NHL 07 Review - Xbox 360

After clanging one off the pipe with NHL 06 on Xbox and PlayStation 2, the development team at EA Canada went back to the drawing board to come up with something a little more worthy of a franchise approaching its 15th year. In the process, the publisher let its fiercest rival release the first hockey game on Xbox 360 unchecked, forcing it into the unfamiliar position of playing catch-up instead of taking a commanding lead. While NHL 07 makes its Xbox 360 debut with an appealing new control scheme and exciting visuals, it has more rough patches than Ray Bourque's playoff beard.

Good Sight, and Good Puck

If the NHL series is known for one thing, other than its arcade-style action, it’s for the quality of its presentation. That trend continues with NHL 07, with an impressive amount of player detail, animation, and slick overlay graphics that bring excitement back into the game. While the camera and ice views aren't in the same league as NHL 2K7's, and there are frame rate hiccups, NHL 07's visuals eclipse those in 2K Sports' second outing on the system. The puck reacts well on the ice, sliding, bouncing, flying, and deflecting in a realistic manner. The goalies are even more dynamic, stretching to catch high pucks in their mitts, closing the 5-hole by bringing their knees together and dropping down, and trying in earnest to prevent cheap goals to the best of their in-game abilities.

Sticking Points

One of the complaints leveled at early Xbox 360 sports titles has been the emphasis on visuals over new gameplay innovations, but NHL 07 attempts to change the way you play hockey with its use of the right analog stick. The right stick now replicates movements of an actual hockey stick, something so obvious you wonder why it hasn’t been attempted in previous games. Skating is still accomplished with the left analog stick, but wrist shots, slap shots, and dekes require pulling the stick back, flicking it forward, rotating it, and more. It takes a while to get used to, but the control scheme reinvigorates a sport that has been become more predictable than a romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock.

Ice Hassles

Alas, the encouraging controls aren't enough to hide some of the game's weaknesses. Since the nimble stick handling caters to the offense, defensive-minded players will have a difficult time trying to control the game. The loose skating and upbeat tempo will put off simulation junkies, and the computer AI rarely develops any semblance of a game plan. Checking is imprecise and lacks "oomph," teammates are often clueless, and Pee Wee leagues offer more strategy and puck movement. Even more puzzling is the lack of a turbo boost, a key feature in previous NHL games from the publisher, especially considering the fast-paced, offense-oriented play style. And in what has become a disappointing trend with EA's first forays on Xbox 360, many features in previous installments have been trimmed or dropped altogether.

Penalty Box

While the 10-year dynasty mode should satisfy most casual hockey fans, there is no option to play a regular season, start a fantasy draft, or turn off franchise features like computer-initiated trades. Period lengths cannot be adjusted in one-minute increments, dynasty mode only supports one player, and there is a glitch in the salary cap management system that lets you sign players past your allotted budget. There are, however, a number of gameplay sliders that can help offset some of the more glaring in-game issues, from overall speed and puck control to hit power and aggressiveness. It's far from the level of customization possible with NHL 2K7 (there are no goalie or AI sliders, for instance), and the results aren't always as apparent, but those who like to tinker with the default settings can alter NHL 07's action to bring it in more line with their style of play.

Rookie on the Rise

Considering that NHL 07 is EA Canada's attempt at a new hockey engine, it isn't unreasonable to expect some growing pains. Fortunately, the control scheme is more than a marketing gimmick or a half-baked attempt at doing something a little different. If the developers can make playing defense as fun as the offense, tightening up the computer AI in the process, then future installments of the NHL series are sure to turn heads. Whether you're a casual fan or a veteran simply looking for an alternative to the tried-and-true installments of the NHL 2K series, NHL 07 is worth a skating tryout. It's far from Stanley Cup material, but like cover athlete Alexander Ovechkin, NHL 07 opens its season with a bang and will only improve with time.

Article by: Scott Alan Marriott
Video produced by: Jonathan Solin