Ice Hockey is the sport of men. At least it was until Midway dipped its fingers into its icy throes. The Hitz titles, arguably the most underrated and fun sports games in the history of the gamepad, were so OTT they even featured teams of horse, shark and alien-headed mutants. Mental? Hitz games defined the word.

With Pro, bestiality is eschewed in favour of enhanced realism. Instead of three-aside action, this one features standard five-on-five matchplay. Serial goalscorers don't explode in balls of flames, and punch-ups occur with marginally less regularity. In fact, Pro even tries to skate down the EA route by brandishing coaching options, basic tactical plays, line changes and - gulp - rules! Hell, you can even be penalised for offside, which must be a first in a Midway game.

Yet despite all these tweaks, Hitz: Pro still manages to be mad. Those expecting anything other than chaotic arcade excitement should be ashamed. The controls are virtually identical to the originals, one-timers are still key to scoring and players crash through the glass like they've been hit by freight trains. We were amazed at just how closely this plays to its predecessors - even with the increased number of players on the rink and the slightly different graphical style.

As before, the main mode is the 'travelling' franchise season. You lead a fictional team through a series of qualifying matches, before pulverising opponents from the prestigious NHL. And although the animal heads are sadly missing, you can still customise the look of each of your players, and that includes revamping them into bulky 7ft giants with skinny legs and laughably minuscule heads. There are also options for schoolboy hockey which enables you to fight it out on frozen park ponds and parking lots, with retro-style graphics adding to the charm. Complete? We reckon so. And it looks much nicer than the PS2 version too.

As sports game go, NHL Hitz: Pro is great fun, the multiplayer riotous and the presentation humorous and immaculate. Highly recommended for those yet to sample the series, and equally rewarding for those who already have but want more depth. For the rest of us, though, we were kinda hoping for a farmyard team of giant pig-headed beasts... Next time, eh, lads?

1. Great fun to play
2. Excellent humour and presentation
3. Great multiplayer

1. Too much like the previous game
2. No animal heads
3. Some slowdown

Power
It looks very nice indeed with excellent cutscenes, but some occasional slowdown.

Style
Style
d in the series' distinctive comical vein with genuinely funny commentary.

Immersion
Easier to pick up than a baby's rattle complete with gratifying, bone-crunching action.

Lifespan
Simple in concept, and if you played the original to death, you might tire of this quickly.

Overall Outrageously good fun - one of the best hockey games around. Sadly, despite some new depth, it's very similar to the originals.