Midway’s entrance into the licensed hockey industry for the 2003/2004 season was called NHL Hitz Pro. Midway issued a mandate for their sports titles in 2004 to move away from over-the-top arcade-style gameplay and adopt a more simulation-like approach to the sport of playing sports. This direction was implemented for the 2004 sports season. In NHL Hitz Pro, this entailed switching from a 3-on-3 hockey gameplay format to a 5-on-5 hockey gameplay format to meet the requirements of a sim hockey player and make the game feel more authentic. Even though many of the arcade-style aspects that were a trademark feature of the Hitz series have been carried over into NHL Hitz Pro, such as hits through glass and checks that go over the boards, the gameplay has been tweaked to create an experience that is realistic to the sport of hockey. Having said that, the player has a wide variety of options for customizing the gameplay to reflect either a fast-paced arcade experience or a more deliberate, simulation-based mode of play.
Like other games in its genre, Hitz Pro features a franchise mode, game modes based on seasons and exhibitions, and a game tutorial and practice mode. The game also includes a pickup hockey mode, which takes place in various locales modeled like playing hockey in real-life outdoor arenas.
