Hendrix
09-07-2005, 11:06 PM
Well, now that I've got a copy in my Xbox, I thought I'd post my thoughts on this one.
After playing a few games so far, I would have to say that in most cases, NHL2K6 is a good improvement over last years game. Graphically it's got a little extra polish here and there, but nothing drastic. The player models are still top notch, and the player faces look better than last years in most cases as well. One thing that seems odd though, is that the arena's don't look quite as good as last years in my opinion. You don't seem to get the sweeping camera shots that show off the arena's anymore. Not a biggie there, but it seems like a half step back.
Presentation wise, the game is a big improvement over last years, despite having recycled some of the cutscenes. The action replays look incredible, and you now get replay highlights, and running commentary between periods. And then there's the commentary. Kind of a mixed bag here. Overall the commentary seems more aware of the actual game, than it has in the last couple years. But the commentary it self sounds a little stiff. If they stick with these two for a couple years, I think it'll lose the stiff sound.
Apart from the crappy menu music, NHL2k6 has even better sound effects. Hearing the puck slap into a teammates stick, or hearing a bone jarring check along the boards is great.
Now to the big one....Gameplay. In my opinion, they've made it feel a lot more like playing a real game of hockey this year. The controls feel like they've been tightened up, and are even more responsive. The animations have also been improved as well. When you check an opposing player, you no longer get an animation that doesn't always feel like it belongs. Now, when you clobber a guy against the boards, or in open ice, it feels like you just knocked the crap out of him. Also, the goalie save animations are still the best ever. There aren't and cheesey invisible wall saves here(not that there ever was, the 2K series has always had top notch goalies). When a goalie robs you on a breakaway, it just looks incredible.
Now on to my one big complaint.....Rosters. So far it seems like the rosters are exactly the same as last years version. With all the big free agent moves in the off season, this just reeks of laziness! As of right now, I've only played 4 games, so some of the changes may be there, and I just haven't noticed yet. But my Minnesota Wild squad is way way off. This will obviously be corrected once they get a roster update online, but for people without XBL or an internet connection in the case of PS2, you're pretty much on your own to fix the rosters.
Overall, I'd have to say that if you're a hockey fan, or a fan of the 2K series, this game is defenitely worth the $19.99.
After playing a few games so far, I would have to say that in most cases, NHL2K6 is a good improvement over last years game. Graphically it's got a little extra polish here and there, but nothing drastic. The player models are still top notch, and the player faces look better than last years in most cases as well. One thing that seems odd though, is that the arena's don't look quite as good as last years in my opinion. You don't seem to get the sweeping camera shots that show off the arena's anymore. Not a biggie there, but it seems like a half step back.
Presentation wise, the game is a big improvement over last years, despite having recycled some of the cutscenes. The action replays look incredible, and you now get replay highlights, and running commentary between periods. And then there's the commentary. Kind of a mixed bag here. Overall the commentary seems more aware of the actual game, than it has in the last couple years. But the commentary it self sounds a little stiff. If they stick with these two for a couple years, I think it'll lose the stiff sound.
Apart from the crappy menu music, NHL2k6 has even better sound effects. Hearing the puck slap into a teammates stick, or hearing a bone jarring check along the boards is great.
Now to the big one....Gameplay. In my opinion, they've made it feel a lot more like playing a real game of hockey this year. The controls feel like they've been tightened up, and are even more responsive. The animations have also been improved as well. When you check an opposing player, you no longer get an animation that doesn't always feel like it belongs. Now, when you clobber a guy against the boards, or in open ice, it feels like you just knocked the crap out of him. Also, the goalie save animations are still the best ever. There aren't and cheesey invisible wall saves here(not that there ever was, the 2K series has always had top notch goalies). When a goalie robs you on a breakaway, it just looks incredible.
Now on to my one big complaint.....Rosters. So far it seems like the rosters are exactly the same as last years version. With all the big free agent moves in the off season, this just reeks of laziness! As of right now, I've only played 4 games, so some of the changes may be there, and I just haven't noticed yet. But my Minnesota Wild squad is way way off. This will obviously be corrected once they get a roster update online, but for people without XBL or an internet connection in the case of PS2, you're pretty much on your own to fix the rosters.
Overall, I'd have to say that if you're a hockey fan, or a fan of the 2K series, this game is defenitely worth the $19.99.