When a company decides to make a crucial change to a series, there's always going to be a batch of naysayers who feel that the change will not do anything good for the legacy. When Castlevania made the shift from 2-D to 3-D on the N64 a few years ago, some gamers couldn't accept the shift, and for good reason- Castlevania 64 hardly lived up to the potential of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Now enter Midway Games, who announced a few months ago that their popular arcade sports series, NFL Blitz and NHL Hitz, would be "tweaked" to include elements from the real sport, to work more on a simulation-style presentation than the typical arcade set-up. The series would be called the Pro series, and this prompted me to write up a little editorial explaining how this could be a bad move. Yep, naysaying.

I had indicated how some sports shifting to full simulation really caused a great deal of harm, particularly Acclaim's awful NBA Jam 2000 for Nintendo 64, which resembled absolutely nothing like the original NBA Jam. I had pleaded in this piece how Midway should just stick to a formula that works. This got me a reply from one of the development members on the Midway Sports team, who assured me that the change would not affect the pleasure that the game brings, and that the arcade elements would remain fully in-check with the changes. Well, time for me to put my foot collectively in mouth, as NHL Hitz Pro has arrived and rocks the boards.

NHL Hitz Pro has plenty of changes that set it apart from the last Hitz, including the addition of two players per team (so it's full 5-on-5), the addition of NHL rules (like offsides, icing, and delayed penalties, among others), and some setbacks in the game's presentation, not to mention the elimination of the minigames from last year's entry. But make no mistake, within a few minutes (hell, seconds) of playing Pro, you'll see that Midway has kept the arcade attitude in mind, as this is quick, relentless hockey at its best, in an arcade perspective.

The game features tightened gameplay that rookies and pros alike will easily adapt to, with good offensive and defensive controls to keep you at the top of your game. Defense is made up of player switching and some different checks, including monstrous checks that come with a press of the circle button. Offense moves allow you to set up passes, build up shots (either by going quick with a button tap or holding it down and letting a vicious one fly), and set up more unique plays like the classic one-timer or the neat little wraparound, an addition to this year's Hitz. It's quick and easy to get into, although the game has plenty of A.I. quirks to suit your game. Want to get the hang of things? You can turn the game to its rookie difficulty and turn off any sort of team catch-up. Want a challenge? Crank it up to All-Star, take away your team advantage, and leave team catch-up activated. The computer's thinking style is great, and stays on its toes for the game.

The sound in Pro is also well in check...mind the pun. Tim Kitzrow, who provided commentary for Acclaim's recently released NBA Jam and has talked a good game in past Midway releases, teams up with a new color commentator to keep the words flying. They recap great moves, build-ups of stats, and even have comical comments here and there, like the friendly loading screen banter. It's not as comical as NHL 2004's talk, not as serious as ESPN NHL Hockey's lingo, but somewhere in the middle, a nice comfortable feed. The sound effects get the job done, but don't have the real depth of the ESPN entry. Checks still sound like they hurt rather badly, and the puck still sounds good hitting the post, even if you wanted a goal. You can also play several rock tracks in the game if you choose, although the soundtrack isn't the most thrilling out there. Oh, well, could be worse.

As for graphics, the game doesn't look as sharp as the Xbox edition, but the players still animate very nicely and have good detail on them, right down to authentic NHL uniforms and facial reactions. The frame rate keeps up pretty steadily, and the arenas and crowds look just fine. The replay mode could have used a little ironing out, as they seem to skip a bit more than they should, but overall the in-game looks keep hockey firmly in mind. The game's interface is friendly and allows you to go through different options like a breeze.

The game also has several modes to dig into. You can give yourself some lessons in Hockey School, learning some tricks of the trade and making yourself a better player. You can also hop into a multiplayer match against friends and see how well you hold up against your buddies, your roommate, your girlfriend, heck, the pizza guy. And if you think NHL Hitz has gone completely Pro, don't sweat it, as the Pick-Up Hockey mode is fun as hell. It pits actual people in different matches, like mechanics and school kids, playing in typical roller rink-style areas, like in a park or near a garage. They look like a blast and keep Midway's fun attitude in place. Then you have Franchise Mode, which allows you to build your own legacy in excellence, although it could be a bit tough for the rookies to get into. The pros, however, will dig in with their hockey gloves and tunnel themselves to the Stanley Cup. Finally, a word needs to be said for the game's online play, which is fun if not entirely smooth. It's a neat exclusive feature for the PS2 edition, and you can match up into a game rather easily. It skips from time to time, which may throw off the flow for some of you, but for the most part it works just fine, like with NHL 2004 and ESPN NHL Hockey.

Are there any real problems? Well, the game's not as fully detailed as other hockey games on the market, as the frame rate isn't 60-frames per second smooth. Also, the replays could have used tweaking, and it probably won't be the first pick for those of you who live and breathe simulation. But if you're into bone-jarring checks that can actually break the glass with ease or some quick, enjoyable hockey, NHL Hitz Pro has you covered.

So let this be a lesson. Sometimes changes are made for the better in a product, and NHL Hitz Pro is surprisingly the best yet in the series. What's left for NHL Hitz Pro 2005, dare I ask? Better league play options? Team building? Maybe a "customize your own slap shot?" The possibilities are endless, but whatever the changes, they're bound to be good.