Review: NHL 10 (360)

NHL 08 gave a solid base on which to build upon with some clever AI and some excellent physics. It felt like once again you could pick up and play. NHL 09 took this one step further and did something that may well see the series become as popular as it used to be. It added the ability to play the new game using the NHL 94 controls so those who don't understand the intricacy's of the sport could still play and challenge those more experienced players. NHL 10 looked set to deliver on the promise of earlier titles.

Presentation wise EA continue to do a stand-up job, the front end is clean and clear, the game atmosphere is a spectacle and really draws you in to the experience, the choice of menu music isn't even too bad, something of a sticking point on most EA games. Graphically the game is solid if unspectacular, however some of the touches are really nice, such as the ice deformation during a period, which is then cleaned for the next. The GM mode is easy enough to navigate and the options are plentiful, yet never overly confusing even for those not familiar with Hockey.

The modes in this iteration of the NHL series are full to the brim. You have the usual single game, GM Mode (manager mode), online ranked and Be A Pro. However EA know they are on to something with one of the new modes put in place. Season Mode is essentially GM Mode but without all the worries of contract negotiations, trades, finances and the like. It is just you playing through a full season worrying about the thing that matters most, the on ice action. Quite simply, next to adding the NHL 94 controls this is pretty much a genius move from the developers. The other new mode is the 'Battle For The Cup' this is basically a best of 7 series for the Cup. You chose a team for you and a team for the CPU or a friend then play best of 7 to lift the cup. It does away with all the season modes and lets you do the best bit. It includes side stories and makes you think tactically about what to do with injured players and out of form players. These side stories are followed and relayed to you like mini news feeds. Another solid addition to the series. The Creation modes are as solid as they have been the past 2 years with the create a play mode being the standout part of this. Using a recording system you can plan your own attacks from certain points on the ice. This is something that has worked so well EA have added to this years FIFA for set plays.

On the ice is where things matter most though, if it doesn't play well then no amount of presentation and game modes can make it worthwhile. Thankfully it plays almost perfectly and you can tailor the game to exactly what you want from it. You can set the game to being fully arcade right the way through to full simulation with fully manual controls, or you can mix it using sliders to your hearts content. The AI is spot on, they spot passes, defend, shoot and position themselves as you would hope. What NHL has over any other sports title is the immense feeling of satisfaction when you score, it can come out of nothing and often does, you will find yourself wanting to leap from your chair to join in with the players celebrations such is how well this game works. Scoring a winner with less than 30 seconds on the clock, or getting a game levelling goal cannot be beaten. Improvements to the on ice action include all new board play, where a player can be pinned to the sideboards and a tussle begins to try and regain control of the puck. 1st Person Fighting is included this year and works a lot better than expected and feels quite brutal at times. Players can also now continue playing after the whistle meaning you can rough up the opposition to try and rattle them on the next play, this works well if trying to chase goal or defend a lead. The final improvement comes in the form of players being able to play on once they go to ground, meaning they can still get off a pass, shot or poke check, whereas last year they would have been out of the action until the got up.

All in all the improvements make this game a very enjoyable all round experience. Whether you want to pick up and play, or get into the nitty gritty, this game has something for every gaming sports fan out there. If you are a casual player who has NHL 09 this has enough extra to warrant picking it up, The only negative there is though relates to picking the game up. US sports aren't popular in the UK and unlike following the lead of 2KSports and releasing these games at a budget price like with the excellent 'The Bigs' EA's US Sports games are released at the extremely high price point of £44.99 in the UK which is a crying shame as it will stop is quite frankly perfect sports title getting the attention it truly deserves. It also sees it miss out on a perfect 10.

Rating: 9 / 10

Words by Bradley Marsh