Ok guys/gals... I'm gonna (try at least) to review NHL 2007.
First thing I wanted to say, was that I was completely blown away by the graphics/detail. I was playing on a 46" HD LCDTV, so that helped out a bit, but my goodness, graphics were very clean, and very crisp.
One of the coolest parts about the graphics, is the ice. When you first get out onto the ice, you can see reflections from the players, and it looks incredible. But the cool part is the fact that the ice will slowly deteriorate and get chewn up as the game progresses. Also, great detail has gone into the fans in this game, something that has somewhat been lacking in the past games.
Onto gameplay now, the gameplay I will have to admit is pure genious. It is very influential, and I believe will set the standard for the hockey games from now on. Pass/Shoot/Hit are not all one button anymore, so this game adds a bit of skill into the mix. What they have done, is made the right joystick responsible for all of that. You can now freely stickhandle, shoot wherever you want, and pass wherever you want (or where you don't want just incase you aren't careful [this is the part of skill that I'm talking about]).
Puck physics have also been introduced as well. I was in amazement when the puck will behave like it should. No longer do you shoot it in the general direction of the goalie, and concede to a dead play, but now the puck will bounce off the areas of the goalie accordinly, so if hes not in position, the goal could trickle through.
For some reason, I seemed to have an endless amount of fun with the Shootout mode. Like I stated earlier, you have free control of the player, so you make up your own moves, its no more of just pushing the 'deke' button, and hoping for a miracle. It takes skill now to pull the goalie out of position, and to bury that puck.
If I have to say there were any bad points to the game, this would be the needless in-game advertising. It becomes incredibley annoying after a while. Even some of the options are branded with corporate logos, such as the "Dodge Shootout"
Overall however, I would give this game a 10/10 for anyone who has played any hockey games previously, maybe not as high for anyone who hasn't, because of the new way to control everything, and the range of freedom you are given, but after only a couple games you will get the hang of it and be loving every minute of it.
My suggestion: 'Pick this game up!'
First thing I wanted to say, was that I was completely blown away by the graphics/detail. I was playing on a 46" HD LCDTV, so that helped out a bit, but my goodness, graphics were very clean, and very crisp.
One of the coolest parts about the graphics, is the ice. When you first get out onto the ice, you can see reflections from the players, and it looks incredible. But the cool part is the fact that the ice will slowly deteriorate and get chewn up as the game progresses. Also, great detail has gone into the fans in this game, something that has somewhat been lacking in the past games.
Onto gameplay now, the gameplay I will have to admit is pure genious. It is very influential, and I believe will set the standard for the hockey games from now on. Pass/Shoot/Hit are not all one button anymore, so this game adds a bit of skill into the mix. What they have done, is made the right joystick responsible for all of that. You can now freely stickhandle, shoot wherever you want, and pass wherever you want (or where you don't want just incase you aren't careful [this is the part of skill that I'm talking about]).
Puck physics have also been introduced as well. I was in amazement when the puck will behave like it should. No longer do you shoot it in the general direction of the goalie, and concede to a dead play, but now the puck will bounce off the areas of the goalie accordinly, so if hes not in position, the goal could trickle through.
For some reason, I seemed to have an endless amount of fun with the Shootout mode. Like I stated earlier, you have free control of the player, so you make up your own moves, its no more of just pushing the 'deke' button, and hoping for a miracle. It takes skill now to pull the goalie out of position, and to bury that puck.
If I have to say there were any bad points to the game, this would be the needless in-game advertising. It becomes incredibley annoying after a while. Even some of the options are branded with corporate logos, such as the "Dodge Shootout"
Overall however, I would give this game a 10/10 for anyone who has played any hockey games previously, maybe not as high for anyone who hasn't, because of the new way to control everything, and the range of freedom you are given, but after only a couple games you will get the hang of it and be loving every minute of it.
My suggestion: 'Pick this game up!'
