NHL 2K11 (Wii) Review

[RaychelSnr]

2K Sports made one of the more interesting decisions this past offseason by shelving the 360 and PS3 versions of their NHL series but also keeping the Wii version on the release schedule. While there has not been any official confirmation, Take Two CEO Ben Feder has indicated that NHL 2K12 will find its way to the 360 and PS3.

But for now, 2K hockey fans have NHL 2K11 on the Wii.

NHL 2K11 attempts to improve the controls and the overall experience of last year's Wii version. The game features a plethora of modes, although veterans of the series will instantly recognize most of the offerings here. While the game is far from good, it does offer the only attempt at a "true" hockey simulation experience on the Wii and might satisfy some puckheads who do not have access to a 360 or a PS3.

Read More - NHL 2K11 (Wii) Review

[eeyor]

Sorry to say this but this is one of the most terrible reviews I have seen on OS. Sorry to say that but the game is by far not 2.5 points below its predecessor, never. Even if this review was for the xbox version, it doesn't change the fact, that the game plays a better game of hockey than 2k10. It's not only me that is saying this but nearly everyone who has played this game, even other reviewers will attest that the game plays better. Not by a mile, but better. Given this fact, I can't understand while gameplay being a positive remark on 2k10 now can be a negative one. There was NO engine change.
You might say, okay the game doesn't change much so it will get a lower score than 2k10. Thats totally fine, but 2.5 points, come on!
I didn't like both games, however I played them both and while I think both games should get a 6-6.5, I really don't like them that much. It is not that I am a fanboy or a 2k diehard. It is just the inconsistency of the review quality that concerns me here. On a few occasions now, reviews here seem sub-bar standard at best.

[RaychelSnr]

Sorry to say this but this is one of the most terrible reviews I have seen on OS. Sorry to say that but the game is by far not 2.5 points below its predecessor, never. Even if this review was for the xbox version, it doesn't change the fact, that the game plays a better game of hockey than 2k10. It's not only me that is saying this but nearly everyone who has played this game, even other reviewers will attest that the game plays better. Not by a mile, but better. Given this fact, I can't understand while gameplay being a positive remark on 2k10 now can be a negative one. There was NO engine change.
You might say, okay the game doesn't change much so it will get a lower score than 2k10. Thats totally fine, but 2.5 points, come on!
I didn't like both games, however I played them both and while I think both games should get a 6-6.5, I really don't like them that much. It is not that I am a fanboy or a 2k diehard. It is just the inconsistency of the review quality that concerns me here. On a few occasions now, reviews here seem sub-bar standard at best.

I don't recall OS having posted a review of NHL 2K10 on the Wii? This game isn't the same game as the 360 version, and in a lot of ways, doesn't even play the same. Mainly though, when you have a package which is almost completely recycled off a game I think was a 6-ish kind of game and whatever new was added doesn't work at all, you end up with a game that's not all that good. Add in the gameplay faults such as the plethora of guaranteed goals, a franchise mode which is subpar, online play which doesn't work, and a control scheme which is shoddy at best, I don't see much to like with the whole package.

Sorry you disagree with the score, I can't wait until we get rid of them -- coming sooner than you think I might add. But I stand by the fact this game is simply below average to just plain bad.

[eeyor]

I mostly agree what you were saying, however the problem is not the score in general, it is the overal inconsistency with the other ratings of former 2k hockey games. In some developer insight back in the day they mentioned that it was the same engine than the xbox360/ps3 game. No matter how you turn it, the game overall is a disappointment, but better than 2k10.
When you would do the same with nhl11, it would also only get a 6-7 just because the innovations done don't justify the price tag.

[VUUAASSHHH!]

You guys didn`t get it. The score is 4.5 out of 5. It`s like scoring A in math test

[BBWalk]

You guys didn`t get it. The score is 4.5 out of 5. It`s like scoring A in math test

The score is 4.5 out of 10. Did you even read the review?

