NHL 2K8 (XBOX 360)

The NHL is back for another year on the XBOX 360 and 2K sports have created a fine, although somewhat different, edition for 2008.

2KSports have been making fantastic sports sims since 1999, with their hockey games in particular receiving acclaim. However 2K8 has arrived to mixed reviews; with some reviewers calling it a step forward and others thinking it’s headed in the wrong direction.

So what has brought about these mixed reviews? It’s the new control system known as Prostick. Prostick control means that you now control your player using both analogue thumbsticks: the left for positional movement, and the right to control the stick/puck.

This has caused players to totally re-learn the game. In previous years you could just mash your buttons and play like a bully to check players out of your way and fire off rapid-fire shots at random. Now you have to add finesse – screaming down the ice deeking from left to right, perplexing your opposition. It’s very hard to learn, but once you have the hang of it you will be rewarded with a more realistic and skilful hockey experience.

At first I hated these new controls. I had gone from (what I considered to be) a pretty good player back to a beginner struggling to keep balance on the local skating rink. But after about five or six games I really started to get the hang of it, and really would not want to go back to the old style of play.

Graphically the game is disappointing. Not because it doesn’t look good – it is in fact spectacular. However it seems as if there is almost no improvement from 2K7. It seems as though it’s the same skin wrapped over a new beast.
When you are shelling out your hard earned cash for a game, you expect to see noticeable improvements visually from the year before.

The Franchise mode is back and very deep. I really did not have time to explore the depths of it with the likes of trades, dealing with owners and signing free agents. But there is more than enough to keep anyone who is looking for the full on managerial experience busy for months. You will find yourself having to do things like managing players’ ice time to ensure their moral does not drop, and also training up your players to improve their skill levels over the season. It is possible to take a struggling free agent, work him in the gym and turn him into a superstar.

Sound is stunning, although again seems to be much the same as last year. However we have a new and improved in-game soundtrack, that features the like of Bloc Party, Korn and even Quiet Riot. For ITMers there is no dance music, but you can always listen to your own music through the Xbox 360 music player.

So is NHL2K8 worth the investment? It’s hard to say. The new control system has overhauled the game, but it’s just not overhauled in other areas.

If you’re a hockey fan and play online, then you probably already have the game. If you’re just an average gamer then you will have fun here. However, those with 2k7 may as well stick with that for another year.

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