NHL 2K6

NHL 2K6 is 2K Sports' latest offering of the hockey kind. It builds on the success of the last few NHL games by 2K, and offers hockey fans more of what they want to see.

If it is straight-up gameplay you’re after, then this game will appeal to you. Taking the successful engine of last year’s game and adding to it, NHL 2K6 provides a nice balance of realistic hockey play while combining it with easy to manage controls. One of the new features this year is the ‘pro control’ option. This enables you to control exactly where you want the puck to go on the ice while in various situations. By pressing down the R3 button (the right analog stick) you enter the mode, which brings up the corresponding controller icons besides your team-mates so that you are able to choose exactly who to send it to. It’s a great new addition which improves the gameplay from the standard point-and-pass system.

Another new feature is the ‘On The Fly Coaching’, where you are able to press the directional buttons on the d-pad while playing to order your team about the ice. While on offense you are able to do such orders as ‘crash the net’, or ‘defensive pinch’ and ‘call for help’. There is also another set of orders while on defense that can help put you and your team on the same page. It’s a worthy addition to the game, and one we hope will be around in next year’s iteration.

With these two major additions out of the way, you’ll notice that the game flows together like a well-oiled machine. The controls and, more importantly, the movements of the players, are smooth and like what you would expect while skating on ice. Passing is fluid, and with the improved pro control, as mentioned earlier, it’s never been easier.

Big hits are still as cool to pull off on the opposing team as ever, and you’ll be seeing crashes bigger and better than before with the new enforcer players, marked with an ‘E’ under them. These enforcers, while slightly slower on the ice, are able to knock players off their feet easier, as well as intimidating the opposing team by doing so. The intimidation system needs a little bit of work, but it’s a nice addition none-the-less.

Onto the game modes. If your're simply looking for a quick, fast game of hockey, the quick game mode should appease your appetite. Some of the more interesting modes, however, are located in the party mode section. You’ve got the choice of Zone Mode, Battle Mode, and Elimination, where 18 mini-games in total are located, and should keep the friends happy for a little while. Aside from straight-up hockey action, the season and franchise mode should keep your hands full. Franchise mode is what the game is really about though, with realistic trades, development of players throughout their careers, and in general, more options than you could shake a stick at.

The stat tracking is also impressive. Straight away in the franchise mode you are able to instantly see statistics on any team you wish, including how many cup finals they have made, when they entered the league, team records, information about their best season, and trivia. It’s this kind of detail in the game that will keep you enthralled and offer new experiences each time you play. It may lose some who are new to the series, but those with a good knowledge of hockey should be able to follow it fairly easily.

Graphically, the game looks a little off. While it’s still using the same graphic engine found in the previous game, it doesn’t look half bad. However, it’s not perfected, and simply by taking a look at the crowd in the stadium, you realise that work could be done to improve the visual experience. The presentation of the main menu is, while effective, not the nicest menu system to be found in a sports title. It is almost reminiscent of an older-generation menu with the way that everything is simply set out on blue rectangles.

The commentary isn’t the best seen in a hockey game, as it’s a bit dull and generally not all that interesting to listen to. However, it seems to fade out into the background while playing the game so it’s not that big of a deal. The soundtrack isn’t all that noteworthy, but again, it’s simply there for background ambience, and it does its job.

NHL 2K6 is a great hockey game, hands-down. For those hockey fans who love to keep track of all the stats, and want to simply get into the game and are not fussed by the tacky-feeling menus, then this game will be a shot straight to the back of the net for you. The game will also appeal to casual fans who are looking for a game which provides quick gameplay, and optional extras which can be delved into if you get hooked.