Hockey so real, you wonder if the players will go on strike.
User Rating: 9.3 | ESPN NHL 2K5 XBOX
With hopes of an NHL season all but flushed down the drain, hockey fans can take comfort in ESPN NHL 2K5. From the franchise mode to online play, everything about this game has been executed well. One thing that I will not be reviewing is how much this game has improved over last year's version because I did not play last year's version. I will judge this game on it's own merits as a hockey simulator. Player control is wonderful, I am a big fan of the deke stick when in control of the puck and the "total contact control" when on defense. In addition to that, the manual goal deke option is exciting. Another plus goes to the game for the ability to skate backward and control your stick when on defense. I have been able to break up a few plays using that trick. For those who want to forgo full control of their player, there are different control schemes. The advanced scheme gives all the options mentioned above, the classic scheme maps many of the moves to a button press (for instance there is a generic "deke" button in classic settings), and the intermediate controls provide a plateau for those transitioning from classic to advanced. Checking opponents into the boards looks and sounds as painful as it is to observe at a live game. Use it well to provide a breakaway opportunity for your offense. You can control line changes manually, semi-manually (you can change the lines yourself during play but the computer will select the best line during a play stoppage), automatically (the computer controls all line changes) or turn them off. Another good point is that you can change your forward lines and defensive lines separately. Like line changes you can select who chooses the strategy, you or the computer. When you control strategy choice, you can modify aggression (how much your squad attacks the puck/versus how much they defend against breakaways) and you can select the formation your team uses on offense and defense. Of course it gets a bit difficult to change plays and control the puck at the same time. Never fear, you can pass to an AI controlled player and retain control of the passer (say a defenseman). After you have selected your play and gotten your player in position, you can call for a pass and fire a shot at the goal from the point or you can take control of the player with the puck, your choice. (This can also work for a give n go on an odd man rush). The only thing that's missing is a drop pass.That would be a great feature. The franchise mode is extensive to say the least. First you select your coaching staff. You're given a budget and have to use it to hire coaches to lead your team...skimp on one of the coaches and you will see that area of your team suffer. For instance, I spent all my money hiring a good head coach, scout, offensive and defensive co-ordinators. I was stuck with a strength and condition trainer with less than stellar marks. Needless to say, I had more injuries than I could shake a stick at. Once you've run through a season (accepting nothing less than a win in the Finals) you go through the usual off-season practices...negotiating contracts with players, hiring new staff (to get rid of that lousy trainer), and scouting new talent....Wait...scouting new talent? Yes, I hope you got a good talent scout at the start of your franchise because his skills will come in handy when it's time to go on a trip looking for the next heavy hitter or speed demon for your squad. You set up an itinerary for what regions you want to visit...you tell your scout to look at some players and if you like what you see you can schedule mini camps with them. Instead of just seeing a 94 for speed, you can run them through a speed drill. Instead of just 90 for checking you can run a scrimmage and watch that poor guy get crumbled by a heavy hit. This is all in preparation for the draft Hopefully no one else knows about your next big thing because you're picking last (remember, Stanley cup man?). So for those who say they can manage a team better than (name the gm of your favorite troubled franchise), here's your chance to prove it. In addition to franchise there are quick games, exhibitions, tournaments, skill challenges, and Party Mode...think Mario Party on Ice (without the stupid board game in the way). You can play against the computer (I haven't won a series against the cpu yet) or invite four friends over for a match. It'll be fun. Oh and did I mention online mode? You can play a season, a tournament, or a quick game on xbox live. I recomment gathering people you know for online leagues, it is impossible to find enough dedicated players to play a season. The icing on the cake for this game is the presentation. It looks, sounds, and feels like an NHL on ESPN broadcast. The replays during play stoppage are on point...they show a spectacular play (like a goalie stoning a series of shots) that might have happened a minute back instead of just showing what happened to stop the play. The commentary is pertinent and at times humorous ("Mario Lemieux is one of those players that will be in the Hall of Fame one day...wait he already is"). And rarely does it sound like canned comments...although that's exactly what it is. If you like hockey, you owe it to yourself to buy this game. 
