NHL 2K6

"NHL 2k6 can we give it the Hart Memorial?"

NHL 2k6 is the first next-gen hockey title and boy does it fell like next generation

Graphics 7/10
Though they are not anything amazing the graphics are pretty impressive for a launch title. The player and crowd close-ups are lackluster and all the players do not look exactly like their real life counterparts but they still look nice. As for on in the game, it is by far the best graphics of any hockey game out right now. The ice gets skate marks on it and the players are sharp and smooth, the colors seem almost as they are in real life.

Game play: 9/10
Gameplay is where NHL 2k6 shines the brightest. Every new feature adds to the game experience and makes it just that much more fun. Crease Control is a feature exclusive for this version. It gives your goalie a cone of vision to follow the puck in, when the player shoots, the player (goalie) must move a cursor over a target and press A. It is very fun and makes being the goalie not so annoying. On the Fly Coaching is another new feature, with the touch of the directional pad you can command your team to certain things, such as screen goalie. The game also fells like your playing hockey. When a person stops, it takes a little bit for them to stop. They get fatigued and cant turbo for a great period of time. It is even possible to check someone over the boards and get them out of play for a while.

The game modes seem endless to me. Franchise allows you to take your team from day one, make trades, sign free agents, practice, and eventually lead them to a Stanley Cup victory. During the off-season, you can release players, draft new ones and sign free agents. This continues for many years. There are also skill challenges to add another fun aspect. Can you skate well, shoot hard and accurately, these test it and refine those skills. Mini Rink, Pond Hockey and Party Mode are back and just as amazing as in 2k5. The fast game play, no fouls called and awesome soundtrack (which I'll get to later) add to the intensity and fun. All of these modes (with the exception of Franchise) are available online.

Don't fell like Hockey though, no problem, there is even more. Simply go to the skybox and enjoy looking at hockey records, spending your points on teams, jerseys or rinks, or even play some great mini-games. There is shuffleboard, air hockey and my personal favorite, Hockey Trivia. All of these can be played with two players and can give you a chance at revenge if you friend beat you in exhibition. Or just play them solo to increase your personal skills or hockey knowledge.

A lack of an Arcade Quick game, where you can play between 2-5 people on a full size rink w/o getting called for a penalty (which was in the 2k5) is lacking and makes the game play lose a point.

Sound: 10/10

The sound of the game is not great on its own but when you mix it with the hockey atmosphere it is simply amazing. The announcers always sound like they know what they are doing and have a pretty good amount of sayings. They even have knowledge of main players on teams, many facts that others did not know of, they make jokes between them selves and simply adds to the games experience. Also the great fan-mail questions returns (like in Major League Baseball 2k5) when you pause the game, adding to the interest. For example did you all know that Al MacInnis has the fastest shoot in the NHL? I did not but fan mail teaches cool things like that.

The best thing about this is the soundtrack. The kind of music that is mainly linked with hockey, is rock and that is what the soundtrack shows. When scoring a goal in Pond Hockey it is hard to help from banging your head to the goal and to the music, it really meshes well with the action on ice. Between menus it also plays the music and again is really fun to listen to.

Controls: 9/10

The controls on this game are also very fluent. Though there is nothing groundbreaking with controls they still fit very well. Pushing it a little bit forward will make them go slow and a lot forward will make them go faster. The buttons are responsive but not anything new or innovative. Though that is what is to be expected of a hockey game, they work well and you barley realize you are using a controller, it just fits well.

Final 9/10:

For a game in the next generation of gaming, this one holds its own very well. With other great alternatives out there, this one is still possibly one of the best. It mixes great gameplay and gameplay modes with good sound and ok graphics. Some mediocre graphics and a lack of quick arcade mode takes off a point but NHL 2k6 is the perfect game for any hockey fan or any sports fan in general.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/16/06