Review

NHL 2K6

By Cheat Monkey
December 21, 2005 13:05 PM PST
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NHL 2K6 is the first hockey game for the Xbox 360, but you don't get much for the $60 asking price.

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With the release of the Xbox 360, hardcore hockey fans don't have to go a moment without the coolest game on ice thanks to NHL 2K6. However, while this latest incarnation offers sharper-looking rinks and ice; a livelier, more interactive crowd; and stellar sim-style gameplay, there isn't a whole lot that separates it from the PS2 and Xbox versions.

Takin' 'Em Top-Shelf
Right from the face-off circle it's readily apparent that NHL 2K6 for Microsoft's latest hardware juggernaut is one smooth customer, with most of the attention resting on the visuals. Put simply, no hockey game has ever looked this realistic. The players look sharp, and everything from the hyper-realistic looking ice to the way the nets flex after a goal is a feast for the eyes.

As far as gameplay innovations, Visual Concepts didn't look to reinvent the puck, but it did come up with a nice feature called Crease Control. Simply clicking the right thumb stick displays a vantage point behind the goalie. Gamers see a v-shaped wedge and a target cursor that indicates where the shooter is aiming at. It's then up to you to control the goalie by using the right thumbstick to move the cursor where the shooter is aiming, and then press A to make the save.

Once you get past all that, 2K6 begins to resemble its less-powerful next-gen cousins in almost every way--from the gameplay features such as ProControl and the Enforcer System to on-the-fly coaching and maximum goaltending. Of course, the masses can also expect the requisite gameplay modes, including Franchise, as well as a modest list of mini games.

Dancing with the Devils
If you purposely waited for this version of 2K6, you should definitely look to add it to your growing collection of 360 games. It's a great sim game. However, it's simply not a solid buy at $60 a pop--especially considering this is basically the same game as the PS2 and Xbox versions, just without the Crease Control feature and hi-definition graphics.