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Now its an exciting week coming up for all NHL enthusiasts as we have our annual 2 games released this week. The States get theirs tomorrow (officially) whilst our side of the pond we wait to that glorious Friday.
OK, so what are these 2 games - well firstly and probably more well known in the UK is EA Sports NHL Series, this year creatively called NHL 10.
Now NHL 10 is building on a 2 year period of soild games, 08 put the series back on track whilst 09 scooped up a ton of awards, introduced the popular EASHL (online 5v5 league) and improved its on ice gameplay.
This years version promises more of the same with a few tweaks, notably board play and improving the AI. Off the ice there is the new Be A GM mode which gives the franchise aspect of the game a new feel and with BAP getting further touch ups, could this series fail to deliver?
Well, the recently released demo was good, but lets be honest it was 09 with a a bit of polish. OK for a multi award winning game than can be seen as good enough, but if you played 09 (offline) for the past year the chances are 10 will not satisfy you. Online, well thats a different kettle of fish and imo probably EAs saving grace as the EASHL is a hugely popular option.
Link here for more details: http://nhl.easports.com/home.action
Without going too indepth on the EA series as everyone can make their own mind up, I would like to throw in a spanner in the works. 2K.
2K8/2K9 you will say (maybe), I agree both poor representations for a series that had held EAs by the throat for the best part of this decade. Now with 2K9 possibly the worst of the lot, a 5 month development cycle, the developers deciding not to patch the game... the fanbase took a hit in a bad way, so 2K10 has to be their comeback game.
Unfortunately due to financial constraints we didnt get a demo... but with the recent community event in San Jose and the release of various videos, 2K are back in the game and have... HAVE to be considered as the game to get if you are a serious NHL fan and interested in getting 'sim-hockey' out of your video games.
The game will have its problems, the game will require slider adjustments, but the fundamentals are already there in the game and that is where 2K will surprise many. The offline franchise has the potential to be the most organic experience yet.
Online modes are there, Online CO-OP franchises (invite anyone in to play any game in your franchise at any time), Online Franchises, 5v5 games... its all there... bar a BAP style online option.
Link here: http://2ksports.com/games/nhl2k10
I hope whatever game you pickup you will enjoy as for once, a sport has 2 developers genuinely exicted to bring out solid, quality titles.... each with its own positives and negatives. But if I could ask those out there to ignore the reviews and trust the sim gamers on sites such as Operation Sports, as you will then be able to buy the game that best suits your needs.
Ive waffled and I know most NHL fans will have heard of both series, but for those that havent (and rightly so as EAs series has been the flag bearer for 2 years) just keep an eye out on 2K10, you have 3/4 days to catch up on user opinions and at the end of it, will have 2 great games to choose from (maybe you can get both!).
OK, so what are these 2 games - well firstly and probably more well known in the UK is EA Sports NHL Series, this year creatively called NHL 10.
Now NHL 10 is building on a 2 year period of soild games, 08 put the series back on track whilst 09 scooped up a ton of awards, introduced the popular EASHL (online 5v5 league) and improved its on ice gameplay.
This years version promises more of the same with a few tweaks, notably board play and improving the AI. Off the ice there is the new Be A GM mode which gives the franchise aspect of the game a new feel and with BAP getting further touch ups, could this series fail to deliver?
Well, the recently released demo was good, but lets be honest it was 09 with a a bit of polish. OK for a multi award winning game than can be seen as good enough, but if you played 09 (offline) for the past year the chances are 10 will not satisfy you. Online, well thats a different kettle of fish and imo probably EAs saving grace as the EASHL is a hugely popular option.
Link here for more details: http://nhl.easports.com/home.action
Without going too indepth on the EA series as everyone can make their own mind up, I would like to throw in a spanner in the works. 2K.
2K8/2K9 you will say (maybe), I agree both poor representations for a series that had held EAs by the throat for the best part of this decade. Now with 2K9 possibly the worst of the lot, a 5 month development cycle, the developers deciding not to patch the game... the fanbase took a hit in a bad way, so 2K10 has to be their comeback game.
Unfortunately due to financial constraints we didnt get a demo... but with the recent community event in San Jose and the release of various videos, 2K are back in the game and have... HAVE to be considered as the game to get if you are a serious NHL fan and interested in getting 'sim-hockey' out of your video games.
The game will have its problems, the game will require slider adjustments, but the fundamentals are already there in the game and that is where 2K will surprise many. The offline franchise has the potential to be the most organic experience yet.
Online modes are there, Online CO-OP franchises (invite anyone in to play any game in your franchise at any time), Online Franchises, 5v5 games... its all there... bar a BAP style online option.
Link here: http://2ksports.com/games/nhl2k10
I hope whatever game you pickup you will enjoy as for once, a sport has 2 developers genuinely exicted to bring out solid, quality titles.... each with its own positives and negatives. But if I could ask those out there to ignore the reviews and trust the sim gamers on sites such as Operation Sports, as you will then be able to buy the game that best suits your needs.
Ive waffled and I know most NHL fans will have heard of both series, but for those that havent (and rightly so as EAs series has been the flag bearer for 2 years) just keep an eye out on 2K10, you have 3/4 days to catch up on user opinions and at the end of it, will have 2 great games to choose from (maybe you can get both!).
