NHL 2k7
- October 02, 2006 10:56 AM PST
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2k Sports' NHL Live 07 has garnered some serious praise, but it's far from a one-horse race as NHL 2k7 is a legitimate contender for the digital Stanley Cup. This year's installment of the NHL 2k series gets the obvious upgrades you've come to expect in a yearly sports franchise, but the Xbox 360's horsepower gives it extra 'oomph.'
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Stickhandling in a phone booth
Tap twice to perform a one-timer.
Where NHL 2k7 really shines is in its expanded control schemes. You can choose to play the game with the standard scheme or you can take things to the next level by taking advantage of the Pro Controls. The most useful is the Pro Offense, which maps every player to a specific button on the controller. You simply tap the corresponding button to pass the puck, and tapping it twice executes a one-timer, which can lead to some great scoring chances if used correctly.
Also intriguing is the In The Crease controls, which puts you in direct control of the goalie. It's not a perfect system- you give up an exorbitant amount of rebounds and you're far too susceptible to the wraparound- but we had such fun with it that we can't wait to see what future refinements might bring.
Making Gretzky Bleed
Now you are the goalie.
Speaking of refinement: it's a word that NHL 2k7 players will need to familiarize themselves with as many of the default settings aren't perfect. Thankfully, the slider system is back and lets you adjust the game to your heart's content. Playing with the numbers can be tiresome, but it's nice to have the option to make the game as easy, hard, realistic or arcade-like as desired.
In the end, NHL 2k7 is a great addition to the franchise, especially if you're willing to take the time to fiddle with the settings. 2k Sports has laid a solid foundation for future next-gen hockey titles and we can't wait to see what they come up with next year.
