Posted: September 29 2005 at 5:23pm | IP Logged

PSXExtreme has just posted a pretty good review of NHL 06 (PS2):

One of the biggest critiques of sports games is that they are nothing more than roster updates from year to year, so with no real stats to update due to last year’s lockout, the 2006 class of hocky games would be pointless, right? Well, not exactly. NHL 06 is much-improved over last year’s version (that one was pointless), and while it isn’t a return to the dominance that EA enjoyed in the 90’s, it’s a solid game that hockey-starved fans will enjoy.

NHL 06’s controls are simple and easy to pick up, though they would be easier to learn if somewhere in the paltry 6.5 page instruction manual (it’s actually 9 pages, but 2.5 are legal disclaimers), if things like “bruise control” were actually explained. At the touch of a button you can sprint, shoot, deke, pass, and on the defensive side, you can poke check, check, and sprint. In a nod to the series’ glory years, you can once again perform dekes by moving the left analog stick left or right. If you spent any time with the oldschool versions of NHL, it won’t take long before your deking skills come back. It’s now possible to aim your shots via a target that appears in the goal when you’re getting ready to shoot. It takes some practice to get down, but when you do, it will be a valuable weapon in your scoring arsenal. If you fear change, this option can be turned off.

Full Review