I don’t like sports games. I don’t like sports. Or reviewing sports games for that matter.
Well, as far as sports and the games go, there are two exceptions to each. Boxing and Fight Night Round 3 hit the spot for me. And so do hockey and NHL 08.
It’s hard to put too much description into a sports game review, admittedly. It’s hockey. It’s really good hockey, with a lot of options.
I’m going to assume you know how to play hockey. If you don’t, you’ll learn, because I’m not going to take the time to explain that the game is basically two teams trying to slap and object with sticks into a net. Okay, I just did. Done. Onward with the worst review ever.
NHL 08 handles mostly on the analog sticks. Left stick covers the body, and the stick handling is on the right. The system responds well to pressure, with a full 360 degrees of movement and varying intensities to boot. Light pressure results in slow movement, or a stick moved ever so slightly in the direction pressed. This means players can make gentle movements and truly maneuver across the ice, deftly weaving between defenders, and puck handling is tremendously improved, especially in regards to dekes. Subtle movement now is given its proper place on the ice, and it’s wonderful.
The rest of the game is on triggers. Passes, fancy maneuvers, poke checks, and changing the controlled player, all of those are on the back. Nothing essential to gameplay(just helpful) is on the face buttons, or d-pad. For those who want to get deeper, the d-pad allows manual line changes , and the face buttons change the offensive/defensive strategy, or hook/tie-up players, or slash/start fights. Seeing as those buttons are more likely than not resulting in a visit to the penalty box, they’re not used often, and the placement is just fine. Out of the way enough to not get hit accidentally, close enough to smack someone in the face with a stick when it’s deserved. Or not. Whenever you feel like it, really.
The on-ice gameplay is excellent. It’s not perfect hockey, obviously, little details aren’t present yet, but it’s by far the most authentic experience that won’t require you putting on skates and colliding with people. The players all are modelled very well and are extremely recognizable, particularly for some of the…less charismatic skaters. Hockey isn’t a game for the beautiful. The AI does a spectacular job learning what you do in a game, where you tend to skate, how you pass, where you shoot from, and will counter. NHL 08 really raises the bar on sports AI, and adaptability is key.
Between the ice, you can do fuck all and opt to just play quick matches, or something that matters, mostly in career or creation mode. Creation mode gives infinite points and leeway to create a customized player(stats, equipment, everything but looks really), or create a custom team by setting colors on several models of RBK Edge gear(the official new uniform system for the NHL) , then drafting players to the team within the salary cap. The team can be played in career mode(though another team must be dropped), or quick offline games.
The meat of the game is, of course, said career mode, which lasts for a decade. In that time you’ll (hopefully) win all sorts of trophies, create some great players, win a few stanley cups, and generally beat some asses. Trading players, managing lines and rosters, and editing plays for custom teams is the summary of what players will do when not on the ice, and doing it properly will make or break a season. Beyond that, setting training regimens, managing the budget, and just keeping the team happy will be the focus off-ice, to improve performance on-ice and win more games.
The online gameplay matches that of the offline, with updated rosters to match current trades, and player leagues, but it never surpasses offline gameplay, at least one on one. Online co-op, however, is great, though it should be known I have a soft spot for co-op in general.
The game is simply good. Good graphics, great audio presentation, from the yells on ice to the commentary, meaty thuds and smacked pucks, with a few yelps and grunts in between. The motion is fluid to match, and it all flows extremely well.
There is, unfortunately, one huge annoyance. EA Trax. Hockey games, sports in general, should not be filled with emo or indie rock. Hip-hop, hard rock, punk rock, those all work for sports, but not emo or indie. Luckily, one can turn the music off, or play his/her own.
That aside, the rest of the game is strong. Graphics can be better, but they’re pretty good, the audio is great, and the game is really, really fun, even if not the deepest thing in the world. It’s a major evolution in terms of hockey games, even from last year’s very impressive NHL 08, and it’s been very much needed in a genre sorely lacking.
NHL 08 gets 4 out of 5 canes. It doesn’t excel in every area, but it’s all good, and the on-ice action is amazing. Turn off the EA Trax, turn up the DethAlbum, and show someone the glass, up close and personal.
