A great looking game, with loads of fun potentially packed into it, except for one glove hand problem. (Pros and Cons)
Pros:
As soon as I got the game up and running, I obviously wanted to test out the new rookie wonders in shootout mode. Crosby and Ovechkin of course. I was impressed. (Buyer beware, it is a Free4All mini-game shootout, expanded from the original Free4All mode, not an actual shootout.) The physics blew my mind, and the movement of the goaltender even more so. The gameplay seems to be the most realistic in any hockey game I have ever played. The graphics are great, every face is recognizeable. The sound is a step up from EA's usual in terms of soundtrack, not commentary. Although the game may not differ a ton, and as some say feels like a pacth for '06, it still is fun to play. Rosters are up to date for the most part, leaving out about ten, non-major recent trades, which can be manually updated in a few minutes by checking this link out -> http://www.nhl.com/features/insider/deals_summer2006.html
Cons:
I'll start off saying, controls may take a few games to get use to, but I actually like them, main reason - EA changed something! But it goes by player's preference. First noticeable detail, not much in terms of mode has changed, but what do you expect from EA. For non-Xbox 360 versions, commentary is bland and the same as previous years, filling space, but in an awkward way. Second detail, Xbox 360 version of '07 will outscore any other version by a mile, not because of some new graphics (that are absolutley amazing), but because all it's features seem full. For example I was dissapointed that the "Skill Stick" is only for passing. *Sigh* Third detail, now I am a bit rusty, and there is new controls. I'm not expecting to win much in the early season in Dynasty mode on difficult. Game one: Atlanta-7 vs Tampa Bay-1. Yes, 7-1. Slava Kozlov pots four goals, Bondra pots two, all top-corner, glove side. Marc Denis doesn't have that bad of a glove hand, does he? If this flaw was not here, the game would be a welcome challenge, and my favourite hockey game yet, but just how much fun is a season going 82-0-0 and outscoring your opponents by six every game? Not very.
Conclusion: Simply put, a fun game with great graphics. Buyer beware of lack of change from '06, and lack of challenge. Otherwise great game. I'm hoping the PS2 version is tougher to score on then this PC version. I also wish I had Xbox 360.