There are probably more than 2 kinds of Sports Game fans out there, but at the very least we can consider those obsessed with realism and those who just like arcade action. Either way, playing baseball, football, basketball and hockey has come a long way from the games where you just played with little X's and O's. Sadly, remembering games like that dates me back to the Stone Age.

NHL Hitz 2002 isn't afraid to push Arcade action, but it doesn't fail in the realism department. The graphics are far and away from the last game I remember of this type, which was NHL Rock the Rink for PSone. The characters move convincingly, and although the close-ups reveal some blocky body models, the faces are based convincingly on the real players. In fact, all the NHL players and teams are here, but the action on ice is only 3-on-3. Brawls are done in a 'cut to profile' view where you actually get to go all Tekken on an opposing player until somebody falls down. One of the coolest effects that really takes advantage of the new power on PS2 is the way a player starts to catch on fire as they score successive goals. First, you see them smolder, next they actually have flames coming out of them, and finally the previous stage's red flames go blue to signify you're getting hotter. The heat translates not just to success on the ice, but also gives you some edge in your play. And it looks 'mah-va-lous!'

With a band roster that includes Limp Bizkit, Fuel, Korn and Staind, do I even need to stress how good this game sounds? Well, I guess I should mention the funny announcers and realistic play-by-play, but all you care about is the buzzer you hear on a goal. It's there, along with the roar of the crowd, instant replay and a rousing 'He Scores!' This, hockey fans, makes you feel like you're right there along the ice. Sure, in real life guys aren't catching on fire or checking one another through the glass, but that's why it's a videogame.

You've probably guessed it's hockey from the NHL endorsement, but NHL Hitz 2002 aims to be more than just your average hockey simulation. No, this is full-contact, 3-on-3 hockey action that (almost) throws the rule book out the friggin' door! And, there are so many little extras in this game that keep you coming back. It's quality all the way.

Modes are important to this genre. Without lots of team selection options, customization, training or practice and special modes, sports gaming fans won't even bother. The standard was defined long ago by Madden, and it basically came down to improving realism and adding special modes without breaking gameplay. Because, unlike a Platformer or RPG where designers are free to innovate and break away from the form with their own set of rules, sports games are fun in one way because we know exactly what to do. We don't always know 'how' to do it with a controller, but hockey people know the rules. Now, NHL Hitz 2002 doesn't concern itself with icing or other standard penalties, so the only break in gameplay comes as a result of a skyrocketing puck or a fight. The quickest entry point to the action is Exhibition Mode. No, you don't run out on the ice in a raincoat and flash the crowd... After picking Home or Away, you choose a team and start play. After 3 periods, a winner is named and hopefully it's you. You can choose from a limited roster of players on each team's most current lineup, and change out players as needed after periods or a fight. Losing a fight can actually take someone to the bench for an entire game, but there are aren't any pesky penalty box stays to worry about. After a complete game, you'll see a trivia question. That's right, a trivia question. Answer correctly, and you'll add to your winning bonus and get more points. Points, you say? Right. NHL Hitz 2002 lets players unlock special options through a purchase system. New stadiums, jerseys and even special logos are available for purchase. Winning the Stanley Cup in Championship Mode is like the lottery, but winning at lower-level Exhibition and Championship games still means you'll have plenty of cash for special purchases as you work your way up. Championship lets multiple players, up to 6, join in for play at any time. It's not just 'your team vs. my team' either. Players can control their favorites from any of the NHL teams, including the goalies. With Multitap, joining in mid-Championship is even possible.

