NHL Rivals 2004 for the Xbox is a fun and realistic game that can be enjoyed by rookies and veterans alike. The ability to control the speed of the game, as well as the skill level are nice options for those that are new to the hockey experience. These options allow newcomers to slow the game down in order to learn the basics and get a feel for how it’s played. There’s also an open ice mode that is a good place to learn the controls, even though this is pretty much a pick up and play title.

The controls are simple, which I think makes Rivals more enjoyable than some of the more popular hockey titles. For example, if you want to take a wrist shot, you just tap the "X" button or hold it down for a powerful slapshot. For the hardcore players, there are more advanced controls using the right thumbstick that allow for greater control of passes and switching players on defense. You can also use the left trigger to pivot, which adds a nice element of maneuverability. The directional pad is used for on-the-fly coaching, as it lets you manage in-game strategies such as line changes and controlling a player’s aggression level.

In the game, the player that you are controlling will have several meters that alert you to his level of fatigue, his position and role, speed burst meter and fuse level. The player’s fuse indicates how likely he is to get involved in a little fisticuffs during a heated game. When his fuse meter is low, it is likely that the next check he receives will send him into fight mode. The players involved will start circling one another, at which point you are given the opportunity to walk away from the fight…but what fun would that be? By rapidly pressing the "A" button, you can get your player to throw down his gloves and start pummeling the other guy. It isn’t the best fight system ever made, for example, you can’t pull your opponent’s jersey over his head, but it just wouldn’t be hockey without it.

The face-off system is a little bit different in Rivals than in other hockey titles. Before the ref drops the puck, you must decide if you want to win the puck clean, tie up the stick, or perform a body block. Your opponent has the same options, and it basically comes down to a game of "Rock, Paper, Scissors" where one type of move always beats out the other. This unfortunately means that most of the time, face-offs are won on pure luck, rather than skill and reflexes.

Rivals has a unique "player roles" feature, not seen in other titles. Every player on a team is assigned one of four different roles: enforcer, agitator, sniper or balanced. These roles dictate what skills the players will have, and what their special moves will be. Each role comes with a particular offensive and defensive move, except for the balanced players, who only have an offensive move.

The game offers up the typical gameplay modes, such as Season and Playoff, but also has the added dimension of online play. When you connect to Live, you can play a single game, or you can play a pick-up game, which allows up to 6 players (online or through system link) to play in a fun game with no rules and no officials. With the added feature of XSN Sports, you can create seasons and join tournaments online.

The game moves at a good pace, except for the fact that the opposing goalie tends to freeze the puck more often than not, which breaks your momentum. The bone crushing body checks are quite satisfying, as is the ability to pin your opponent against the boards while another member of your team swoops in to steal the puck.

The first thing you’ll notice when you fire up Rivals are the fantastic graphics. This game looks incredible; from the players’ features to the textures of the jerseys and the reflection off the ice, it all looks great. The outdoor scenery for the pick-up games is fantastic, especially the ice pond environment. Unfortunately you don’t get to see too much of it, since the action is centered on the ice. The crowd is impressive as well. You can see individual faces with their own personalities, instead of the usual 2D faceless mob that is a blur of color in most other sports titles.

Not only does the crowd look good, but it also adds to the game’s sound effects. If the action is slow, the crowd remains quiet, but during an exciting breakaway or power play, they will stand up and cheer wildly. And while most sports titles have those annoying announcers that can only say 15 different phrases throughout the game, the commentary in Rivals doesn’t repeat, and actually pertains to the action on the ice. Hockey moves so fast, it is amazing the way the Rivals announcers keep up, even offering off-the-cuff statistics about the players. If you pause the game, the commentators acknowledge the pause, and comment on it by saying things like "We’ll be back after this short break." It’s a nice touch that makes it feel like you’re watching an actual game. The sounds of the skates cutting through the ice, the way the puck ricochets off of the crossbar and the grunts of the players as they are slammed into the boards all work together to increase the immersiveness of the game. It sounds so real you can almost feel the chill coming off the ice.

The soundtrack is fun, including "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar, "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor and "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynard Skynard. If arena rock isn’t your thing, fear not, Rivals comes equipped with the custom soundtrack feature, so you can add your own tunes.

All in all, NHL Rivals 2004 is a solid hockey game that will be fun for players of all skill levels. The basic controls are simple for beginner, with more advanced moves available for the hockey hardcores out there. The face-off and fight systems are slightly awkward, but the overall gameplay is enjoyable. The graphics are fantastic, as are the realistic sound effects and commentary. This is a title that has a high replay value, even without Xbox Live.