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Published
by Global Star Software
Developed by Visual Concepts
Release Date: Out Now
Price: £19.99
This
season could well be the darkest moment in NHL History.
As fans of the sport know the whole season has been cancelled
due to failed negotiations over a salary cap. As ESPN points
this means that there will be no Stanley Cup winner for
the first time since 1919 when a flu epidemic forced the
competition to be cancelled. In the US there seems to a
real feeling that disaster has struck as the sport was already
less popular than football (the US variety that is), baseball
and basketball. Surely the sport will survive though, but
you'll have to get your NHL fix from ESPN NHL 2K5 and play
out the season that never was.
I've
played several hockey games (we call it ice hockey here
in the UK) over the years but none have impressed me as
much as last years ESPN NHL Hockey on the Xbox. The game
was sensational in every way and I had trouble coming away
from the game because it was so addictive. For someone who
lives in the UK and doesn't follow the sport (although I've
watched a few NHL games in my time) this is saying a lot.
In fact NHL Hockey has to go down as one of the best sports
games of all time. When NHL 2K5 arrived for review on the
PlayStation 2 I expected the game not to be as visually
impressive but was still hopeful that that the game would
play out just as impressively and to a large degree, that's
exactly how it turned out.
ESPN
NHL 2K5 is loaded to the brim with modes. Exhibition, Season,
Play Offs, Franchise and Tournament modes all make a return.
You'll also notice Dream Team, Skills and Party modes as
well as an Extras mode which includes games such as Mini-Rink
and Pond Hockey to name but a few. In addition there is
also a Party mode which offers four games (Battle, Arcade
Quick Game, Arcade Tournament and Elimination) and support
for up to 8 players (2 Multitaps required). The Franchise
mode has been improved and includes better player scouting
amongst other things. A minor league now exists and this
allows your minor league players to actually play and you
to keep an eye on their development. You can't actually
play the minor league games though. There have been many
other subtle tweaks and improvements to the Franchise mode
which all add up to make it a more satisfying experience.
Most
of the game mechanics have remained the same in this year's
game but to be honest ESPN NHL Hockey was an excellent game
and didn't need much improvement. The game now sports a
new fighting engine for when things get heated. Holding
the L button allows you to skate backwards and assume a
defensive position whilst your opponents are in possession,
and using the right analogue stick will allow you to have
greater stick control. The right analogue stick can also
be used for 'Intense Contact Control' as the game calls
it which basically allows you to get nasty with the stick
if you want to. Of course you'll end up giving away penalties
and your opponents will use these dirty moves on you too.
On the lower difficulties you'll also find it easier to
score than it was in last year's game. Personally I think
this is a good thing as it prevents frustration creeping
in for newcomers to the sport.
Graphically
the PlayStation 2 version of the game isn't quite up to
the standard of last years Xbox title. Loading times are
more noticeable and the frame rate is not quite as impressive
although it's still very good. The presentation of the game
is impressive though and the game is just like watching
the real thing on TV. The player animations are also very
good and life-like. The crowd graphics aren't as impressive
as in NBA 2K5 but I suppose it would take more CPU power
to have duplicated that kind of detail in the larger hockey
arenas. Overall the game looks very good on the PlayStation
2 but if you have the choice I'd go for the Xbox version
and it's definitely a game that will go on my wish list
for the near future.
As
with NFL 2K5 and NBA 2K5 deaf gamers are just missing out
on elements of the games presentation rather than any important
content within the game itself. The game commentary for
instance isn't subtitled and announcements that are made
during the game aren't subtitled either. Like all other
sports titles though it makes little difference as all the
important information, during a game and in other modes
such as the Franchise mode, is shown in text so you'll have
no problems with the game at all.
With
no NHL season in the real world then it's even more important
that the virtual hockey you play this year is as good as
possible and the best game on offer has to be ESPN NHL 2K5.
The improvements on last year's game are not huge but they
don't really need to be. The Franchise mode is more satisfying
and if you have a few friends around you can enjoy the additional
Party modes. Like in the other ESPN games this year, the
online mode has been trimmed from NHL 2K5 and once again
this is unfortunate. Hockey is a game suited to online play
and it would have been great being able to go online with
such a superb game. Still at £19.99 the game's a fantastic
bargain and all hockey fans who own a Xbox or PlayStation
2 should definitely pick this game up.
Overall
Game Rating: 9.0/10
There may be no NHL season but at least when you need some
virtual hockey there's a game of this calibre which should
satisfy even the most demanding hockey enthusiast.
Deaf
Gamers Classification:
(Click
the letter or here
for details)
There's
no announcer or commentator subtitles but whilst this is
unfortunate it in no way prevents deaf gamers from enjoying
this great hockey game.
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