|
“When he was a
kid, he’d be up at five, take shots ‘til eight, make the thing drive. Out after
school, back on ice. That was his life, he was gonna play in the Big League”.
–
Tom Cochrane
Yes
folks, the big league is back, and so is the big video game to go along with
it! I’ve spent a lot of time the past couple of weeks playing this game from
virtually every angle, trying to get a feel for EA’s finest offering this year,
and I must say, for the first time in a long time I am truly impressed by what
they’ve managed to do. As a fellow hockey fan, commentator and gamer, like the
NHL, EA Sports has managed to get it done right.
Some
die hard video gamers who have played this game for as long as I have say this
is the game NHL 2005 should have been (and you know what, had there been no
lockout, may have been), but 2005 was what it was, no sense beating a dead
horse. Or is there?
Personally, I think EA was planning for a lockout last year. While the
game was visually breathtaking as always, it just seemed to be lacking
something.
For
the purposes of getting the best overall experience, as always I have played
with both the PC and Playstation 2 versions of the game. By now I’m sure I
don’t need to tell you which version I prefer, but for the sake of those who
aren’t as computer savvy, any version will satisfy your craving for the coolest
sport to ever hit the ice on two skates.
For
those of you looking for a little bit of retro gaming plug in the PS2 for a
look back at the classic NHL 94 in all its glory, except for one major
difference – the rosters resemble the entire EA development team rather than the
players who were in the game back then. From what I understand this is
because most of the players who appeared in this game are no longer NHLPA
members due to them either retiring or moving overseas.
So
what’s new in NHL 06 or better yet why do you need to run, not walk, and buy
it right now? For starters, the gameplay is much improved. The newer controls
implemented for last year’s version still exist, but EA has also brought back
the older conventional controls to make it easier for those of us who used to
play with only two buttons – pass and shoot (Blades of Steel anyone?).
It’s
very simple. If you’re new to the game and want to make full use of the
gigantic controllers they’re making today, be my guest. For those of you who
have played the game since NHL ‘92, then you can map virtually any controller to
the way you remember, and still play the game effectively. Innovation – you’ve
got to love it! What does this mean? The old deke button from the past – it’s
back with a vengeance!
With
the implementation of an all new “skill stick”, you can take full control of
the puck and make signature moves just like the pros do. Sometimes the goals
come so fast and furious you have to watch the replay a few times just to see
the amazing things your player just did. For myself, I’m still to this day used
to and set on the older Playstation controls from as far back as NHL ’98, and
what can I say, they work for me. Forget about bruiser controls or give and go
controls, just give me my pass, shoot, turbo and deke buttons, and I will show
you I’ve got game, or at least I’ve been able to show the computer how it’s
done. For those of you wanting more controller options, you can play around
with this as well. Old school meets new school. Whatever you do though, get
yourself a controller with analog sticks because they really do help (if you’re
playing the PC version that is, most consoles nowadays should already have
these). Some people have reported a few issues with those USB to Playstation/USB
to Xbox adapters on the EA forums, but I have to say I’ve had no problems
whatsoever and believe me when I tell you my old reliable first generation dual
shock Playstation controller is getting quite the workout of late!
Not
only are the controls much more improved over last year’s version, we have a
more realistic game. With new Realistic Puck Momentum (R.P.M.) physics, you can
stun a goalie with shots off the mask, and pop the water bottles right off the
nets!
I’ve also
noticed if you tweak the sliders just right, you can actually carry the play to
the other team quite easily. Power plays are much more realistic as you can
actually pass the puck around for the ultimate setup – something which wasn’t
always easy before. In the past I’ve very rarely been able to set up from the
point and let the puck fly without somebody breaking free and going the other
way mano et mano with my goalie.
The all
new Momentum Skating makes it actually feel like you’re skating rather than
just gliding. You have to first build some momentum from your strides and then
take off down the ice. Real ice trails follow you, and by the time a period is
over, the ice is scratched up beyond recognition as per usual. Even after the
(invisible) zamboni flooded the ice between periods, from the scratches it looks
like it’s been skated on and not like a sheet of glass like it has in the past.
Since you look at the ice for the whole game you won’t believe the effect this
has.
The
default speed of the game has been slowed down to reflect the natural flow
of the game, but if it’s hockey on steroids you want, you got it! Just adjust
the many sliders to desired taste and go nuts! All the usual settings are here
for speed, puck control, computer AI, not to mention you can play around with
the rules. Don’t like the fact the NHL is going with the shootout this year?
No problem – revert back to 4 on 4 overtime and keep your ties intact. Want to
put yourself in the game? Go right ahead, as the create a player option is back
and allows you to add character to your guy by giving him a black eye, broken
nose, missing teeth, and scars. The likeness of myself (or as close as I could
make it) looks so hideous I’m surprised players don’t scream on their way back
to the bench.
Now the
graphics were always good and much improved every year. When you think back
to what this game started out as and what it is today, it is just amazing how
you can immerse yourself into the game and feel like you’re actually at the
arena. As always, you can adjust the camera angles to virtually any angle
you’re used to from previous versions. One thing you’ll notice right away is
not only are the player animations much improved yet again, they’ve made the
game more interactive than ever. Rather than the coach standing behind the
bench and flapping his arms once and awhile, he actually gets animated once and
awhile. A penalty call doesn’t go the team’s way? The Opposing team scores a
goal? Look for the coach to go ballistic, Pat Quinn style (and trust me when
you’re playing the Leafs, it’s funny to see!). EA has built upon this with
little side takes which tell the game story from almost every angle. Player
injured? He’ll be shown next game in his civilian clothes shaking hands and
patting players on the back. If you’re playing dynasty or season and happen to
make a trade, all eyes and cameras will be on your new acquisition. Even
playing with the commentary audio muted, you should be able to follow the game
fairly easily.
