Total Puck Control

There’s one sure way to tell whether a game truly works: Does it nail the control scheme? Halo hit it right on the nose with its dual-stick method of strafing and aiming, setting the bar for all shooters to follow. Sports games are also dependent on intuitive controls, and five minutes with NHL Rivals™ 2004 were enough to convince me that somebody finally got it right. You can tell the developers put a lot of effort into satisfying both arcade sports fans and simulation buffs. Check it out.

A well-placed check.

Watch Where You’re Pointing That Thing!
Unlike traditional hockey titles, NHL Rivals 2004 lets you control not only the movement of your player, but also which way he’s facing. Feel free to get fancy by skating backward. You might not win any gold medals for style, but you will make it harder for the defense to steal your puck away. With a simple squeeze of the left trigger, you can rotate 180 degrees, while still moving in the same direction. If you want complete control, you can change the settings to rotate your puck-man for as long as you hold in the trigger. The choice is yours.

Now, don’t think that, just because your back is turned, the goalie will be inviting you for tea. When the defense moves in to steal the puck, try to deke with the B button. You can fake the other guys out, handling the stick this way and that. Drive past them, and take that shot!

The Puck Stops Here
There are four different ways to pass the puck in NHL Rivals 2004: Basic, Saucer, Pinpoint, and Drop. Arcade fans will likely take to the Basic pass like a Mighty Duck to ice. Simply skate using the left analog stick in the direction you want to pass, and then hit the A button. You’ll automatically pass to the closest player in that area. A Saucer pass has the same mechanics, but you hold the A button in to flip the puck into the air. Simulation fans and masters of the ice will make best use of the Pinpoint pass. Simply point the right analog stick in the direction you wish to pass, and off it goes! Accuracy is key here, as poor aim might result in giving up the puck to a defender-or worse slipping the puck into your own goal. Alternately, the Drop pass is a great trick for faking out the defense. By clicking the right analog stick, you dump the puck behind the skater. It’s a useful tactic when you encounter heavy defense. The best play is to let another of your players scoop up the puck and break away from the pack.

Stop those shots any way possible.

Like Stealing Candy from a Baby
All these offensive tactics are great, but what about defense? Say the other team’s sniper is in possession and headed your way. What can you do? You can easily execute stick and body checks by hitting the X and B buttons, respectively. You can also pull off a hook by holding down the X button. You’ll not only slow the puck handler down, but you also just might strip that glorious rubber disc from his evil clutches. A simple press of the button can knock that clown on his behind, but be wary of penalties—the last thing you want to do is have a star player sit out while the other team has a power play. Keep hitting the same guy enough times, and you’ll light his already short fuse. Fights can break out on the ice, though they can be avoided if neither team wants to take a “time out” on the bench. If all else fails, and your opponent manages to squeeze a shot off, hit Y to dive in front of that speeding UFO. Now, you know why hockey players have good dental plans.

NHL Rivals 2004 lets armchair hockey fans work the puck eight ways to Sunday. How you handle your game is up to you. Keep an eye out for Rivals, body checking its way to a store near you this November. And, remember: Stock up on mouth guards.

By Jim W. Gettys