Hockey will never get much more fun than this.
First off, this is no ordinary ice hockey game: at first glance it is just another hockey game, but under the surface lies a much more entertainment-based game than any of the official NHL franchise. No rules. No sinbins. Just hard-hitting fun. Smashing players through glass and getting away with it feels naughty at first, but it is incredibly fun to do every time. Dirty checks and trips are fun to perform, and the fighting is reminiscent of many 2D beat-em-ups, with special combos, punches and blocks being thrown into the mix. The game in general looks great and runs very smoothly indeed, and though the announcer's comments are repetitive they add to the experience.
However, I bought the game for one reason and one reason only: for four-player mayhem with friends. That was always one of the benefits of the Gamecube over the PS2; two extra controller ports. And this game really does deliver in this sense. Very few things are more fun than smashing your customised 7ft friend into the ice, with the announcer screaming "and that's Yeti, taken down!" If you're looking for depth, this game does not really have much for anyone other than a true hockey fan, but for hour upon hour of rip-roaring fun with friends, then this game is a must-buy. 3 pounds? The greatest investment in a game that I have ever made.