Little Innovation without ESPN

Author's Rating:

Pros: Improved Graphics, A Wide Range of Modes

Cons: Few new modes, Not really much different from 2K5...except for longer loading times

The Bottom Line: 
I highly dislike the new announcers.

Author's Review
I love hockey video games, so ESPN NHL 2K5 quickly became a favorite for me. It brought some innovation, game modes, and fast, fluid gameplay. I learned this year that ESPN was dropping its name off all of 2K sport's games, but I purchased this game regardless and had high expectations for it. Maybe my expectations were too high, because this game was a letdown for me.

I guess ESPN decided to take its name off of 2K sports products because it was expensive and EA Sports acquired the exclusive license for NFL football, the best selling series of sports games. The game suffers a little bit without the goods that ESPN could bring to the table. The game reflects the new rule changes in the NHL, but really isn't much of a factor in the game. For example, there are an added two lines behind the goal where the goalie cannot play the puck, but I have never encountered a goalie playing the puck outside the crease. Also is the banishment of a stop in play for two line passing.

Why Buy it?
Because its $20.

Game Modes

The games modes are also the same as they are in ESPN NHL 2K5. There is your basic franchise mode, with the only really new feature being able to practice your team in between games. There is also season and playoff modes that simplify the franchise process into one year. The franchise is certainly the main mode of the game. You control a hockey club for as many years as you would like, making all of the player moves along the war. Also a new aspect is chemistry, increased by practicing and grouping the right players together on a line.

To distract you from the main modes there are several different side games to distract you. There is tournament which is fun for playing an international, Olympic-style tournament. An interesting mode is Dream Team, in which you play against a series of teams trying to reach the top of the ladder. For multiplayer entertainment Party Mode is excellent. There are a variety of different drills having to do with skating, stickhandling, and the like competing for the most points. One of my favorite mini games is Mini-Rink, where you compete 2 on 2 on a smaller playing surface.

Gameplay

Hockey is a sport that sets up very nicely for a video game because it is fast-paced and has few play stopages. NHL 2K6 has a good frame rate (unless online) that keeps the game running smoothly. Two of the new features are Pro Control and Enforcers/Intimidation. Pro Control is almost useless because the controls are really complicated and directing your players on the ice with the set formations is time consuming and worthless. Also new is some players with the ability to body check better have a large circle with an "E" in it. The refs allow those players to get away with a little bit more without calling a penalty. A player with a blue circle and an "I" under them is scared of the other teams enforcer, and constantly checking that player will cause his stats to drop.

Sound

The sound quality of the game is excellent, but sometimes I really don't want to hear these sounds. Because the game no longer has the ESPN label the ESPN hockey announcers can no longer provide the audio for this game. The new two announcers are a large step down from the professional Gary Thorne and Bill Clement. What really annoyed me about the new announcers is that some of the lines said by Thorne and Clement are recycled or altered in ways that make the sayings sound ridiculous.

As for in the game, the sound is exceptional. The crowd noises such as straight up cheering or chants are solid sounding. Player sounds such as pucks transferring from blade to blade or the scrape of the ice when a player has to switch directions or stop quickly are very realistic. The soundtrack is very similar to last year's soundtrack, as it features relatively unknown bands that mostly fall under the category of alternative rock. In a terrible move 2K Sports removed the songs from the loading screens and replaced them with "authentic" crowd clapping patterns that sound like about four people were involved in the recording.

Graphics

The graphics in ESPN NHL 2K5 were fairly good but certainly were good enough not to take away from the game. The amount of stadium detail has increased, I mainly noticed that the lighting is better in this years stadiums. The player detail has also increased with the player's faces looking a little less scary than last year. I also like the bonus stadiums (despite the fact that they were exactly the same as last year) because they are great looking and add an element of fun to the game.

Online Play

Online Play is one of the few reasons I can think of for someone whom owns 2K5 to buy this years game. There is never anybody online in 2K5, so this will have to satisfy your need to play against another person. You can play a standard game, skills competition, party mode game, or mini-rank game against others. There is also a feedback system where you rate your opponent after you are done playing them.

Final Thoughts

NHL 2K6 is by no means a bad game, but it is just simply too similar to 2K5 for it to be worth a purchase by owners of the 2K5 edition. 2K Sports was improved the graphics and added some new aspects but the new stuff is not essential to gameplay. This game is only $20, so you really can't go wrong in purchasing this one.