When the first of EA's long line of ice hockey games came out on Sega Mega Drive, it was brilliant. Many people, myself included, played it for hours, with games becoming tightly contested duels full of passion and, it has to be said, plenty of foul language. Sorry, Ma.

Despite the fond memories of that game, I've never played any of the sequels - those trademark EA yearly updates just weren't a big enough draw. With that in mind, I picked up NHL 2002, the first Xbox instalment of the hockey series. It fair knocked my socks off.

The thing about ice hockey is that of all sports, it's the most suited for conversion to video games. It's a very fast, brutal, intense game, with uncomplicated rules and lots of competition. As long as it's done properly, what more do you need to enter multiplayer heaven?

And NHL 2002 is done properly, as you'd expect from a game that's effectively been honed for over a decade. The controls feel just right: the basics are easily mastered within the first ten minutes, with steady improvement coming from prolonged sessions on the ice.

Slamming the opposition into the wall feels suitably heavy and aggressive, and competing to be the first to an errant puck is a sporting battle in every sense of the phrase.

But by far the most pleasing aspect of the game is the passing. It's quick and intuitive - building up a string of passes and finishing with a well-aimed slap shot feels great. It's even better when the shot goes in, and even better than that when it's against a mate.

The only real problem is that for many, this will just be another update of an ice hockey game. As such, recent owners of an NHL game, or people who don't give a sweaty face mask about the game itself may not be tempted

For everyone else, this is a highly playable sports game providing plenty of entertainment. You can't ask for much more than that, really, can you?

1. Whole package is smooooth as silk
2. Intuitive controls
3. Patridge-esque commentary
4. Fun multiplayer

1. Not much new for existing NHL owners
2. It's not football!

Power
The players' faces are particularly well detailed, and everything is as smooth as you could want.

Style
Slickly presented, with plenty of nice graphical touches and excellent commentary.

Immersion
The excellent presentation and atmosphere means that tense, hectic games are frequent.

Lifespan
A comprehensive array of tasks to keep hockey fans entertained. You'll want to do a full season.

Summary
An excellent multiplayer game, with joyful passing and shooting. Deserves a place on any sports game fan's bench.