Midway Sports Puts the Fight in NHL Hitz Pro

Motion-capture Technology Adds Realism to Multiplatform Title

NHL Hitz has always been about the physicality of the game of hockey, and this year is no exception. Midway has added a selection of new hitting and checking animations to the game this year which will help show the difference between a near miss and a big hit on a man who is caught in the trolley tracks. Helmets may fly off on certain hits, adding to the mayhem that occurs on the ice. And of course you can still hammer a player through the glass, over the bench and into the crowd.

PS2 Screenshot

Xbox Screenshot

Midway has also innovated the fighting system this year to help match the gameplay experience with other aspects of NHL Hitz Pro. Using motion capture on two fighters staging a fight, Hitz Pro has realistic and punishing looking battles on the ice. The gameplay convention is something new: the new focus is on the struggle for balance that occurs before a punch is ever thrown. Users need to react to an on-screen button layout and then win a race to gain the advantage in the struggle. Win the race and land some punches. Win three total races and win the fight. In the end, Hitz Pro has a simple yet addictive fight system with the best looking sequences to date in hockey video game fighting.

NHL Hitz: Pro is scheduled for release on the GameCube, PlayStation2 and Xbox on September 22, 2003.