NHL 2005

NHL 2005 comes up a couple goals short of hockey greatness.

Fortunately for puck fans, "It's in the game" doesn't whole-heartedly apply to EA Sports' latest hockey offering--otherwise, the box would be empty thanks to the lockout. Unfortunately, NHL 2005 still falls short of being the complete game we've been waiting for because it relishes more in vicious hits and arcade-style action than being a true simulation of the sport.

Puttin' On the Foil

NHL 2005 contains a solid feature set of expected options, including a World Cup of Hockey mode and its Free4All party game. The graphics are also some of the finest around: the top stars and animations are strikingly life-like and the frame rate pumps at a blazingly smooth clip. When comparing the Xbox and PS2 versions, both are virtually identical in every way.

However, being beautiful doesn't always mean being better--for all of NHL 2005's slick polish, it's the gameplay that needs a little more work. For starters, controlling the players is sometimes an exercise in frustration--like recent EA Sports' hockey offerings, skaters will shoot forward past the puck at inopportune moments, and there are those awkward moments after taking control of a player that they seem to have a mind of their own and remove themselves from the play altogether. There is also the little matter of line changes: for some reason, EA Sports has yet to incorporate separate offensive and defensive alignments, which is simply unacceptable.

Conversely, the new Open Ice Control, which, by hitting a button, enables players to create space on the ice and switch between players with or without the puck to set up plays, or call for a defensive double team, is actually a pretty decent. However, it will take practice to master as it's incredibly easy to lose track of where the skaters are, which leads to a lot of miscues

It's Off the Post!

When the final horn sounds, NHL 2005 comes up like the Calgary Flames--a very close second as ESPN NHL 2K5 is the better game because of its overall complete package. However, like the San Jose Sharks, EA Sports' hockey franchise is definitely poised to take home the virtual Cup, provided it steps it up next year by adding the finishing touches to an already solid effort.

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