2000 · Solworks · Ice hockey · Sports

NHL FaceOff 2001

PlayStation exclusive

This year's edition allows you to compete against legendary players including Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Phil Esposito, and Marcel Dionne. New Jersey Devils announcers Mike Emrick & Darren Pang call the games.

Released: 5 September 2000
Platforms: PlayStation PlayStation 2
Genres: Ice hockey Sports
Developers: Solworks
Publishers: 989 Sports
Series: NHL FaceOff
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Country: United States
Age ratings: ESRB E
Languages: English

About

NHL FaceOff 2001 is an ice hockey video game developed by SolWorks and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation and PlayStation 2. It was released only in North America under 989 Sports. On the cover is then-Toronto Maple Leafs player Curtis Joseph.

Keywords

national hockey league
artificial intelligence
year in the title
montreal canadiens
playstation underground

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Reception

The PlayStation version received "generally favorable reviews", while the PlayStation 2 version received "mixed" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Tom Russo of NextGen said that the latter console version was "Not terrible hockey, but it's a farm-league, rookie effort to the polished package and graphical splendor of EA's NHL 2001."

In one review, Cheat Monkey of GamePro called the PlayStation version "a genuine contender for the PlayStation Stanley Cup this year. It shows a lot more polish and precision than previous versions, and will give you hours of hard checking NHL and international team competition." In another GamePro review, Air Hendrix said, "When the puck drops in the PlayStation rink, EA Sports' NHL 2001 takes the draw with its superior gameplay and control. If for some reason NHL 2001 doesn't get your skates flying, though, FaceOff 2001 is a worthy—although lesser—alternative."