ESPN NHL 2K5

Written by Adam Woolcott  on August 27, 2004

Final Glimpse: $19.99, are you outtaЕshit, I already used that before.

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While the hockey season is in limbo this year due to the bickering of two unique sets of rich bastards, there's no lockouts or strikes in video games. Which is why we're preparing for the release of the first hockey game this season, brought to you by Sega and ESPN Videogames: ESPN NHL 2K5. Like its outstanding NFL brother, ESPN NHL 2K5 will ship earlier than its competition from EA, but also release for $30 less, at an appealing $19.99. With such strong sales for ESPN NFL last month, the hope is the momentum will continue for hockey as well, and with chances of a season taking place being relatively low, this should be a great alternative to the real NHL. The ESPN NHL franchise has probably been Sega's most unheralded compared to its other professional leagues, but this year, for $20 Ц it should finally get its time in the spotlight when it releases next week.

This year, Sega is really going all-out to enhance the game to add ridiculous amount of features to increase replay value. In addition to the usual franchise (which now boasts СLive Scouting' where you can check out players around the world for drafting purposes), tournament, and exhibition modes, ESPN NHL 2K5 offers an extremely deep online mode, a СDream Team' battle, and Party Mode for multiplayer fun. Online this year offers the ability to create custom leagues for up to 30 players, which contain living rosters that change over time. League organizers and competitors can use a PC to check stats, games, standings, and whatnot as well, which is a bonus similar to Microsoft's XSN Sports concept.

The СDream Team' battle is a unique Сgauntlet' mode that unlocks some very cool extra teams. Basically, different NHL players and personalities have created their own dream teams, full of the league's best skaters, which you'd then play. If you can defeat them, you can actually use that team, likely online as well. There's to be a very strong selection of dream teams to compete against, adding a lot of replay aside from the usual deep Franchise. Party Mode consists of 15 different mini-games for single and multiplayer, breaking up the usual action with something more light-hearted perfect for a short burst of gaming. This also can be played online with friends, which makes it even cooler. Also, the Skybox makes its return, with many more unlockable goodies for customizing your game, including the Heritage Classic for all you Canadian hockey fanatics. Unfortunately, there's no word as to whether or not the PS2 version will support the HDD like ESPN NFL 2K5 didЕso that won't be known until the game ships and reaches the hands of gamers.

Sega has stuck in some Сright stick' action with ESPN NHL 2K5 this year. It's basically your hitting button, which, by pressing different directions, leads to different types of hits, checks, etc. This also adds into the fighting system, which is promising to be more intuitive and less tacked on than previous years. Combining this along with the usual realistic and exciting hockey action this franchise has slowly been known for, ESPN NHL 2K5 looks to be a real, genuine winner this year, and it can't be stressed enough Ц it's only $20. For $30 less than EA's streaky hockey franchise, you can get one that's been proven a huge success, and one that will last you through the hockey season, whether there's actually a season or not.