NHL 08 Review
NHL 08 dominates the digital ice, thanks to two important tweaks to a very successful formula.
Posted by Chris Buffa on Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Last year's NHL 07 was a revelation and proof that Electronic Arts hadn't lost its grip on the hockey franchise. By keeping the controls simple while at the same time adding plenty of depth, it created a game that appealed to everyone. This year's edition, aptly titled NHL 08 builds off the successful formula, thanks to two important features that'll leave the game in your Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 for months.
First, EA revamped the skating engine. You still control your skater with the left analog stick, but now it's pressure sensitive, meaning the further you tilt it forward, the faster he'll go. You also have the option of making defenders look stupid with a deke maneuver, which causes your player to pass the puck between their legs and blow past them. It's tricky to master, but once you do, it adds another layer of strategy to the game, letting you continue on your way to the goal instead of running face first into a human Mack truck.
Most times, however, you won't avoid the defense, thanks to NHL 08's second biggest feature, its artificial intelligence. You'll still celebrate a few blowout wins, but never mistake the computer for last year's. Not only does it know how to play hockey, but it can also adjust its strategy on the fly to expose your weak points. Dashing up the middle en route to the goal almost always gets you killed, meaning you need to actually think like a hockey player and, dare we say it, learn some plays.
Fortunately, EA gives some help starting with the announcers. As you play, they'll comment on the situation, informing you that (for example), what the New York Rangers did three straight times isn't going to work. Thus, you should change your battle plan. In addition, the game has this sweet create-a-play feature, which basically lets you practice all sorts of plays and then apply what you learned in a game.
Practicing sounds lame, but at the same time, nothing beats breaking down the defense and slipping the puck through the goalie's legs. There's a bigger sense of accomplishment doing that than simply "getting lucky". Furthermore, don't shy away from learning more than just how to shoot (the right stick). NHL 08 is fun and incredibly addictive, especially online, where you can not only play the standard one-on-one contest, but also participate in online leagues.
It also helps that the game looks stunning. Once again, EA delivers a gorgeous hockey game with the familiar trappings you should expect; a raucous crowd, realistic looking players, deforming ice and plenty of bone shattering hits.
Conversely, the game's developers couldn't make both versions equal, and as a result, the PS3 NHL 08 runs a bit slower than the Xbox 360 edition. That doesn't mean, however, that PS3 owners won't enjoy the game.
No matter which version you play, you'll dig the control improvements, the challenging AI and the attractive graphics. Whether or not NHL 08 checks 2K Sports' NHL 2K8 into the boards remains to be seen, but regardless, EA did a superb job, and you need to play this game, whether you appreciate the sport or despise it.
Final Score: 8/10