As for
the game modes themselves, some purists may be disappointed to find out the
dynasty mode hasn’t implemented the salary cap system from the new CBA, not
surprisingly. Time constraints more than anything have kept this out of the
game, and you can bet your controller buttons this will be fixed for NHL 07, or
at least that’s EA’s story and they’re sticking to it! Even still, I’ve heard
every criticism right down to the age old comment “well Madden has the cap in
place, well Madden has this, well Madden has that”. Well, with all due respect
to Madden, the NFL has had a salary cap in place for several years. The NHL has
just implemented a cap for the first time, and as I’ve discussed previously in a
Puckin’ Around column, $39 million is not set in stone by any stretch of the
imagination. I applaud EA for waiting to see how this cap is policed by the
league and what adjustments, if necessary, will need to be made to make sure
teams abide by it. We all know about the escrow which will pay back the league
if even one team goes over, but how it will pertain to the next season has yet
to be seen. You can bet the development team will be all over this for future
years.
As it
stands right now, the dynasty mode is absolutely amazing as it is. You
could create a team before out of several templates, but you could never take
them through a full season or dynasty mode. Well, now you can! For every game
you win you will earn upgrade dollars to build your team into a powerhouse. As
for bringing your own team into the mix, the sky is the limit here. Want to
bring the Jets back to Winnipeg and send the Phoenix Coyotes howling into the
desert? Well you can! The same goes for the Quebec Nordiques. The older
Hartford Whalers jerseys are here too, but for some reason the logo isn’t, but I
decided to pick on Carolina anyway. Keeping their names intact, I moved the
Hurricanes to New Orleans, pun intended. I then proceeded to clean house,
getting rid of virtually everyone except for a few key guys like Glen Wesley,
Ray Whitney, Cory Stillman and Rod Brind Amour. I’ve managed to build an all
star team with the likes of Ryan Smyth, Pavol Demitra, Dominik Hasek, Scott
Mellanby and Rob Niedermayer to name a few, not to mention yours truly centering
the top line. Laugh if you must but I’m almost halfway through my first season
as both general manager and player and quite frankly, we’re going to win the
Stanley Cup, yet we’re only expected to just make the playoffs. I’d better
enjoy it while it lasts because once EA puts the new CBA in place I may not be
so lucky or even have the luxury of keeping all of my guys, even though I’m
still operating at about $45 million.
Here’s
my favorite new feature of them all, albeit it’s a small one. You can now
simulate games right down to the last goal! Before by telling the computer to
simulate you essentially lived with the result the computer gave you, like it or
not. Now you can see how the game unfolds, period by period, and if you’d like
to do something about it, you can intervene and play the rest of the game from
there. You can get right down to only five minutes remaining in the entire game
with some work to do. If you’re playing a dynasty, if you’re down and actually
come back and win the game you can double or even triple your usual upgrade
dollars.
The
usual regular season and playoff modes are back, as well as the usual World
tournament mode. The Swedish, German & Finnish Elite leagues are again
represented here, although with the NHL back in full swing I don’t think too
many people will be overly concerned, although I must admit it’s a fun way to
experience the game outside of the box. You can even use your created team to
tear up the oversized ice if you feel the need, so go nuts!
If
there was anything I’d like to see different in NHL 06, it would have to be
the audio, more the commentary than anything. As always, EA has put together
the right mix of audio tracks to complement the menus as well as on the ice.
The in game sounds, particularly the crowd noises, are virtually unchanged from
years past, with the exception of a few new trumpet tracks (you hear “she’ll be
coming around the mountain” a lot!) and some new commentary from Jim Hughson and
Craig Simpson. But here’s the part I don’t get – Craig Simpson is now an
assistant coach. NHL Lockout or not, there should have been at the very least a
new color commentator guy. Bring back Don Taylor or something. Well maybe
not. Personally I get a better experience with the commentary off because it
just gets on my nerves. Besides, unless you bring a radio with you to the
games, you don’t get commentary anyway.
Another
thing I wouldn’t mind seeing is the addition of team mascots. I mean, they
have the coaches, why not? I know the real game happens on the ice, but since
they’ve perfected the game play and the bench, now time to go beyond. Since we
have all the goal horns intact we hopefully can get EA to work on bringing in
more than just one public address announcer. And is it so hard to bring back a
zamboni between periods? Finally, can somebody explain to me why the PS2
version has an introductory video and the PC version doesn’t? Here’s a
suggestion for EA’s next PC version of this game: put it on a DVD and let those
who can’t spend $20 on a DVD-ROM suffer (forget the fact these are the same
people who will spend $50 on the game itself)!
I had
to literally tear myself away from this game long enough to actually write
this review of it, so forgive me if I sound like I’m rushing through it in the
hopes of squeezing another game in before the regular season starts – because
that’s exactly what I’m trying to do. As they say practice makes perfect – and
training camp is in full effect! As the box says, “the rush is back”! I
couldn’t agree more.
Gameplay: 10/10
Graphics: 9/10
Audio/Commentary: 8/10
Replay
value: 10/10
Final
verdict: With its shortcomings overlooked, this game is absolutely awesome! 9/10
More
Puckin' Around...
|
