Title: Backyard Hockey
Company: Atari, Inc. and Humongous Entertainment
Type of Game: Sports
System Requirements: Game Boy Advance
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone

I find that I cannot recommend the Game Boy Advance game "Backyard Hockey." I found it about as pleasing as being mauled by a pack of hungry wolves.

The controls are so clunky they made me gag, and the graphics rival those of the beta version of "Pong." You may get to use many of today's pro hockey superstars as your players, but they are kids, so they have an incredibly clownish appearance. The gameplay is so repetitive (even for a sports game) that it made me angry. The game's rules are incredibly obscure, and to enforce those rules, there are referees who are about as good as the real NHL refs.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give this game a minus 999. Buying this game is a waste of time and money. You'd be much better off to go see the new hockey movie "Miracle." Or go see the Colorado Avalanche play. Or play hockey yourself. (June, 2004)