Every time I play NHL Hitz, I'm reminded of that one apartment scene in Swingers when the guys are playing a hockey game.

Trent: I wish they still had fights in this game so I could slap Wayne.

Mike: What? They don't have fighting anymore?

Trent: Doesn't that suck?

Mike: Why'd they get rid of the fighting? It was the best part of the old version.

Sue: I think kids were hittin' each other or somethin', man.

Trent: Yeah but you know what, Mike? You can make their heads bleed in this one.

Mike: Make somebody's head bleed.

Sue: No man, we're in the playoffs.

Even though I've probably played more hockey games than I've watched real ones, I still stand firm in the belief that the only reason anyone watches hockey is to see someone checked really hard or to see the fights. It also seems that the people at Midway share in my belief.

Last year, I thought NHL Hitz was about as good as the game could look. It had all the eye candy a graphic-loving fanboy could want - reflections on helmets and ice, shattering glass, smooth animation, you name it. Well guys, its all back and looking better than ever. I was particularly impressed with how well the crowd animations were pulled off. EA and SEGA could learn a thing or two from Midway. Player models are just as polished and well-animated as last year, although they do seem to have grown a little. Unlike its football playing cousin NFL Blitz, the players in Hitz 20-03 all look normal and more realistic than previous years. Just as in last year's offering, the effects are what really make this game stand out from the rest. All of the great fire animations are back as well as some cool lighting effects such as in the 'Disco Arena'. Yes, you heard me right - Disco Arena.

Unlike most sports games, I have always enjoyed the commentators in Hitz. They're noticeable, but never dominate the game or get in the way. One of the better features in Hitz 20-03 is the ability to play music from the game's soundtrack during matches, adding to the already fevered pitch of the game. This year's version includes about 20 songs including:

• Hoobastank - Pieces
• Moby - We Are All Made of Stars
• Drowning Pool - Sinner
• Rob Zombie - Feel So Numb
• Incubus - Circles
• Powerman 5000 - Bombshell

All of the ambient sounds such as crowd noise and the general grunts, stick clicks and puck shots are also included and sound just right.

As with most sports titles, Hitz 20-03 takes everything that worked in last year's title and kicks them up a notch. For those unfamiliar with the Hitz formula, take three Hockey players and a goalie, throw in some tricked out arcade-style moves, and then light them all on fire. This is about as straight-forward as hockey gets. In addition to a great multiplayer mode, Hitz 20-03 also offers Season and Franchise modes as well as a Hockey School mode where players can refine their game under the tutelage of the NHL's winningest coach, Scotty Bowman.

The Season and Franchise modes are pretty standard and are where you'll spend most of your time in the game. Season allows you to take your favorite NHL team and make a run for the Stanley Cup. This was my least favorite of the modes offered. As a single player game, Hitz 20-03 is fun but it's nothing you will want to play for hours on end. Part of the problem is that the game is so straight-forward in its presentation that it can become repetitive after a few games. Unlike some other sports games, players don't progress as the season goes on, allowing a certain stagnation to settle in later in a season.

Thankfully, the Franchise mode does a lot to keep the game interesting. This mode allows you to create a team from scratch and take them around the world beating a variety of teams in some of the strangest environments available. As you win games, newer, harder teams will be unlocked until you reach the NHL and face real opponents.

This is one of the more entertaining modes available in the game and, unlike Season mode, it offers enough options that you'll easily lose yourself for a couple of hours. Franchise mode offers hundreds of options to customize your team with including jerseys, team name, and player nicknames. As you complete challenges in the Franchise mode, new gear and options will be unlocked - giving you even more variety and depth.

Just as the name suggests, Hockey School is a training mode to help get players better acquainted with the controls as well as unlock items for the Franchise mode. Much like the Mini-Camp mode in Madden, Hockey School shows players the ropes through the use of mini-games. Presenting things in this manner not only make learning more enjoyable but also help make the game last a little longer.

AI has made a drastic improvement over last year's version. As much fun as the game was, it was frustrating to constantly lose to the computer because of cheap tricks or because your goalie just wasn't up to snuff. Things are much cleaner this time around (especially the goalies), making for a much more focused and balanced game experience. There is still a pretty steep learning curve, but that shouldn't deter many players.

NHL Hitz 20-03 is tight, responsive, and easy to learn. Even if this is your first foray into the world of hockey, you should easily have the basics learned within a matter of minutes. This is the perfect game for getting together with a group of friends and having fun, regardless of how big of a gamer they are. One of the newer features in the game is that catching on fire is now player controlled instead of happening when the game says to do it. As you play through a match, a meter fills up for every shot or hit you make. Once this meter is filled, you can determine when to hit the afterburners. It's amazing to see how this one little change affects the balance of the entire game. In last year's version, catching on fire was the equivalent of using a 'God Mode' code. When your player (or team) caught on fire they were impossible to stop, giving that player an incredible advantage. NHL fans, or of just games where slamming other people into walls (and in some cases through them), are sure to like Hitz 20-03. Even if you're not a hockey fan, Hitz is a great party game and sure to add some excitement to those boring Tupperware parties you're known to throw.