NHL 07

"Shoots.... Partially scores!"

As a follower of the National Hockey League, more specifically the Anaheim Ducks (no they are NOT owned by Disney anymore, people) I have been itching for a hockey game that finally gets it right. A hockey game that for once plays like a real NHL game, and puts you into the on-ice experience. I have to admit, when I saw the gameplay footage of NHL 07, I thought that this would be it. At last, a realistic hockey simulation. I was so excited when I finally got the phone call from EB Games telling me that the game was ready for me to pick up. A few near-car accidents later I had grabbed the game and brought it to my home. Anxiously, I ripped off all the plastic and tape keeping the game case closed, and I prepared for the perfect hockey game.

Sadly, I would end up being disappointed.

NHL 07 does a lot right. The skill stick, which has you control the player's hockey stick with the Xbox 360 controller's right analog stick, is a wonderful addition. There is no better feeling than pulling back on the analog stick and then quickly pushing it up, all while the player that you are controlling blasts a wicked slapshot past the goaltender and into the net. But it's not only used for shooting the puck. You can also make up your very own dekes. Skate in on a goaltender and hold the stick to the left, then right, then back to the left and finally push it up. You've just successfully deked and wristed the puck into the net. Never has scoring a goal in an NHL game felt so rewarding.

This brings me to the opposite end, which is strangely one of the most awesome features... yet at the same time one of the most frustrating: Goaltenders. At first when you see the goalies in action you'll say, "Wow. How realistic." And it's true. No longer is the puck magnetically drawn to the net-minders. If a puck is to be caught, then it will have to go INTO their glove and not magically appear in there after coming CLOSE to a glove save. The chances of rebounds are now higher in this case, as a shot hitting the blocker or legpads will bounce back into the action. It looks very real.

So how is this frustrating, then? While goaltenders move with more realism than ever before, they are also more moronic than ever before. There's nothing more infuriating than playing a close game only for your goalie to make the initial stop and then just stand there motionless as the puck trickles slooooowly past him and into the net. That, or he'll just stick the puck into his own net, or even kick it in. It's not like it happens all the time, but with an accurate number likely being that 10-15% of goals allowed are garbage goals like those mentioned, it happens way too much for it to be forgettable.

And while I've started on the bad news, let me jump to AI. Basically, players who you aren't currently controlling are rarely ever where they need to be. This means that as the opposing team is skating into your zone, often will your defenders just skate forward and right past them to create an odd-man rush. I understand that breakaways are now a big part of the game with the new skill stick and all, but they'll happen way too often. There is an option to change defensive styles (puck side attack, protect net, etc.) but to be honest it doesn't make any more than a slight difference. They'll skate around aimlessly and not bother getting in the middle of shooting lanes. Your defensive AI can very well cost you some games.

How about offensive AI? In some ways it works, as you'll almost always have a player set up in front of the net. So in the case that rebound comes out, it's a good feeling to put the puck into a wide open net staring right at you. But, as with defense, the offense can also be incredibly stupid. Offsides is called way too often due to players on your team not being controlled skating into the zone as you cross the red line. Like garbage goals, this would be acceptable if it happened less than it does. Also, good luck having the defenders wait at points to receive a pass. Instead, they will often be waiting on the other side of the blue line.

Passing is another problem. With skill, you'll become better at it. But there will still be those cases where you hold the left analog stick in the direction of a fellow team-mate and pass the puck, only for it to not even come close to where you're aiming and create an icing situation. And word of advice: If your goalie has the puck covered, don't even both trying to pass. Hold on for the faceoff. 75% of the time it will go in the complete opposite direction of where you're aiming the pass to, sometimes resulting in the puck going straight to an opposing team's player who will then score an incredibly easy goal.

Game modes are at an all-time low for some odd reason. You have your option to play a quick game, Shootout, Dynasty (no regular season here), and online. The one thing that Sega's NHL 2K series has over EA's is the incredible amount of features in the games such as unlockable jerseys, arenas, teams, etc. NHL 07 features no extras. Basically, what you see with the very limited amount of game modes is what you get.

Online is problematic in so many ways. Though a lot of the blame goes to all the cheap players you will find in the higher ranks, there are still plenty of issues. There is no season or tournaments present, so a single game is all you have. Not a huge deal, except that EA's servers are in desperate need of being remodeled. Lag is way too common, which is terrible with a fast-paced hockey simulation when you're getting the puck stolen from you despite the fact that you pressed the pass button a split second earlier. Also, there is a very well-known glitch that involves going back to a previous face-off while in the middle of action. This can result in scoring a goal and seconds later just randomly going back to a faceoff from BEFORE the goal was scored.

No, the game isn't all bad. I just felt that it was necessary to get the ugly things out of the way. As a whole, NHL 07 is actually a very fun and addicting game for hockey fans. As pointed out earlier, scoring a goal in this game makes you feel good inside. You feel like it was YOU who did all the work. This is due to the skill stick, which eliminates any use of the face buttons. You'll now only use the four face buttons to set your defensive and offensive style, or to trigger fights. Skating is done with the left analog stick, deking and shooting is down with the right analog stick, passing is done with the right trigger, hold the left trigger to skate backwards, etc. It all sounds and feels weird at first, but once you give it a couple hours of your time, you will not want to go back to pressing a button to shoot the puck.

Graphics, for the most part, are just incredible. Some of the models look so much like the actual player that it's scary. Others don't look anything alike. Still, compared to NHL 2K7's last-gen graphics, these are by far the prettiest visuals any hockey game has ever offered.

Sound effects are spot-on. The sound of wristing the puck along the glass and boards is exactly what you'd hear in the same situation while at a game in person. The crowd knows when to get loud and start up their chants. Announcing for once is very well done. In previous games I was forced to turn the Commentary off, but this time around it fits in with the action so well. As with any sports game, you'll hear the same phrase over and over again, but we're used to it by now and at least the repeating phrases still sound good. Of course, you'll hear "St. Louis Blues need to score on this powerplay to get back into this game," when there is no powerplay at all and the score is still tied.

Unfortunately for all of you who only played Season mode in previous games to avoid the confusion of being the General Manager of your team, you don't have that option this time. You're stuck with Dynasty Mode only. However, Dynasty mode is done amazingly well. You'll do everything that a GM does. You'll scout for new players, trade players, upgrade your team and staff, etc. It's all very deep and fulfilling. The ultimate goal is to turn the team that you are playing as into a Dynasty, and you do that by winning as many Stanley Cups as possible. Save some stat glitches, it's genius how well EA managed to pull this feature off.

CLOSING COMMENTS:

It's strange. A game that has so many problems yet still makes you not want to put your controller down... it just shouldn't exist! But it does. NHL 07 took a huge risk by changing the way hockey games were played, and for the most part succeeded. Why? Because now all they have to do is fix the problems with goalies, AI, and bugs by the time NHL 08 comes around and we may finally have that perfect hockey game that I've been so desperately waiting for.

Back down Sega. EA is back and poised to take the NHL Game Throne that it's been without the past few years.

GRAPHICS: 9/10
SOUND EFFECTS: 10/10
COMMENTARY: 7/10
CONTROL: 7/10
AI: 4/10
MODES: 3/10
DYNASTY: 9/10
ONLINE: 6/10

OVERALL ENJOYMENT VALUE: 7/10 (Not an average)

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 06/06/07