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The 2005 season is going to go down in history as one of the worst years for hockey fans. Sure there was a pointless and easily avoidable lockout to deal with, but also because of EA Sports’ rather disappointing NHL 2005 – easily one of the worst titles in the series, next to 2003. Fortunately EA is back on track this time around with the right game plan in mind. No longer will you have to fork out over £40 every month to replace your broken controller thanks to the lousy AI and its “lets check everything” mentality. And no longer will you have to endlessly search the menu screens for a create-a-player option that doesn’t exist, because folks, this year EA got it right.
That being said, NHL 06, similar to Madden 06, hasn’t undergone any sort of revolutionary makeover. There aren’t any new, ground-breaking features that will change the way hockey games are played, and don’t bother expecting a revamped dynasty mode or a vast improvement in the graphics. The reason why NHL 06 is a cut above the rest is because of its polished nature. Every little error and nuance from previous years has, for the most part, been addressed, and the little additions that do come packaged with the game enhance the overall hockey experience.
For example, any fan of the EA series can tell you that in recent years, the gameplay has seen better days. Little to no strategy was required on the ice, largely due to the onslaught of checks from the opposition. It all came down to racing past the blue line and taking a pot shot at the net before getting knocked off your feet. In 2006, though you’ll still see a fair share of heavy hits, you’ll actually have time to set up plays and manoeuvre around the ice while the defence, get this, actually plays defence, instead of resorting to cheap cross checks to stop a play.
While it might sound like EA has taken the cue from 2K sports and chosen a more realistic approach to the sport, the series still hasn’t reached simulation status. However, there are a few nice little features that fans of the sport will immediately recognize, such as the way you momentarily lose control of the puck as your player pushes it forward while sprinting towards the net. Or the way the defence plays the puck while in a scramble along the boards. They might be minor improvements, but they don’t go unnoticed.
While I’ll admit that being able to target a specific spot in the net before firing off a shot is a nice touch with the all-new goal targeting system, rarely do you have enough time to read the goalies movements, target the open pocket, and shoot before the other team breaks up the play. The way the goal targeting system works is simple in essence: hold the slap-shot button down and a bulls-eye will appear on the net. Then, by using the left analogue stick, you can move that bulls-eye around the goalie and over to any open area of the net. But again, as intuitive as the goal targeting system is, in such a fast-paced game like NHL 06, there’s hardly enough time to aim between the play and the shot.
The second new feature is the new control layout for the deking system. In previous years the right analogue stick would be used to deke while the left would control the player. In 2005, EA opted to switch up the control scheme to give the player more offensive options on the ice. All dekes can now be pulled off with a flick of the left analogue stick, while the right analogue stick is used to perform flashy star moves, like the 360 spin or the between the legs shot. It isn’t by any means a drastic change over 05, but at least you’re given a few extra options when attacking the net.
Other than that, gameplay has remained relatively the same. All of the signature moves from last year’s outing have returned, including the one button wraparound. My only real complaints have to do with the game’s uneven difficulty (medium is too easy and difficult is, well, too difficult) and the outrageous scores. If you play a game set any longer than five minutes you’re bound to end up with a 6-5 or 7-4 game with some teams scoring an easy four goals in the first period alone. What kind of hockey is that?
Off the ice, you’ve got your Dynasty mode making a welcomed return, despite its lack of new content. From here you can manage your rosters – important for balancing the chemistry between each line – and manipulate your team’s financial dealings. By doing so, and winning enough games, you’ll gain team stat points which can be distributed to various team needs, such as new gym equipment or better scouting abilities. And since EA chose to forego the salary cap and team budget features, you’ll be able to sign on whoever you want without any penalties whatsoever, which can unfortunately lead to some pretty uneven matches.
Also returning after being sorely missed from last year’s title (damn you EA!) is the create-a-player. I’ll never understand why EA chose to omit such a great feature, but create-a-player and create-a-team are back and better than ever. You’ll be able to customize not only your player’s facial features (even putting in a broken nose for good measure) but also his equipment. The create-a-team feature is back as well with the option to import your created teams into the dynasty mode. I knew the Hartford Whalers would eventually make a comeback, but no, nobody believed me.
Aesthetically speaking, NHL 06 hasn’t received any major visual update, save for a larger variety of animations (the goalie animations are superb) and ice with a more realistic deformation cycle. Regardless of the good, but not-so-updated graphics engine, the NHL series has finally hit the mark presentation wise. Everything from the slick menus to the anticipated inclusion of period highlights is top notch. The music can get a little on the stale side after only a few sittings, much like the robotic commentary, but it’s a minor complaint.
It’s best to think of NHL 06 as a polished version of 05, with better presentation values, improved gameplay and just enough new features to keep things fresh. Those looking for a completely revamped entry into the series might want to look elsewhere, but for everyone else, NHL 06 offers plenty of solid entertainment and some enjoyable online play to keep you going until next season. Let’s only hope we can say the same about the real NHL season.
