintaining
A successful string of hits and goals energizes the crowd, boosting your team’s stats. boosting your team’s stats.