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Aimee Hatfield: Hockey's back on your game console, too

Thursday, Oct 06, 2005 - 11:55:12 pm CDT

With the NHL lockout now over, hockey fans might end up watching games instead of playing virtual ones. But this year’s crop of hockey video games is worth some time on the TV, too.

The winds of change that swept through the NHL brought new rules and lots of player movement. Luckily, the new games from 2K Sports, Electronic Arts and Sony all incorporate the new rules and offer downloadable rosters for gamers who like to stay on top of things.

The winner of this year’s video-game Stanley Cup is 2K Sports’ “NHL 2K6,” which continues its tradition of solid, realistic gameplay while adding a few nice new features.

Probably the most important change is the addition of icon passing. This new feature assigns buttons to teammates. Simply pressing a button will pass the puck to the corresponding player. These button presses can be queued up, enabling a chain of passes that, if not broken up by the defense, could result in huge goals. This makes it a bit easier to strategize your plays and takes away a bit of the “pass and hope” of the standard aiming system.

There also is On-The-Fly Coaching. This feature assigns team strategies to the directional buttons, letting you instantly instruct your teammates what to do.

The gameplay changes are significant and useful. And when you add in “NHL 2K6’s” improved artificial intelligence (especially with the goalies), intuitive controls and many game modes — including franchise, season, playoffs and the oh-so-fun party mode minigames — you have the latest in what has become a winning franchise.

My only gripe is in presentation, which can be blamed in part on EA. Because EA bought the rights to ESPN, that means “NHL 2K6” no longer has the slick ESPN broadcast feel. The new menus are bland and verge on confusing. But while this certainly needs fixed, it’s nothing big enough to hurt the game overall.

EA does hold its own with “NHL 06.” While it’s not quite as good as “NHL 2K6,” it’s still a solid choice for any hockey fan.

The problem is, it’s nothing new.

EA made a few minor tweaks (improved goal-tending, dekeing with the left thumbstick and using star moves with the right, bull’s-eyes when shooting for goals) and one major fix (toning down the computer players’ mad checking). Overall, however, “NHL 06” is basically the same as “NHL 05.” There are no big new features like the icon passing in “NHL 2K6.”

Despite the lack of changes, “NHL 06” is still a solid game worth playing. It is graphically the most beautiful of the three NHL games, with smooth movements, amazingly realistic replays and slick ice that visually tears up over the course of a game. The Xbox version has especially nice player reflections on the ice.

Previous game modes are still there, including dynasty and free-for-all. And PlayStation 2 owners are treated to a full version of the much-loved “NHL 94.”

While controls feel a bit sluggish at times, “NHL 06” certainly wouldn’t be a waste of time. However, if you’ve already played the previous version, I’m not sure this one is different enough to make it worth buying.

That brings me to the last of the NHL choices, Sony’s “Gretzky NHL ’06.”

With such stiff competition, it’s understandable that Sony would turn to the Great One for a foothold. Unfortunately, that foothold crumbles at the slightest pressure.

“Gretzky” is by far the most arcadelike of the trio. Skater movements are fast, tight and not very realistic. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you like more arcadelike hockey games, but other problems drag the game down. Player movements are jerky, and the AI is horrible. Computer-controlled players constantly make illogical plays.

The passing is far too accidental, often sending the puck to the worst possible player instead of who you’re aiming for. This makes the gameplay more frustrating than it should be.

Player models are decent, but the ice looks flat, with just a few shadows instead of reflections.

But “Gretzky” isn’t all bad. The “Wayne vs. Wayne” mode is a blast. This ramped-up version of a regular game rewards each team for goals and combo passes by building up 99 Time. When 99 Time activates, Wayne Gretzky himself appears on the ice to play for that team for 99 seconds. And he’s a terror. It’s frantic and crazed, and it’s far more fun than the actual main game.

If Sony truly wants to compete with EA and 2K Sports in the hockey arena, it needs to take a hard look at its control issues and its $40 pricing.

“NHL 2K6,” at only $20, is by far the best game for the best price, making this one a no-brainer.

Reach Aimee Hatfield at 473-7326 or Aimee.Hatfield@lee.net.

NHL 06

Electronic Arts, for Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube

Rated: Everyone

Cost: $39.99

Grade: B+

NHL 2K6

2K Sports, for Xbox, PlayStation 2

Rated: Everyone

Cost: $19.99

Grade: A-

Gretzky NHL ’06

Sony, for PlayStation 2

Rated: Everyone

Cost: $39.99

Grade: B-