NHL 2K6

Written by Glenn Wigmore  on December 23, 2005

Review: Hockey comes to the Xbox 360 with NHL 2K6, another entry to the 2K Sports hockey franchise. You won't find anything too groundbreaking in this 360 version, but it still plays like an accurate simulation game of hockey.

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Ah, the return of the NHLЕ it's enough to make any Canadian smile from ear to ear (like myself). As usual, the contest for videogame hockey superiority is between companies EA and 2K Sports, but the difference in the next-generation realm is that only 2K Sports has actually created a title for it. With NHL 2K6 on the Xbox 360, gamers can get a dose of next-gen hockey, but it really does only feel like a facelift to the Xbox version of the same game. Those with HD televisions will notice some increased detail, and the next-gen version features a new goaltending interface, but the price tag is significantly higher for the same game as on the Xbox. This being said, the gameplay is still the most accurate in the videogame world, and the Xbox 360 online integration makes the game enjoyable to fans of the sport.

A good deal of the front-end interface from previous games in the series remains the same for NHL 2K6, and you'll be able to fly around to different game sections such as exhibition, Hit the Ice (practice mode), Franchise, Xbox Live, and options. The menus have never been great in the 2K Sports hockey games, but they do work well enough to get you where you're going; there are still some ambiguities in the online menus (how to accept challenges), as well as in line changes (switching your goalie will be problematic the first few times you try). The У2K SportsФ brand is present all throughout the game (even in the in-game presentation) and it works well for creating a vibrant feel to the proceedings. The ESPN license did do a great job of creating an authentic feel, but the 2K branding seems to do the job Ц for now Ц in terms of presenting the game.

The main selling point of the 2K series has always been the gameplay and that is no different in the 2K6 entry. The game plays extremely well with exorbitant amounts of defense, checking, speed, and skill. You won't find yourself scoring oodles of goals like in EA's game, but the tallies can add up pretty quick, especially if you use the manual deke system to good effect. Performing the manual deke now requires the use of the left trigger and the right thumbstick, and this allows for quicker side-to-side movement than in previous 2K games. This deke can still be exploited from certain points on the ice (like in previous games where you could draw goalies to one side and then shoot it to the other), but proper defense and use of the new Уcrease controlФ can help prevent easy or УcheapФ goals.

The 2K series has always been great for play along the boards and this year continues the trend. You can muck along the half boards near the net and this includes pinning guys on the boards and having a battle to kick the puck free or punish the player. Cycling the puck behind the net and along the boards still works quite well as a tactic, and this is amplified by the improved AI that is fair and realistic; opponents will box up on the power play and hold their positions, and this allows you to start a cycle around the net that will allow for a good one-timer chance or rebound goal.

One element that was never quite right in the 2K gameplay was passing, but this year introduces Pro Control passing that allows for precise dishes and one-timers. By clicking the right thumbstick, you can view all available receivers and then execute passes by single button presses; the great thing is that you can chain presses together to make fancy plays or you can double tap a button to make a receiver one-timer the puck once he gets it Ц this looks great. This new passing system works fluidly and it still allows you to execute dump-ins and puck protection while you are using it so the system really adds a great deal to the gameplay.

On-the-fly coaching is also available in NHL 2K6 and this allows for some basic strategies such as screening the goalie, crashing the net, calling for help, and increased intensity. The most useful tactics are goalie screens and net crashes, as they provide lots of traffic in front of the net and create potential rebounds and deflection goals. The coaching is executed by pressing one of the eight directions on the d-pad and this fits seamlessly into the game and adds a great deal of depth.

The newest feature added to the game is Crease Control (Xbox 360 exlusive), which allows for a new way of experiencing goaltending. The original method of selecting the goalie and pressing a УsaveФ button still exists, but the new style works pretty well. By clicking the right thumbstick when you are in the defensive zone, a large green Уvision coneФ appears from the goalie and this allows you to position the goaltender towards the shot. When a shot arrives, the view switches behind the goalie (picture-in-picture) and allows you to move a cursor towards the puck to make a save. If you can't make the save in time, the game allows you to press the right thumbstick towards the puck to make desperation saves. The system works pretty well, but it, admittedly, does slow down the game a tad. Regardless, you have to give 2K Sports credit for looking to involve the goalie more into the play, and it is honestly a helpful system for eliminating some of the УcheapФ goals in the game; it almost seems as if they wanted users to try this system to prevent certain goals.