Other significant aspects that round out the seriously deep gameplay of NHL Hitz 2002 are codes, attributes for custom teams and players, and the Skills Mode. Skills Mode works like a series of mini-games. You have a chance to practice shots, skating technique and blocks in a quick round of pass-fail tests. Pass all the tests, and move up to the next difficulty level. Skills Mode is a great way to learn the controls the first time you pick up the game. In Franchise Mode, a custom team can play up to the Midway Cup, which basically simulates the Championship Mode but for the availability of custom, Fantasy and NHL teams all mixed up together. In building a team, you'll have available all the special options you can afford plus a certain number of Attribute Points to develop players. You'll have the chance to develop a front line that plays according to your particular style, heavy on skills like passing and shooting or just shotgun shooters with a strong arm and short temper. Trade opportunities let you add NHL players to your custom team, but they come at a heavy price. It's a tough decision, but sometimes they've got just the skill you need. Codes are a very visible part of NHL Hitz 2002, since every time you start play there's a chance to enter a code for that game. Basically, three symbols or icons can be flipped to create different combinations that affect all kinds of play elements. Midway hid several codes in the manual, and promise others will show up in strategy guides, magazines or even by scanning the crowd during replays. That last one is a darn cool feature, IYAM!!

And, you knew this was coming, but I'll say it anyway... ;) Although it seems like looking a gift horse in the mouth, I'm absolutely slathering for something like this in an online-capable version. Especially with the ability to control up to 6 players, can you even imagine the fun we could have through online play!? This game just screams for it.

A sort of gripe I have is that NHL Hitz 2002 defaults to a difficulty level way too hard for most folks just picking up a hockey game and even some who know what's what. Initially, unless you dial down the difficulty level, players burn you on the ice, slam the puck around your goalie with shocking consistency, and just basically rub your nose in the ice. This is the CPU, of course, so for play against human opponents disregard. I worked my way up to a more advanced level, and the good news is that the 'Rookie' combined with a modified Game Speed setting will make NHL Hitz 2002 accessible to even the most entry-level gamers.

Having outlined most of the modes and options here, it's worth mentioning the smart controls. Analog and vibration add not only to the overall experience, but also to ease of control. Actual in-game action works off a combination of the front buttons, with several logical variations on a theme. Shooting and passing are grouped side-by-side, and checks or defense are on the opposite buttons. Instead of 'push key, move stick' controls, NHL Hitz 2002 simplifies to key combinations that make sense. Fake shots are created by holding the Shoot button and pressing Guard or Pass, and at least one other combo is possible. Defense buttons retain their function when you're on offense, so guarding your puck with (O) translates to checking or stealing the puck when you don't have it. Taunts are relegated to the shoulder buttons, along with Turbo, which is actually very critical. There's really not much else to it, and if you elect to try Skills Mode early on, you'll learn many of the special moves that help score goals. Things like pass combinations and one-timers or power-shots make the difference between lucky goals and true skill. Defense is simple, especially since you can use the Pass button to stay closest to the puck. If the player you need is off-screen across the blue line, pressing (X) will still make him controllable, and a little pointer arrow shows you what direction he's coming from. Smooth.

In the Small Details department, we find excellent user management, to the point that you can add or delete usernames and saved preferences without deleting actual save files. Since the multiplayer aspect of NHL Hitz 2002 is so strong, this really helps keep individual settings clear. The level of detailed options really impressed me here, with things like camera control and HUD display that you'd expect, and some others you wouldn't, like changing players' nicknames and hearing the announcer change his introduction and commentary accordingly. Fun. Numerous settings make this a joy to play, and there's no question the developers took their QA cycle seriously.

The only things holding NHL Hitz 2002 back from a perfect score and a perfect product are the level of realism some gamers want that's not here, and the lack of online competition. Yes, I know it's silly to mention online, but maybe not so silly when there's a new Internet-capable console only weeks away. Sony's online strategy is already well into the implementation stage, so we'll hopefully see more games of this type shipping with at least online expansion features. Other NHL games may offer more realism, but the fun factor on NHL Hitz 2002 is a perfect '10' in my book. Get this for yourself, but don't miss a chance to play with friends. And, don't let some of the more 'arcade' features fool you into thinking this isn't a well-made, deep game. It's as deep as you wanna be, and then some.