EA's recipe for success over the years has included some excellent TV-style presentation and polish in their sporting titles, and NHL 2001 delivers this in spades. From the outset the player is bombarded with a great looking (and very practical) interface and options menu, and when actually in a game you will be treated to some of the best commentary heard in any sports game released thus far. Everything in the game appears to have been produced to convince the player that they are taking part in a real hockey tournament, and it's good to see that this particular title succeeds in what it sets out to do.

To make NHL 2001 even more authentic EA have made sure they have included all the Stanley Cup teams (including the new expansion teams), as well as a good number of international teams as well. After selecting your favoured team the player will then experience one of best control systems we've seen over the years, and while it appears simplistic at first the real quality behind it lies with its accurate collision detection and realistic physics engine. The game also goes a long way in recreating realistic score-lines, unlike some titles that will either become goal-fests or which will hardly allow any goals to be scored due to invincible goaltenders.