HW Video Game Week: NHL 04

One of the best aspects of hockey fandom are the video games. From the release of Nintendo's Ice Hockey in 1988, there have been a wealth of hockey games that have made an impression on casual and die-hard hockey fans alike. During Hockey Wilderness' Video Game Week, we'll be re-visiting our favorites. Today we have former HW staff member and current blogger at Team of 18,001 Giles Ferrell breaking down EA's NHL '04

When one thinks of the better NHL games EA Sports has ever produced, NHL 04 should be one of your first thoughts.

Despite graphics, little else changed with the EA franchise between NHL 94 and NHL 03. NHL 04 was the game that A) took major strides in giving gamers the most realistic game play and B) put EA in the lead in terms of who had the best NHL game franchise (a lead they have not relinquished in the 10 years that have followed).

Not at the top of the list of big things to appreciate about this game, but was new compared to its predecessor (NHL 03), was the Elite League feature. Germany's DEL, Sweden's Elitserien, and Finland's SM-Liiga were the three Elite Leagues added to the game for general game play. This feature is still evident 10 years later as six different leagues spanning from the Canadian Junior Leagues to the European Elite leagues were a part of NHL 14.

Something else that was first introduced in this game was the online play, allowing one to take their talents up against anyone else in the world. It was pretty nice to be able to play a two player game and not have them sitting right next to you.

Soundtrack wise, NHL 04 is one of the best in the franchise's history (and in this writer's opinion, one of the best video game soundtracks ever). You can find the entire track here in the video below and let the nostalgia sink in for the next hour.