NHL Rivals 2004 Hands-On Impressions

Microsoft's NHL Rivals 2004 was on display at a recent press event, and we had an opportunity to learn more about the game and its Xbox Live and XSN support. For starters, NHL Rivals 2004 will feature online leagues and single-elimination tournaments, and it will also be one of the few games that will support "best of" tournaments. But one of the more intriguing new online features for Rivals is the pickup game, which is basically a three-on-three game of hockey without the rules or pageantry of professional hockey.

In the pickup game, you control only one player and as such can specialize in a certain area. For example, you can be a sniper, an enforcer, an agitator, or an all-around player--each position type fills a specific role on the team. It's also worth noting that you don't actually have to play a strict three-on-three game--some games can be three-on-two or even two-on-one (goalies are controlled by the computer). This mode is quite fun, especially when you make a run toward the net and create an awesome play by directing your teammates.

The main portion of the game is coming together pretty well. While out on the ice, you can perform dekes and pivot to help set up a shot. In addition, there's a feature that enables you to pivot and then skate backward, which is useful for both keeping the puck away from defenders and confusing the defense in general.

The development team has also put a great deal of effort into the game's graphics. You'll notice that the types of cloth on the uniforms actually have different textures to represent various fabrics. Also, when players bend down during a face-off, their uniforms will actually fold and contort depending on the player instead of just stretching or disappearing. We'll have more on NHL Rivals 2004 before its late October release.