We found it a bit of a surprise to find all this and more last year in another ice hockey game (this one with a bit more of an arcade bent and OTT content) - NHL Hitz 2003. Having experienced the PS2 version's amazing facial textures, rowdy crowds and spot-on commentary, it was a bit of a letdown to find EA just wasn't up to the same level on the console.

Behind the scenes, we had seen the work EA had put into its NHL franchise. Listening to well-intentioned programmers explain the nuances of their output didn't quite convince us of the merits of the console product, especially since its half-sim nature meant it could neither stand up to nor keep away from NHL Hitz.

NHL 2004 on PC is quite another matter. The crowds are wild, the commentary more composed and the players move like swans. As with last year's console version, you can now use the right analogue for manual deking and hitting as long as you have a console joypad adaptor or something like the Logitech Dual Action PC pad.

Frankly, the humorous commentary style from last year just had to go, and now EA has replaced not only the style but the people that deliver it, including Stanley Cup winner and current broadcaster Craig Simpson. Play-by-play calls are now more apt and timely. Although delivery doesn't quite match NHL Hitz for smoothness or responsiveness, it is a marked improvement over last year in both style and content. The noise of the crowd, although obviously not sampled from an actual crowd, adequately emphasises the mood of ice hockey matches and reacts to plays even quicker than the commentary.

Sound effects are one of NHL 2004's strongest sensory elements, from the scraping of metal on ice to the zing of a puck striking the goal posts. Another major sensory influence, music, is as prominent as any EA Sports title with the EA Trax system offering suitably edgy works from a playlist of popular artists.

We've mentioned the limitations of motion-capture in the past, and it has to be said that there are some restrictions on gameplay due to NHL's reliance on mo-cap. Considering that the game is played on ice, however, the players respond well to the controls and the lag in getting the desired results is perfectly understandable. Still, without manual checks via the right analogue stick, attempts do tend to go astray or come too late, and in the case of body checks, this can leave your defence in tatters as your player tries to recover from a failed attempt.

In attack, finding your man in passing is similarly restricted, but thankfully the range of passing and deking manoevres is excellent. Naturally, the transition between controlling different players can foil otherwise solid defence or take the sting out of an attacking approach. However, it is possible to lock your control over one particular player. This in itself is an intruiging way to play, and while lacking control of the general play, it does allow for players to avoid some of the defensive chores and make the most of the smart AI behaviour NHL 2004 benefits from.

The new Dynasty mode puts you in charge of your favourite NHL team to build a legacy as General Manager while you also get to play or simulate each match, manage team tactics and monitor stats based on custom season parameters as set for each user. Other management options include building new premises and determining who gets the privilege of working under you during your term.

NHL 2004's international component comprises a fairly good smattering of European teams to play with - 39 teams in all from Sweden, Finland, and Germany.

Also new for 2004 is an almost on-demand fight system. The likelihood of things reaching melting point can be set in the options menu, but within the constraints this imposes, you can now initiate a fight with the push of a button rather than waiting for the fight to come to you. In practice, fighting is as much wrestling as fisticuffs as two players grapple with each other while trying to get a shot in as often as possible. You get to select high and low shots while blocking counterpunches until time is called back on.

The inclusion of the fight system is a matter of preference, and while it can be argued its prominence in the real life sport justifies its inclusion in NHL 2004, perhaps this is one element of reality that is better left on the sideline.

Overall, however, the focus remains squarely on recreating ice hockey as it was meant to be played. It quickly becomes apparent that to succeed against the smart defence takes more than practice. Even with auto shot aiming turned on, getting the puck within striking distance on a regular basis requires familiarity with the wide range of passes and moves available. Manual deking offers further opportunity for creative pre-pass play, and with options such as reflex shots not requiring premeditated button combinations, attacking gameplay is rarely frustrating.