The best sim of hockey ever
posted by TheSolly (COLORADO SPRINGS, CO) Mar 8, 2010
Member since May 2009
Hands down, this is the best hockey game I have ever played. Virtually everything in the game just 'works' from the controls to the depth of modes. It'll be hard to play any one mode to it's fullest much less get far in several, the game is huge. Create A Player is solid, although even on high difficulty levels a 'Tough Guy' type player can easily outscore 'Sniper' players controlled by the AI. This game is so good that opting to play only as your created player, resting on the bench or in the sin bin, is absolutely as entertaining as playing every second on the ice. I've turned off actual NHL games to play this game.
Controls are as basic or advanced as you want, a combination of the old NHL94 controls mixed with use of the right stick is just perfection. I don't play goalie much so can't comment on those controls.
Create A Play works well, but you'll never need to use it if you don't want to. Fighting controls are solid, and difficulty adjustable from button mashing to requiring patience and timing to survive. No game has ever done well with fighting but this game keeps fights fresh. The sheer adjustability of the game using sliders means this game will be within reach of everyone with even a passing fancy in hockey.
I can't think of any feature this game is missing. More than enough modes, teams, practice drills, scenarios, and fun to make it far more than just an hockey version of Madden. I play Madden too and this is a better game.
Commentary is very good, although you will learn all the canned dialog pretty quickly. Still it is almost always spot on with the rare glitch. Goalies still allow the occasional soft goal from mid-ice, but it's very believable otherwise. AI learning is great, crank it up and notice the AI adjust to your play style.
Soundtrack is solid but why insist on paying to use a song that is so edited to make it on the game that it sounds stupid? Waste of royalty money.
Buy this game. Don't bother renting it- just buy it.
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