The new rules of the NHL are present in NHL 2K6, but they only come into play in certain ways. The Уno red lineФ rule, for instance, is occasionally taken advantage of by the AI on both your team and the opposition, but it could be used a bit more to create some exciting stretch passes. Goalies are restricted to a prescribed area, but the penalties called on them when they stray into the Уdanger zoneФ are usually a bit unrealistic, as they would never normally play the puck that casually. All the subtle changes do add a good deal of speed and skill into the game, which reflect accurately on how the real game of hockey is playing right now.

The main offline mode is the franchise, and this works fairly well by building on previous features like chemistry and fatigue. As before, you'll be able to specifically tailor practices and drills in order to build chemistry with linemates. Players all have different skillsets, and the only way to balance a line is to have a good deal of speed and skill tempered with grit. Fatigue will wear on players over the season so don't get too used to double-shifting your first liners to win games early in the season Ц it will affect you later. The hard salary cap of the real NHL wasn't included in this version, but there is a budget that you will have to stay under. Trades will be offered to you quite liberally and they, usually, make reasonable hockey sense. The franchise mode allows for quite a bit of involvement and allows a player to scout, practice, and manage his team to success Ц nothing groundbreaking, but a refinement of good features.

The online offerings of NHL 2K6 are pretty good. You'll have access to one-on-one matches and custom leagues/tournaments, plus you can download new rosters when they are released. The games online are relatively absent of lag, and the new Xbox 360 feedback features are implemented well Ц with the notable exception of certain games that failed to report after they were completed. With the feedback system working through the Xbox 360 and the 2K Уservers,Ф you can now see accurately how other players have rated people and why they might have received negative feedback (abusing exploits, trash talk, etc). A couple of notable omissions from the online space include the skills competition (which was available last year), as well as true multiplayer games with four or eight Xbox Live users in a single game (you can play with eight players by having four controllers per console, but this is not really practical). The online mode once again adds great value to the series and hopefully it will get a few more tweaks and additions next year.

The visuals in NHL 2K6 are the only real distinction between the Xbox 360 and Xbox versions, but even so the changes aren't that significant. The HD resolutions will make the crowd and players look quite a bit sharper, and 2K Sports has added some enhanced ice effects and net physics. The game moves very smoothly on the Xbox 360, but the Xbox version really doesn't lag behind too much. The price increase for the Xbox 360 version definitely seems to indicate a better jump in graphics that what is offered, but the game still looks crisp and clean. Either way, the next version (2007) of hockey from 2K Sports will probably display more significant Уnext-genФ effects.

The sound is pretty much the same as on the Xbox, and this is good and bad. The sound effects are quite good and they even rival some of the quality work done in the EA hockey games. Hits sound especially satisfying this year, as do pucks flying off the boards or glass. The crowd always yells and hollers when the play gets physical, but they could do with some more reactions when the offensive action gets really frantic. CBC's Bob Cole and Harry Neale voice the commentary this year, and because it is their first recording for the series, the commentary is not as varied as other games that have had the same duo for several years. I've always wondered why developers don't record these announcers doing actual games and then have bridging commentary for names and numbers, as you would get a more realistic effect. As it stands, they sound somewhat stiff and uninspired, which is unlike their real-life delivery. The menu music and arena tracks are fine, but nothing out of the ordinary (read: hockey rock).

NHL 2K6 is your only choice for hockey on the Xbox 360, but you shouldn't despair too much, as the gameplay is very good. The graphics and sound don't add as much as you'd want for the full price tag, but the game does look sharp on an HD television and sounds good in surround sound. The new rules and gameplay features are implemented to satisfying effect, and the УCrease ControlФ goaltending adds a level of depth to the netminding, which had not been present up until this year. Hopefully 2K Sports really goes all out next year for the first УtrueФ nex-gen game, but this year's version still provides a great game of hockey for fans of the sport.