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Xbox 360 | Sports | NHL 07

Publisher: EA
Developer: EA
Release Date: 09/14/2006
Genre: Sports
Number of Players:
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10 and Older
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13 screen shots

GRAPHICS: 4.25
SOUND: 4.00
CONTROL: 4.50
FUN FACTOR 4.50
AVG USER SCORE 4.6
AVG CRITIC SCORE 4.3

Winner of the GamePro Editor's Choice Award

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Review: NHL 07

Review by John Gaudiosi | 09/13/2006 | 16:01:17 PM PST

The venerable EA Sports NHL franchise celebrates its 15th year with NHL 07. In its first foray on next-generation ice, EA changed the way hockey video games are played. Not only does the game look drop-dead gorgeous, but EA discards the old control scheme for a new one that emphasizes speed and finesse.

Blades of Steel

Keep your eyes open for all of the new intricate detailing.

The new Skill Stick controls completely change the scope and skills involved in mastering the virtual sport. In an innovative masterstroke, EA implements analog controls and discards the old scheme that required button pressing for shooting. Although moving your virtual NHL stars around the ice remains the same as before, it's the rest of the gameplay that really opens up the ice.

For instance, the left thumbstick handles player movements on the ice, and the right thumbstick allows them to shoot slap shots and wrist shots, perform dekes, and pull off cool tricks like spin-o-ramas. While shooting is a snap to master, deking takes a little time, but once you get accustomed to the new controls, you'll never want to go back to the old.

Improved A.I. on both sides of the ice and in the goal, makes the game flow like the real NHL. There isn't much room for fisticuffs in the new NHL, and brawls don't occur very often in 07-even with the fighting meter maxed out. However, if two players who are known to scrap happen to be on the ice at the same time and a big hit is made, a fight will ensue. It's a minor part of the video game, just as it has become a minor part of the real sport.

Beauty on Ice

Watch the ice fly as the action explodes.

The quality of the controls match the on-ice animation to bring the whole experience together, and the Xbox 360 version of NHL 07 gives the franchise a beautiful facelift. While not yet photorealistic, the players look much more lifelike than they ever did before. The new graphics also allow for smaller details down to jersey tucks, specialized sticks, reflections of the arena crowd on player helmets, and real-time carvings in the ice that add to the convincing experience. Throw in multiple camera angles and TV broadcast presentation with 720p high definition, and it's almost like watching a real NHL HD telecast. It's also refreshing to hear Gary Throne and Bill Clement providing the play-by-play and color commentary for the game.

Open Ice Challenge

EA crafted a complete package for its next-gen game, meaning a full Dynasty mode complete with the new salary cap and the ability to sign players to one- or two-way contracts. But this next-gen leap is more than just HD eye candy and enhanced features. The Skills Stick alone makes NHL 07 a completely different game and one worthy of the new NHL.