NHL 08: EA’s Year to Shine – Xbox 360 Review

Hockey is a great sport. I enjoyed playing it and I enjoy watching it as well. While nothing can replace the feeling of being on the ice, I always can play my favorite Hockey game to get my fix. The problem over the last few years was deciding which game out there was the best one. Not everyone wants to buy two separate games and for the most part EA’s competitor has had the edge. Last year NHL 07 showed some great improvements and it looked like with a few changes this year it would be a contender and one to get for all fans.

I know it seems unfair to base a sports game on the competition but with the cost of games at $60.00 a pop, you need something to judge a game by. Hockey fans know what they want and don’t want in a game. Read the full review of NHL 08 and you may be surprised to see what I have to say.

Gameplay

Last year the NHL series changed things with the introduction of the skill stick. I know EA has done a lot with the analog sticks in various games, so this could easily be seen as yet another change or gimmick. I can honestly say this change was a smart move since the sport of hockey is all about using the upper part of the body to angle a shot and the slower part of the body to adjust your skates and balance. It makes the game a lot more realistic. Overall the game is more balanced this year. Last year’s attempt seemed more like a trial or test.

For the most part, while the game’s basic offline modes have not changed, the pace of the game has changed. The last few years the NHL series seemed like a run and gun style of play and this just got old. They removed the speed burst and while the game is slower, it seems more realistic and does not hurt the overall excitement of the game. More custom features have been added this year. You can create a goalie, add a regular player and then add them to any team roster. You can also create the ultimate fantasy team by picking the best players from all the leagues. They even included the minor league teams. This year EA really piled up the options for the hockey fan.

You can play as a new minor league team. It will allow you to pick the town, state, name as well as the logo. You’ll see and hear the announcer introduce the team and this is one of the neatest features. Also new this year is the option to play as the goalie. You’ll see the whole game from the goalie’s view. I have to say EA really impressed me by this mode. The new goalie mode is one of the freshest ideas to come to the series in years. I spent a great deal of time behind the mask myself and this mode captures the look and feel perfectly.

NHL 08 offers the creation of your own plays and each mode seems to benefit from the changes. If there is one thing still left to tweak, it would be the defensive plays and the ability to call them on the fly. One thing is certain and that is EA came out this year with a mission to reclaim the fame the series had in the past and the single-player modes are as solid as they come!

Control

The Skill Stick is a nice touch but will take time to master and get used to. You can use the classic controls, but I would strongly recommend learning the new controls and use them whenever you can. There are plenty of chances to practice before going into a season, dynasty or online. You may want to take time in shoot-out mode. Here is where you’ll learn to use the stick to control the puck and adjust your skates while learning the new controls. I would say the time to learn the basic controls will take about 20-40 minutes.

It may take longer for first time players of the series but once learned the controls are great. I even went for the speed burst at times so practice is the key. Learning to play the new goalie mode is a challenge, but it really captures the feeling. The goalie controls were adjusted which was definitely needed. Overall the controls are set-up great and fit the Xbox 360 controller perfectly.

Xbox Live

Playing against the AI is fun, but hockey fans want a chance to play against real players. The online mode initially had some issues this year but has been fixed. The lobbies really haven’t changed that much. Gamers can play against a friend or in a ranked game and even create or join a league. It looks like EA has more plans for the online modes and this year they are testing the waters so to speak.

Overall, finding a game is as easy as it was last year. They also have the ESPN live updates when you log into the servers. The updates help you get in the mood to play a game of hockey. Just like last year and the other EA Sports games, you can choose and pick what sports you’ll hear updates about. For the most part, the online mode is solid and the addition of league play is great. I didn’t have issues with lag, but early there were issues with connecting with players. I still think this year they wanted to test out a few things much like last year’s single-player modes.

Graphics

While the game has always looked good, it never had graphics that made me say wow until this year. The details added to the players and the uniforms are great. There are also more animations and the fighting sequences now look realistic. EA almost nailed everything.

The ice looks great the crowd looks and reacts in a realistic way. It really is a solid game graphically and shows that they wanted to go all out this year. The only thing they need to work on yet is the opening of each game to make it a little more stunning but they really impressed me this year.

Audio

From the commentary to the sounds on the ice, EA again went all out and made the game sound realistic. From glass breaking to the sounds of a body hitting the boards, all sound perfect. I even thought they added more to the commentary in the way of the script and it didn’t work on my nerves like in past efforts. Solid and great sound effects just add to the realistic feeling of the overall title.

Replay Value

With a solid season, dynasty and online modes, there is a ton of replay value added this year. Throw in the AHL teams and the practice drills and you have a great hockey game that has something to offer any gamers skill level. I don’t think I can remember any NHL game that offers more than this year’s version.

Bottom Line

Overall Score: 8.8/10.0

Additional Comments

NHL 08 sets some new standards in the EA franchise and it’s about time. I think they made the right changes. It may take some time to learn the new controls and the pace takes a little time to get used to but it now plays like a real game of hockey. Hockey fans have been waiting for this and now it’s here. While the series still has a few things that need tweaked and polished, it really is a solid and complete game. Something I couldn’t say about the last few attempts. I can also say that the other guys need to start looking over their shoulders, because EA has managed to turn the series into a top-rated contender and may be the new star attraction. It’s refreshing to see when a long time series makes so many changes and they work to make it better for all the gamers out there.

Links

• NHL 08 Official Website

Filed under: Reviews • Xbox 360

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