News Post

NHL 08 Review (360)

09:08 AM - October 5, 2007 by Steve_OS

We have just posted our NHL 08 review. Find out what Terry Crouch had to say about it.

"Let me get this out of the way up front—NHL 08 is the most fun I’ve had with a sports game in recent memory. It’s not perfect in every area of AI. It’s not the best looking game on the XBox 360. It’s not even the easiest game to just pick up and play. It’s simply an extremely good representation of the NHL that fans see on TV on a daily basis, and the most enjoyable online multiplayer experience that I’ve ever had on the 360.

Many hockey gamers who played NHL 07 last year loved the skill stick, but the framerate and some strange defensive AI behavior held it back from greatness. Pitching the puck back to a defenseman would frequently leave your defender standing around, watching the puck clear out of the zone, forcing you to chase it down. This turned the game into somewhat of a one-timer-fest, since cycling the puck was next to impossible with the defensemen acting like they had no clue that it was their responsibility to stop the puck from clearing. You were forced to plow into the zone, dish it to the slot, and put it on net. It wasn’t the only way to score, but it was by far the most successful. It’s been that way in almost every hockey game ever released."

Member Comments

# 1 Tomba @ 10/05/07 09:17 AM

Great review and score. I personally do not watch or play video game hockey as much as I used to,but this game's core "gameplay' is expertly done and it's overall sheen is amazing. One of the best if not thee best EA sports titles in a long time. Only thing that MIGHT contest it is Fifa 08 IF they get the difficulty sorted on novice as the demo was too daunting at semi-pro whereas the semi pro in NHL 08 was hard once we were able to go to rookie things got better instantly.

# 2 bigmoe @ 10/05/07 09:30 AM

The only thing I dont like about the review is the pic above of Brodeur making the save(Ranger fan here) ,change it to one with the lamp on and i'll be happy!

# 3 Ghayghay @ 10/05/07 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomba321


	Great review and score. I personally do not watch or play video game hockey as much as I used to,but this game's core "gameplay' is expertly done and it's overall sheen is amazing. One of the best if not thee best EA sports titles in a long time. Only thing that MIGHT contest it is Fifa 08 IF they get the difficulty sorted on novice as the demo was too daunting at semi-pro whereas the semi pro in NHL 08 was hard once we were able to go to rookie things got better instantly.

Try Winning Eleven

# 4 Seahawk76 @ 10/05/07 12:25 PM

Excellent review, Steve. I'm not even a real big NHL fan and I'm absolutely hooked on this game. With NBA 2K8 out now I'll be splitting my gaming time between what may be two of the best sports games I've ever played. It's going to be a very good winter for sports gaming.

# 5 Cardot @ 10/05/07 12:39 PM

Great review. I agree on all the great things, and it also touches on 2 of my bigger complaints with the game.....both of which would have been resolvable with with a basic goalie slider for each team:

1. The jump from Pro to All Star is too big.
2. For those of us who like 5 minute periods, scores are just too low.

I would also like to see an option for a shorter season, but those seem to be disappearing from alot of sports games these days.

# 6 JimmyDeicide @ 10/05/07 01:57 PM

Very Nice Terry and i agree with most things you mentioned , if they loosen up the passing and puck a little more were gonna be in hockey heaven.

# 7 Steve_OS @ 10/05/07 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk76


	Excellent review, Steve. I'm not even a real big NHL fan and I'm absolutely hooked on this game. With NBA 2K8 out now I'll be splitting my gaming time between what may be two of the best sports games I've ever played. It's going to be a very good winter for sports gaming.

Terry wrote it.

# 8 mgoblue @ 10/05/07 04:11 PM

Terry got it spot on. Is the game perfect? No. It is the most fun I've had playing a sports game in a long long time. I am still playing offline. Normally I'd have moved on (as I have with NCAA, Madden, etc). This game has me holding off on a basketball game it's that good.

# 9 tabulaRasa @ 10/09/07 04:07 AM

Good review, BUT:
Where´s the garbage goal and close crease gameplay?
WHere´s the seperate line changes(O and D)?
Goalies are very undynamic.
Backhands are super powered.
Passing is way to much tape to tape.
Players all play the same, like snipers, where´s the use for utility guys? There is none. Damn I want importance of guys like Pahlsson, Fisher etc. Right now all players act and play as snipers.

Anyhow, if you are a sim fan it´s not a 9/10 more like a 7.5-8/10. If you are a casual fan it´s a 9/10.

It looks and is presented like a real NHL game, but unless players act more different and they don´t have the things mentioned, this ain´t a 9, and it doesn´t have those things so it´s a roughly a 8/10.

# 10 Arctic Blast @ 10/09/07 04:22 AM

Question for people who have played the game : is the Franchise mode actually decent this year? In past editions, it's been the most bare bones, pointless 'feature set' in the series. what with everything else seeming to have been improved massively, I'm wondering if the off-ice segment of the game has gotten a face lift, as well. Already got burned on Madden, so I'm...skeptical of EA products.

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NHL 08 Review (360)