In the tradition of NBA Hoopz and NFL Blitz comes this Midway Sports Asylum interpretation of pro ice hockey. In NHL Hitz 2002, Xbox gamers take control of a team of four players consisting of a goalie, a center, and two wings. The game is designed to focus more on the action of the sport, instead of burdening players with line changes and penalties. When in possession of the puck a variety of moves are available, including slap shots, one-timers, and special moves unique to each player. By scoring three times in succession, the character becomes "on-fire" and is imbued with enhanced abilities until the opposing team scores. Fights can also break out if the player is excessively aggressive. In addition to all of the officially licensed teams and home arenas, the title features several fantasy locations, one example being an Egyptian-themed arena. NHL Hitz 2002 offers a create-a-player feature and several mini-games in addition to exhibition and season modes. In-game commentary is performed by the same announcer present in Midway's NFL Blitz series.