Its amazing the test of time this game has stood. When I think about how off the public reviewers were in sports games, I think of 2K8 and I think of NHL 2011. ( I dont want to get into how overly praised NHL 2011 is) but I do want to discuss how 2K8 was just so underappreciated by so many inexperienced sports video game writers.
Yes, I do understand that there were some issues with the game's AI and the newly introduced control scheme (which is easily changed to Pro Classic and becomes absolutely stellar) but the things that this game DOES do right is head and shoulders above anything that we even have out on the market today!....and that is by BOTH EA ....and...'ahem'...2Ksports.
However, To really appreciate it, you need to be away from it a while, playing both of the companies current Hockey offerings for a while.
Then you need to tweak some sliders and you can have an almost beautiful rendition of the NHL sport we watch on tv moreso than any of the other games.
I mean I was simply amazed at the ebb and flow of this game how it realistically portrays real hockey. From the battle to penetrate neutral ice , to the most realistic sensations of taking wristers, snap shots, slappers, quick flicks and off target backhanders that lack mustard. The controls (on Pro Classic mode) and animations wonderfully convey this feel and struggle to get off these variety of shots accurately to the net.
There are just so many little relationships and attention to details that most gamers wont even notice how deep this game tries to capture the sport. The way the goalies will realistically fall to the ice and desperately lunge and flail to game control and reposition themselves which also leaves areas of the net open to only have a low accuracy shooter miss an easy flick to the corner of the net is simply a joy to experience.
All the extra attributes such as shovel, nerve, composure, Star Quality, etc that play a subtle but noticeable difference making up for a variety of dynamic situations is a true testament of the team's love and experience of the sport.
No hockey game I have played had the right balance of really rewarding me with the feel of accomplishment as I was able to string a series of passes around the offensive zone and then kick it back to an uncovered defender at the top of the point who pauses to receive the pass...lines it up and unleashes a lazered slapper to the top corner of a screened goalie that sends the puck rattling around and back out of the net.
Sure this can be done in other games, but just not with the same sense of satisfaction when it can be realistically pulled off to perfection.
The freedom of total right stick movement seperate from your player's motion was also fantastic. The ability to defend and poke the puck free was also done very realistically and dynamically.
I can simply go on and on about all the wonderful elements of this game and all the little things it did right....but I'd rather go play another game in my new Franchise with the 2011 360 rosters that are floating around here.
This game is just so underappreciated....and I felt the urge to discuss it. Perhaps Im simply off base with these observations. What do you think?
Yes, I do understand that there were some issues with the game's AI and the newly introduced control scheme (which is easily changed to Pro Classic and becomes absolutely stellar) but the things that this game DOES do right is head and shoulders above anything that we even have out on the market today!....and that is by BOTH EA ....and...'ahem'...2Ksports.
However, To really appreciate it, you need to be away from it a while, playing both of the companies current Hockey offerings for a while.
Then you need to tweak some sliders and you can have an almost beautiful rendition of the NHL sport we watch on tv moreso than any of the other games.
I mean I was simply amazed at the ebb and flow of this game how it realistically portrays real hockey. From the battle to penetrate neutral ice , to the most realistic sensations of taking wristers, snap shots, slappers, quick flicks and off target backhanders that lack mustard. The controls (on Pro Classic mode) and animations wonderfully convey this feel and struggle to get off these variety of shots accurately to the net.
There are just so many little relationships and attention to details that most gamers wont even notice how deep this game tries to capture the sport. The way the goalies will realistically fall to the ice and desperately lunge and flail to game control and reposition themselves which also leaves areas of the net open to only have a low accuracy shooter miss an easy flick to the corner of the net is simply a joy to experience.
All the extra attributes such as shovel, nerve, composure, Star Quality, etc that play a subtle but noticeable difference making up for a variety of dynamic situations is a true testament of the team's love and experience of the sport.
No hockey game I have played had the right balance of really rewarding me with the feel of accomplishment as I was able to string a series of passes around the offensive zone and then kick it back to an uncovered defender at the top of the point who pauses to receive the pass...lines it up and unleashes a lazered slapper to the top corner of a screened goalie that sends the puck rattling around and back out of the net.
Sure this can be done in other games, but just not with the same sense of satisfaction when it can be realistically pulled off to perfection.
The freedom of total right stick movement seperate from your player's motion was also fantastic. The ability to defend and poke the puck free was also done very realistically and dynamically.
I can simply go on and on about all the wonderful elements of this game and all the little things it did right....but I'd rather go play another game in my new Franchise with the 2011 360 rosters that are floating around here.
This game is just so underappreciated....and I felt the urge to discuss it. Perhaps Im simply off base with these observations. What do you think?
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