Gretzky NHL 2005

Not even the Great One can help bring the Cup home to 989 Sports' latest hockey offering.

With the ongoing labor dispute, 989 Sports is looking to the Great One to help fans forget their woes. Unfortunately, for all the good things the game brings to the rink, Gretzky NHL 2005 just isn't as refined as ESPN NHL 2K5 or NHL 2005.

Slushy Ice

Like the two front-runners, Gretzky 2005 contains a respectable list of options and features that most fans expect, including online play and a cool Rivalry mode. Best of all, Wayne himself is an unlockable player. Yet not even the healthy features set and Gretzky's own star power can help bring home this year's virtual Cup.

Right from the faceoff circle, Gretzky 2005 suffers from rather stiff-looking animations and bland player models, which is unfortunate considering that the overall graphical polish compares favorably with the competition. Furthermore, the game's AI isn't up to snuff as players frequently wander out of position and goalies often let the puck sit inside the crease without covering it up--and when that happens, it usually results in a goal.

Equally as disappointing, the control just isn't as responsive as it needs to be for such a fast-paced sport, and because of this, unwanted miscues frequently occur. These problems are compounded by the game's overall lack of control depth, which just can't compare with ESPN or EA Sports. There's also the matter of the game's targeting and power-meter shot system, which just weren't good ideas at all--the visual bulls-eye isn't that helpful and charging up for an effective slap shot just takes too long.

Exposed Five-Hole

When the final horn sounds, Gretzky NHL 2005 comes up as this year's third star--too bad it's a three-puck race. While it does offer some solid features, including the fact it's the only hockey title with Wayne as a playable skater, the overall gameplay just can't compete with the other two titles, due to Gretzky's stiff-looking animations, limited control options, and suspect AI.

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