NHL 2006 Description:

NHL 2006 review:
3 stars (Another EA arcade-ish hockey excursion) - For a good while now, every NHL game to come from Electronic Arts has focused more on an arcade-like presentation than a truer sim, while the rival 2K series (originally from Sega) provided a more authentic hockey video game. NHL 2006 continues EA's arcade-ish take on the NHL, and longtime fans of the series who have grown accustomed to this will find little to nitpick here, and they will also find that little has changed as well with the game's presentation. The graphics are super smooth (better than NHL 2K6's) and the controls are easy to get a hold of, but the announcers are repetitive and annoying, and they always seem to get to the action a little slow. The freedom allowed in the standard feature of creating players is better than in previous installments, and as a whole NHL 2006 is a nice package. However, the choice between NHL 2006 and the cheaper priced NHL 2K6 is entirely up to you and how you like your video game hockey, but if you're on a budget and want a more realistic NHL experience, stick with 2K6.
2 stars (A Whole Year Off to Work on This?) - I'm giving this game two overall stars. Those stars represent graphics and being able to switch rosters around without connecting to the internet. This game severly lacks playability. Graphics aside, you would never know that you were playing hockey. Controls are silly and you never get the feeling of being 'in control' offensively or defensively. Checking (along with all else) rarely results in a turnover making on ice play resemble something closer to PONG rather than hockey. My best advice, go after NHL 2k6 and hook up to the internet or get a AR to download the new roster changes. If you prefer to watch the pretty graphics rather than play, this game is for you, but I really think your time would be better spent at a museum or something. This game is terrible.
3 stars (Very fun game, BUT...) - This is a fun game with great graphics. I've played Gretzky NHL 2006 and NHL 2K6, and this is probably the overall best of the bunch. However, I have to comment on a few things that REALLY become aggrevating:



1. The goalies can be VERY hard to beat. As the Red Wings on Medium difficulty, Khabibulin stoned me two games in a row. I outshot the Hawks 67 to 39, and then 63-44, and lost both games 9-5. It became maddening. The computer can score almost at will, and when he's throwing in wrist shots from the blue line, and I'm stopped on 48-of-50 one-timers, well, let's just say that it gets a little ridiculous.

2. The game is really nothing but a continuous stream of odd-man rushes. Reminds me of basketball, only all fast breaks. Neutral zone play almost doesn't happen.

3. The AI defense always seems to skate faster than yours - always.

4. Did I mention that the computer can score at will? When the fit is upon him, and it happens almost every time you take a one goal lead, he becomes rabid in your zone. Beware taking the lead.

5. There are almost no missed passes by the AI. He makes tape-to-tape passes about 98% of the time. Not real at all...



All in all, however, this is a fun game. If you want more of a sim-type hockey game, get NHL 2K6. If you want arcade madness, this is your game.



Final Note: I would not have bought this game if it were not for the lousy habit that Gretzky NHL 2006 had of crashing (the game locking up) in the 3rd period. Gretzky's graphics are also a little sub-par next to this game; otherwise, that game would get the overall vote. Scoring was moderated in that game at least.