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Madden NFL 2007
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Pub.: EA
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Dev.:
EA
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Score: 8.6 |
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ESPN NHL Hockey Review
by 007
Fall has always been my favorite time of the year for one reason only…hockey. It’s always around midway through September when the pre-season action begins and that feeling hits me. I’ve got my hockey pool all prepared, and I’ve already jumped onto the bandwagon of my favorite team. However, if you share the same sentiment in hockey that I do, you’ll realize how special the 2003-2004 season is. If you have somehow missed the tantalizing subject that has been talked about for months, September 15, 2004 marks the day that the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the NHLPA will expire. If a new agreement is not signed by that time, there might not be a 2004-2005 season.
Features:
-ESPN Presentation and Gameplay
-Precision Player Control
-Skills Competition & Classic Teams
-Online Multiplayer
-Downloadable Content
-480 Progressive Scan Input
Gameplay
With NHL 2K3 now in the past and ESPN NHL Hockey now the future, Visual Concepts and Kush Games made sure that this years title came full of surprises and loaded with action. Last years title didn’t have very many gameplay issues, but the new improvements this year are far too much to mention. Any problem or glitch that you may have found has been wiped clean from the plate, and that’s very exciting for fans of the series. ESPN NHL Hockey simply makes gamers reminisce about the past great Hockey titles.
Gameplay Controls:
A: Pass / Change Player
B: Speed Burst / Check
X: Shoot / Stick Check
Y: Dive / Block Shot / Dump-In
Left Thumbstick: Move Player
Right Thumbstick: Total Control Dekes
Left Trigger: Protect Puck
Right Trigger: Aggression
White: Sidestep
Black: Sidestep
The series has always favored numerous control schemes, but the one you see above is the classic control design that has been used for years. Those gamers who feel that they’d like more selection and options in their control game can check out the intermediate and advanced controls, which ultimately require you to memorize numerous controls, but the final result is a fierce game.
The game has been taken up a couple of notches in the offensive department, which is a breath of fresh air. Anyone who played NHL 2K3 can agree that scoring goals was few and rare, and it certainly stressed out many gamers. This year, final scores in games can have a final result of 4-2 or even 5-3. There is more balanced scoring in games, and goaltenders aren’t always saving the impossible shots. Nevertheless, if the opportunity to score is there, you’re more than likely to put the puck into the net.
On the other side, the defensive game has also gotten better. The defense knows when to get down to block a shot, or pin the forward onto the boards and have a teammate come and dig out the loose puck. You’ll also tend to see some defenseman come and pinch in the offensive zone, but only if the opportunity to set up a play is there. Goalies can still be difficult to score on, but like I stated previously, you can score on them with ease on realistic situations such as two-on-ones, breakaways, rebounds, and deflections.
This year’s version also includes online gameplay VIA Xbox Live, and Sega has clearly worked out the many glitches and gameplay issues in ESPN NHL Hockey. Gone are the gamers who have a 34,299 – 0 record, which really made a mess of the leaderboards. Also, sudden disconnections during a game are history, and the server is much more agile and quick.
Graphics
There isn’t any other game that can even come close to ESPN NHL Hockey in the visuals department. Visual Concepts and Kush Games have done a fantastic job with the lush player models, crisp arenas, and superb animations and framerate. The ice is simply wonderful. At the beginning of periods, the ice is fresh, clear, and you can easily see the reflections of the arena on it. As the period moves along, the ice becomes worn and skate marks are everywhere. The arenas are all authentic, and each one has their own unique feature that makes them look exactly like their real-life counterpart. The animations have been far improved, with new deke, check, and scoring animations. The cut scenes are beautiful, and the ESPN integration into the game is fantastic.
Sound
The decision to have Gary Thorne and Bill Clement as the commentators for ESPN NHL Hockey is probably one of the smartest moves in this year’s title. The duo bring forth some of the best NHL commentary heard in years. The depth in their play by play is surreal, and they’ve got plenty of enthusiasm to liven up the game. The crowds are excellent, filling games with team and player chants, as well as booing the opposition and cheering for the home team. One of the disappointments is that Dolby Digital did not make it into ESPN NHL Hockey, which is a shame because the game would have unreal if they’re were capabilities.
Overall
It’s very rare for a game this complete to ever be released onto the market. The amount of work and effort that has been put into ESPN NHL Hockey has resulted in a game that’s too difficult to put down and not play. The amount of new features added in this year; such as the skills competition, improve online gameplay, new graphics engine, and level of gameplay is simply amazing. There are very few parts of the game that have caused any gripe, but the franchise mode still needs some more work and more depth. Nevertheless, it would be a wise choice to pick up one of the best Hockey titles ever created.
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| Rating |
| Gameplay: | 9 |
| Graphics: | 10 |
| Sound: | 9 |
| Value: | 10 |
| Tilt: | 9 |
| Overall: 9.4 |
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