NHL Rivals 2004

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NHL Rivals 2004
Developer(s)Microsoft Game Studios
Publisher(s)Xbox Sports Network
Platform(s)Xbox, Xbox Live
Release
  • NA: 21 November 2003
[1]
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

NHL Rivals 2004 is an ice hockey video game developed by Microsoft Game Studios and published by Xbox Sports Network for Xbox in 2003 and 2004.

Development and release

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NHL Rivals was developed by the internal Sports and Racing Games Group of Microsoft Game Studios.[2] In 2000, Microsoft announced it was creating a hockey game for the Xbox, making it the earliest internally developed title confirmed to be in development for the console prior to launch.[2][3] Studio manager Kevin Browne stated the game's title was intended to channel the "intense rivalries that teams and fans have with each other" in the NHL, with the game's competitive Xbox Live modes, faceoffs and man-to-man roles designed to facilitate this theme.[4] Microsoft showcased the game at E3 in May 2003,[3] and the Leipzig Games Convention the same year.[5] The game was one of four titles launching the Microsoft sports game lineup for 2004, including Links 2004, NFL Fever 2004 and NBA Inside Drive 2004.[5] It was the third game released under the XSN Sports brand, a series of games marketed with extended compatibility for matchmaking and leaderboards on Xbox Live.[6] The cover of NHL Rivals features Detroit Red Wings professional hockey player Steve Yzerman, who participated in promotional interviews for the game.[7]

NHL Rivals was released on 21 November 2003,[1] with the XSN Sports capabilities going live on 5 February 2004.[8] The game was included as one of several XSN Sports titles announced as part of the XSN Sports World Championship in February 2004.[9] It was the first and only title to be released under the NHL Rivals series, with Microsoft discontinuing the XSN Sports brand in 2004,[10][11] and terminating the development team from the studio in August of that year.[12] The code and engine for the game, among other Microsoft sports titles, was acquired by Ubisoft in 2005.[13]

Reception

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The game received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[14] GamePro said of the game, "There's room to improve, but Microsoft's first try is a quality effort. It's worth checking out with gameplay that sticks with you, and online variety is the icing on top. Give it a shot."[28][b][11]

Notes

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  1. ^ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 3.5/10, 4/10, and 6.5/10.
  2. ^ GamePro gave the game two 4/5 scores for graphics and control, 4.5/5 for sound, and 3.5/5 for fun factor.

References

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  1. ^ a b Scott, Jonathan (21 November 2003). "Xbox Live Goes Cold (Again)". IGN. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Double Hockey Sticks". IGN. 1 August 2000. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b "E3 2003: NHL Rivals Hands-On". IGN. 15 May 2003. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  4. ^ Boulding, Aaron (9 April 2003). "Microsoft Hits the Ice". IGN. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  5. ^ a b Schneider, Peer (23 August 2003). "GC 2003: Microsoft Booth Report". IGN. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  6. ^ Robinson, Jon (19 September 2003). "XSN Sports Interview". IGN. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  7. ^ IGN Staff (2 December 2003). "Steve Yzerman Interview: Red Wing talks Rivals, mullets, and calamari". IGN. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  8. ^ Gamespot Staff (5 February 2004). "Xbox Live expands offerings: XSNSports.com goes live today. Hear what its lead product manager has to say about the new service and how it stacks up against the competition". GameSpot. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  9. ^ IGN Staff (10 December 2003). "XSN Sports World Championship: $25,000 goes to the winner. Find out how you can enter". IGN. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  10. ^ Robinson, Jon (30 March 2004). "Game Over". IGN. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  11. ^ a b Goldstein, Hilary (1 April 2004). "2004 is Lost". IGN. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  12. ^ Feldman, Curt (20 August 2004). "Internal Xbox sports team axed: Microsoft Game Studios sheds employees as third parties fill sports game pipeline". GameSpot. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  13. ^ Surette, Tim (7 April 2005). "Ubi teeing off sports games: French publisher hits into EA as it nabs license deal with Tiger-rival Vijay Singh; acquires code from Microsoft's sports properties to fuel upcoming game". GameSpot. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  14. ^ a b "NHL Rivals 2004". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  15. ^ Luibl, Jörg (December 11, 2003). "Test: NHL Rivals 2004". 4Players (in German). 4Players GmbH. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  16. ^ Sewart, Greg; Linn, Demian; Ricciardi, John (January 2004). "NHL Rivals 2004" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 174. Ziff Davis. p. 157. Archived from the original on December 22, 2003. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  17. ^ Reiner, Andrew (December 2003). "NHL Rivals 2004". Game Informer. No. 128. GameStop. p. 174. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  18. ^ Navarro, Alex (November 21, 2003). "NHL Rivals 2004 Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  19. ^ Steinberg, Steve (December 13, 2003). "GameSpy: NHL Rivals 2004". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  20. ^ Lafferty, Michael (November 11, 2003). "NHL Rivals 2004 – XB – Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on May 25, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  21. ^ Boulding, Aaron (November 19, 2003). "NHL Rivals 2004". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  22. ^ Killy (January 15, 2004). "Test: NHL Rivals 2004". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  23. ^ "NHL Rivals 2004". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. December 2003. p. 106.
  24. ^ Semsey, Rob (November 19, 2003). "NHL Rivals 2004 Review (Xbox)". TeamXbox. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 13, 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  25. ^ Schkloven, Emmett (January 28, 2004). "'NHL Rivals 2004' (Xbox) Review". X-Play. TechTV. Archived from the original on February 11, 2004. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  26. ^ Waters, Darren (February 19, 2004). "Let's play: NHL Rivals 2004". BBC Sport. BBC. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  27. ^ Porter, Alex (November 19, 2003). "NHL Rivals 2004". Maxim. MaximNet, Inc. Archived from the original on November 24, 2003. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  28. ^ Manny LaMancha (January 2004). "NHL Rivals 2004" (PDF). GamePro. No. 184. IDG. p. 139. Archived from the original on February 4, 2005. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
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