[VUUAASSHHH!]

Re: NHL 2K11 (Wii) Review

The score is 4.5 out of 10. Did you even read the review?

Of course I read it, 5 times, for maximum retention.

now get over here and gimme a

[Keirik]

Re: NHL 2K11 (Wii) Review

as someone who has owned and played every 2k hockey game since 2k3, i 100% agree with this review. That says something.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 2K11 (Wii) Review

as someone who has owned and played every 2k hockey game since 2k3, i 100% agree with this review. That says something.

Stick a fork in in, sadly 2k hockey is prolly heading out to pasture.

[Stormyhog]

Re: NHL 2K11 (Wii) Review

As much as I liked the 2k series in years past it is clearly over. I just don't be loyal for the sake of loyalty if their is a better product I'll play that . EA did the right thing by making slapshot more for kids and casuals as that is the main audience for the wii. Once the sales numbers are out for 2k11 on the wii they'll probably fold their tents and call it a day. It's a shame a once superior product is now a shell of it's self.

[Money99]

Re: NHL 2K11 (Wii) Review

As much as I liked the 2k series in years past it is clearly over. I just don't be loyal for the sake of loyalty if their is a better product I'll play that . EA did the right thing by making slapshot more for kids and casuals as that is the main audience for the wii. Once the sales numbers are out for 2k11 on the wii they'll probably fold their tents and call it a day. It's a shame a once superior product is now a shell of it's self.

I agree.

The one silver lining is that, from what I'm told, there isn't a huge difference between 2K10 and 2K11 on the Wii.
If that's true, then it can be because of one of two things:

1. They figured they have no competition so why put a lot of time and resources into a game that has the market to itself.
2. They didn't put a lot of time/resources with the game because most of their team was working on 2K12.

I know #2 is a pipe-dream but I want to believe it.
The 2K series offers a different taste of hockey and it's always good to have different options.

But if sales are bad, then I fully expect 2K to abandon this series. It's a shame. And even though it's only 5 years removed, it's hard for most people to remember that 2K was once the king of the rink.

[Scottdau]

Re: NHL 2K11 (Wii) Review

I would like to see that number 2 dream become reality, but I have a bad feeling this game is done. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

[Stormyhog]

Re: NHL 2K11 (Wii) Review

I don't take any pleasure in seeing this franchise die and I truly hope that they do make another attempt on the PS3/360. Just because I prefer to play EA's game now doesn't mean I wouldn't get another 2k hockey. They need to add more resources and customer support to start with.

[lunch pale gang]

It's been 6 months since this game and this review came out and it still baffles me.

"If you are not a fan of spoilers, do not read the rest of this paragraph. (You've now been warned.) For those that stuck around, know that circling the net and then shooting is a guaranteed goal every time." This statement says all you need to know about this review. This is an out and out falsehood. Yes, there is a higher than normal rate of the wraparound working (maybe 33% of the time on default settings), but to state that it "is a guaranteed goal" is an absurd statement. Any critic worth his/her salt knows not to use absolute declarative statements when they can so easily be disproven.

[savoie2006]

Re: NHL 2K11 (Wii) Review

It's been 6 months since this game and this review came out and it still baffles me.

"If you are not a fan of spoilers, do not read the rest of this paragraph. (You've now been warned.) For those that stuck around, know that circling the net and then shooting is a guaranteed goal every time." This statement says all you need to know about this review. This is an out and out falsehood. Yes, there is a higher than normal rate of the wraparound working (maybe 33% of the time on default settings), but to state that it "is a guaranteed goal" is an absurd statement. Any critic worth his/her salt knows not to use absolute declarative statements when they can so easily be disproven.

There are plenty of "money" plays in all sports games, it's just the way it has always been.

I'm with everyone else that I truely hope 2K makes it back for the 360/PS3. I've loved this series for many years now, even in their not so great years. It's nice playing either EA or 2K hockey, they both offer their own style.