Sore Thumbs
Just as the National Hockey League revamped the rules in their comeback from an alienating players strike, so too has EA Sports with its latest installment of their signature hockey franchise. And just like the real NHL this vid has been vastly improved and has created a much more enjoyable experience of us fans.
With NHL 06 being noticeably absent from EA's next-gen lineup last year, it appears the development team took their time in revolutionizing way hockey is played on the Xbox 360. This game feels very different than the NHL we grew up with, and while some people may shudder at the idea that their favorite video game on ice has changed, most will ultimately be left with profound satisfaction in the wake of new gameplay. Graphics. This is by far the best looking NHL game ever. As it should be on its debut for the 360, every little piece of stadium and player looks authentic and vibrant. From the dimly lit upper grandstands to the stitching on the numbers of players jerseys, EA Sports has done a commendable job to make NHL 07 look amazing. There are plenty of camera angles to choose from - although the standard "ice" view is basically what you'll need to see all the action as usual. Some of the other angles are playable too but take some getting used to. The cut scenes of players shoving and celebrating are great. Player animations are out of this world. Dekeing and shooting have never looked more impressive. Goalie saves are the hallmark of achievement in this department. No longer does the puck stick to goalie pads and gloves, and you'll find your net minder making acrobatic moves to prevent a trickling puck from crossing the goal-line. Instant replays are wonderful and exciting. Dynamic camera angles and slow motion make those big plays feel even bigger. End of period recaps (sadly without commentary) are fun to watch. That being said there are some weaknesses to the graphics in NHL 07. The fighting in this game is very sluggish and looks rushed. Sound. Here is another example of EA going the extra mile to immerse you in your console hockey experience. Sound is one of those elements that you don't particularly pay attention to, but good sound effects and commentary boost an already strong product. Players shouting during the play, pucks clanging off the iron of the net and foghorns booming upon hometown goals really add the atmosphere of the game. While some of the booth comments are quite repetitive, overall the commentary is quite good. The music is your run-of-the-mill alt-rock which serves well during the menus and breaks in the action. It feels at times like some songs don't quite fit a hockey game and are more like marketing pushes for bands that need to be heard. You can customize the tracks to turn off any annoying tunes (thank you EA).
Presentation. NHL 07 is leaps and bounds beyond Madden in terms of showing off its product well. The commentary, flashy replays, period summary montages, multiple camera angles and CPU vs. CPU play are all huge strengths for this sports title. There is still much room for improvement however, but this is a very solid ground to build on. Things like out of town highlights, game summaries and player interviews would be nice to see. Franchise is back again with all its usual components. Navigation is easy and the game feels well polished. Gameplay. This is the department that made the biggest leaps and bounds over years past. The new default control scheme is called the "skill stick", which basically uses the right analogue stick to map out how you control and shoot the puck. Think of it as your hockey stick. Gone are the days of button mashing and easy one-timers. This new control is very intuitive to how you would maneuver your hockey stick. Left and right is dekeing. Up is a snapshot/wristshot (depending on combinations of left/right/up/down). Down then up is a slapshot and so forth. The effectiveness of your moves depends on the skill of the player you are controlling, but the responsiveness and level of detail in control is what really sets NHL 07 apart from the competition. There is quite a steep learning curve to the skill stick control. You will find yourself mashing the b button to shoot and x button to pass time and time again for the first few games. Gone is the speed burst right-trigger. This omission makes the game feel much more realistic because player AI will only make them skate faster in open ice. Magnetic passing is also a thing of the past. The right trigger is used to issue a pass in the direction you aim - instead of the direct pass x button of the past. All of these improvements give the game a much more accurate representation of the real game. For those players who prefer a more arcade-type game, there are options in the menu that allow it. For players who want to play with the old controls, that option is still available to switch to. It takes 5 or 6 games for the new controls begin to feel right. Once you play with the skill stick feature you will never want to go back. There is co-op and online play which make NHL a favorite among friends.
NHL 07 is a very addictive and enjoyable game on the Xbox 360. This is a must have title for any hockey fan. EA has proven that in markets with competition, they can indeed press forward to revolutionize their games to make them better (yes that's a shot at Madden and to ESPN baseball). NHL 07 really feels like a worth while next-gen game. While small improvements can still be made, EA has done a great job on the ice this season.