NHL 07

"Somewhat of an upgrade from 06"

Graphics:

Graphics wise EA has always had the edge on 2K, and this year is no different...player models are slightly more refined than last years but it isn't too much of a step up. Overall though the graphics are pretty solid (8/10)

Sounds/Music:

Everyone must admit last years soundtrack was rubbish. 07's soundtrack is much better than 06's which makes it that much more enjoyable. Also, during games the crowd will occasionally yell something out like "offside," etcetera, so that's a nice addition. However, the announcers seem to say the exact same quotes as last year so it's a bit of a repeat in that category. And whenever you pause the game the crowd will give that 'ohhhh' groan, which sounds like a sick cow. Trust me, that gets annoying after a while (7/10)

Gameplay:

First of all the goalies are fixed so they no longer flop on the ground like beached fish. The 6 player types (playmaker, sniper, etc.) are a neat addition to the game as well. The game itself however has basically changed from speeding down the wing and sliding it across for a one-timer to cycling the puck around and ripping a slapshot in from the top of the point (to an extent). All in all I do enjoy 07's gameplay more than 06's but not by a long shot (7/10)

Free 4 All/Mini Games:

The EA Sports Free 4 All is back as usual, basically offering the same as last year. The new addition however, is the new shootout mini-game where there can be a maximum of 4 players (same as Free 4 All) who take part in a shootout. Players alternate shots on the goaltender and the first one to the pre-determined number of goals (or whoever has the most goals after a pre-determined number of shots) wins the mini-game. This is a neat little addition (8/10)

Overall:

It seems as though EA didn't give quite as much effort as they could have on this game but it's still a nice hockey title to own (7/10)

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 09/21/06