Does anyone know if right-analog shooting is available in the current-gen version? All I've been able to find out is that passing is mapped to the right-analog stick.

 

I have no problem with the new passing scheme, I just wish I knew for sure if shooting was also done with the right-analog stick (like it is on the Xbox360).

 

I've checked out the gameplay instructions from Gamefly.com and it has the right-analog stick used for Skill Stick/Passing and R1 listed for slapshot and R2 listed for wrist shot. So my question is, what exactly is the function of the 'Skill Stick'? Is it just the ability to deke and move your player's stick? If so, how do you do that without passing the puck since they're both mapped to the right-analog stick? Why can't one f**king reviewer actually mention this in their review?

 

My wife came home with my copy of NHL 07 ($20 @ Target) and after playing two games so far, I'm happy with the purchase.

 

First things first, you can completely customize the controls to your liking . This was my biggest worry with NHL 07 and it turned out to be a non-issue. The only controller settings you can't change are the left and right analog sticks, and the directional pad.

 

I'm glad to see last year's 'Skill Stick' (aka canned dekes and shots) has transformed into analog passing (although it's still called the skill stick?!?) on offense and poke checking on defense (instead of Bruise Control from past versions). Both changes are welcomed additions in my book.

 

You can also use a button for passing, in addition to the analog stick, and use both during a game. This is a nice option for people that prefer the old method of passing. I found myself alternating between the two because of my instinct to press a button to pass, but I plan on making the right-analog stick passing my preferred choice.

 

I was somewhat surprised to see that the speed burst button was still available. I thought it was removed from this year's game, but must have gotten the PS2 reviews confused with the Xbox360 reviews. It wasn't listed on http://www.gamefly.com/products/detail.asp?pid=122555&tab=5 - Gamefly's NHL 07 instructions  either, but I can assure you that it's present. Manual deking is still available on the left-analog stick too.

 

I haven't played enough to give a detailed review of the gameplay, but what I can say is that the two games I did play were a lot of fun - I may lower the game speed a little though.

 

The graphics are well done and have been improved quite a bit since NHL 2004, although they're not much (if any) different than NHL 06. I didn't notice a widescreen option in the game, but I think it may check the PS2's widescreen setting and display the game accordingly because it didn't look stretched on my widescreen tv.

 

I hope the game holds up well because I skipped the new hockey games last year and played an old copy of NHL Hitz Pro only, which I have Ted to thank for.

Although the shot mechanics aren't mapped to the right stick you can still shoot with it,especially in close.

 

Here's one link: http://dubiousquality.blogspot.com/2006/09/nhl-07-360-some-additional-notes.html - http://dubiousquality.blogspot.com/2006/09/nhl-07-360-some-additional-notes.html

 

I so tired of hearing about all of the "tests" that people run on these games. Just play the damn game. It's fine if you don't like the game, but don't judge the game solely on the "tests" performed on it.

 

Don't even get me started with sliders...

 

 I'll second that!

 

 

I admit that I do my fair share of complaining about games, but the reasons are usually due to gameplay mechanics/control issues or graphics/camera issues, two issues that I feel strongly affect the fun factor of a game.

 

Okay, I'll be the rain on the FUN parade. :)

 

I *hate* this argument, at least when it is worded like that (as it commonly is).  It compares apples to oranges, and ends to means. In most cases, these 'gurus' are not saying, "Whee, look at all the FUN I'm having, but I have to ignore that because of the poor offensive zone positioning!"  People have fun in different ways, and some people don't have fun if the game isn't as sim as they want, or as 'deep' as they want, or even if they players don't have the right color shade of shoelaces.  As far as enjoying games goes, I think it's poor form to tell people that their way of having fun is the 'bad' or 'wrong' way of having fun.  (Although I struggle with this myself with the shoelace people. ;) )  To restate, I don't think people are ignoring or overlooking fun...they just aren't having any.

 

People who get defensive about the 'sim-ers' also tend to make the weird internal assumption that when someone like Bill Harris says "The game does not do this." he also means "therefore YOU cannot have fun with it."  Bill in particular goes out of his way to say that he *doesn't* mean that.  I think when we are talking about online forums, blogs, whathave you, being able to state 'why' the game is or isn't fun is of much more use to the readers than simply saying 'it's fun,' because -again- people have fun in different ways.  If someone goes into detail more about why they may or may not enjoy the game, you as the reader have a better chance of deciding whether or not the game is for you.

 

Of course, if you know you don't have the same viewpoints, you do what Ted does, and stop reading Bill's blog.  Or in my case, only 'skim' the OS threads. (Lotta shoelacers over there! :))  Or continue to read both but with the awareness that you and the site/blogger/poster/etc have different sources of 'fun.'

 

Okay, rant over.  Sorry!  (Where'd that come from??  Actually, I know...from my old High Heat days!)  Regarding the hockey games, I like them both (360), but I'm giving EA the edge, despite 2k perhaps being the 'gurus' choice.' ;)  Mostly, it's because I think it nails the most central act of hockey, a shooter putting the puck on net in an attempt to score, better than any other game out there, and that is a heavy, central measure of how I weigh the fun I get out of hockey video games.

 

In short, I don't like the 'but it's fun' argument because it usually assumes:

 

I see your point, but my biggest complaint is that these guys go out of their way to find flaws in the game and try to do things that wouldn't normally be done during regular gameplay. I also think they take this hobby, and their opinions, a little too seriously, but that's another discussion.

 

I see your first point the exact same way you do.  If a flaw is a flaw only if it applies towards 'irregular' gaming ('irregular' as I play, anyway) then it's not a flaw that will bother me.  I personally don't go searching out flaws from the minute I pop in a new game, but I 'will' investigate further if I think I notice something odd in 'regular' gameplay...but in some ways I think that is common sense in sports games where you are trying to 'beat' the AI in at least some respects.  For example, if you noticed in a baseball game that the CPU was whiffing on a lot of curve balls, you'd then start throwing them curve balls when you really want a strike.  Then, since you are attuned to that, maybe you try an at-bat where you throw three curve balls.  You strike out the batter, and so you try it again...another strikeout.  You found a flaw in the game!  Are you bad because you went looking for it?  I think -again, in a genre that demands you look for ways to 'beat' the AI- that sometimes 'testing' for these flaws comes naturally.

 

As far as people taking their opinions or hobby too seriously, well, that's judged on a sliding scale too.  Some people might argue that anyone who spends the time to post on a gaming board takes either or both too seriously. 

 

Then there are those die-hard whack-jobs that actually RUN a sports videogame website!

 

I love all my video-gaming buddies!  From the ones that compile spreadsheets of shot totals to the ones that shun critics and next gen systems! You're all my pals!

 

That line made me laugh out loud.

 

I agree with your post. I have no problem with someone finding a flaw during "regular" gameply. Like you, I'll check out issues that arise during regular gameplay (the "lefty" glitch in MVP 04 comes to mind). I just don't understand the reasoning behind "testing" a game the second you buy it.

 

Your friend,

 

The next-gen system and critic shunner .

No worries, I have no plans on importing any guru-critic sensibilities here. ;) 

 

 

I haven't enjoyed and played a hockey game this much since NHL 98 on the PS1.

 

I think the biggest innovation in this years game is the right-analog stick poke check on defense. It so intuitive and has raised my defensive game tremendously (just ask Ted ). I've always relied on body checks as my main defensive strategy in every other hockey game I've played and the right-analog stick poke check has added a completely new dimension to this series for me.

 

BTW, right-analog stick passing is a close second. I'm exclusively a right-analog stick checker now (that sounds kinda gay - not that there's anything wrong with that ).