PHOTO COURTESY OF ELECTRONIC ARTS    NHL 2004   From Electronic Arts; Available 9/22   www.easports.com

NHL 2004
Last year, EA showed a rare weakness by delivering a sub-standard hockey game. The company rebounds this year, and the result is a brisk and detailed game that includes a deep owner mode along with greatly enhanced puck control that maps the movements of the hockey stick to the controller's right analog stick. Sega had the best hockey game last year, and this year's version, ESPN NHL Hockey, while not available for review, looks to at least be able to contend with EA.