If you were one of the lucky ones last year that was fortunate enough to get your hands on an Xbox 360 when it originally came out you might have been a little disappointed - if you are a hockey fan - that there was no mention of EA in that category.
This September the proverbial gloves are off as EA settles in trying to gain dominance on the next generation platform with their reincarnation of NHL 07.
Facing off head-to-head with 2K Sports, EA had to come up big. It needed something that would entice gamers and they might have found it. Could you imagine playing a hockey title without using face buttons? That’s mad!
Right Analog Revolution
EA revolutionizes next-generation hockey by developing what it refers to as the skill stick. Essentially the left stick acts as your skates and the right analog controls your stick. This adds such an organic feel to the game. No longer are you pushing a face button and watching cookie cut animations of your player shooting or deking. You’re controlling how the player shoots or dekes. Pull it back and push it forward to release the mighty slapper. A quick tap up and you let go a sneaky snapshot. Move it to the left or right and then up to release a wrist shot or backhand. Or you can dangle and deke around your opponents by tapping it from left to right.
It requires a bit of a learning to get used to but it is well worth it. It’s so refreshing to use and even more satisfying after you pull off a ridiculous deke on a defenseman and find yourself all alone, one-on-one with the goalie. If you can think it, you can do it. It feels so real!
Eye Candy
What new sports title wouldn’t benefit from utilizing Microsoft's next-generation system and upping the ante in the graphics department? EA took another step forward in the eye candy department this year revamping the graphics. New animations have players faces showing emoting, goalies looking identically to their real life counterparts, and a dynamic crowd that stands and applauds. Not to mention the minor details of perforated jerseys, stitching on the jersey number and the reflections of the ice. This hockey looks as real as it gets. If you were looking for another wow factor this would definitely be it.
Goalies - Keepin’ it real
One of the many improvements for the 360 is the goaltending. The goalies are animals this year. No more coming in on an angle, waiting for the goalie to go down and tucking it top shelf. They follow you all the way. And forget about the infamous one timer from anywhere. These goalies are far too good for that. EA did a great job improving the goaltending.
Not only are the goalies incredibly good, but they are incredibly realistic. Previously when a goalie hopped on a puck to freeze play he could magically pass it to a streaking player 60 feet away, from his knees, as if he was a defenseman. Now when a goalie smothers a puck and you want to play it, the goalie can only push it a couple of feet. You better hope the opposing team is not buzzing around when you try to shuffle the puck to your defenseman. Sometimes it's better to just wait for the whistle.
You’ll also notice that the puck doesn’t magnetically stick to the goalie’s catching hand. He actually catches it. This is now possible thanks to the power of the 360. Not only does it look really cool it actually is functional. If the goalie isn’t covering the puck with his glove, or if you can see the puck, you can hack and poke at it trying to shovel it in. You’ll score a lot of garbage goals this way.
There have been lots of posts in the forums and reviews about EA’s NHL 07 this year. Some people love it, others hate it. But you have to remember this is a real hockey sim, not an arcade game. If you are frustrated with an aspect of the game - chances are it’s like that for a reason.
A couple of reviews out there state that passing is too hard. At first it might seem that way until you look at the passes that you are trying to make. Realistically if you pass to a player that is not looking at the puck he’ll miss it. It’s a fact of life, not a flaw in the video game.
Just like if you try to skate through the entire team you’ll get nothing accomplished. You have to headman the puck through the neutral zone. This speeds up the game and allows your players to get in better position to accept a pass and score.
Another reviewer wrote that the defense was lacking. That’s also not true. The AI defense is extraordinary. They actually make it difficult for an opponent to get to the slot area, where you’ll notice that 90% of the goals (in hockey) not just in this video game are scored. If there is a breakdown you’ll figure out that your AI teammates are always doing their jobs chances are you are not.
EA Sports – It’s in the game?
That’s enough praise for EA and the remarkable job that they did this year. You will also notice that some things that are in this game leave you scratching your head thinking - is this really 'in the game?'
Probably the most annoying flaw that can be seen immediately is that the goalies, as good are they are, can be an annoyance. Every once in a while you’ll notice that a goalie will knock the puck into his own net or the puck will seem to have “eyes” and bounce off the shoulder of the goalie, dribble down his back and into the net. This is “in the game”, just not near the amount as it happens in this game.
Another bug that most gamers will be complaining about is the fact that for some reason every once in a while one player will mysteriously disappear. You won’t notice this until you're on the rush and you manage to go offside for no apparent reason. After checking the instant replay you figure out the root of the problem immediately. You were offside. That’s because for some reason one of you players took off from his post and decided to skate into the corner of the other team's end, skating frantically into the boards. It takes about four or five games to really be annoyed by it.
The other disappointment in this rather enjoyable game is the flat online that is offered. Whilst online game play exists, it is limited to single matches. No online leagues or tournaments. This must be improved upon next year if EA truly wants to dominate this market.
And the winner is...
EA defiantly upped the ante for hockey simulation this year. This is a great beginning to next generation gaming for hockey titles. This game offers great competition to 2K Sports' 2K7 Hockey . It will be very interesting to see who comes out on top.
If you're looking for awesome graphics, revolutionary game play and realistic hockey, and don’t mind some sacrifices due to oddities in the game that EA happened to forget about and a lack of a major online component, this game is a hands down winner.
WHAM! Rating: |
9 out of 10 |
ESRB Rating: |
E 10+ (Everyone 10+) |
Official Web Site: |
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