Others say...

"game was pretty cool"
I am a ten year old hockey player. I would actually rate this game 4 and a half stars. I've played it a lot and you can do a lot of stuff on it like free for all which is sort of practice. I loved to customize my own player and my team. there is also dynasty mode where you can play and be the coach at the same time. I highly recommend this to anybody, especially a sports fan.

"NHL ROCKS!"
Anyone who said that the graphics are bad obviously hasent played a game that has bad graphics like jedi knight jedi outcast. The score can get a little out of hand, but this is realistic because the goalie does get tired so it makes sense. If you are looking for a great hockey game, be ready to be blown back on your feet!

"Defensive AI needs huge improvement - WAY too easy to score!!!"
Well, the game certainly looks good. Puck physics, skating, player rendering... all very nice.

The big drawback is that the defensive AI (your team and the opponents) is terrible. You can score almost at will if you set offensive strategy to "crash the net"... send one winger in wide, skate behind the goal line, your center will park himself in front of the crease, skate around a bit for a clear pass and pass the puck to the center for a one-timer. This scores 50% of the time even if there are three defending players standing around... Howie Meeker is rolling over in his grave. Nobody checks, nobody intercepts a pass. This is on the "difficult" level, with shot power set to minimum and all defensive characteristics (checking, aggresiveness, intercepting passes, etc) set to maximum. A game with 10 minute periods will always end with a score something like 14-9. Even in the new NHL that's ridiculous. Once you learn to score at will there is little drama, and the game becomes quite boring.

And the menu and AI is the same dreadful one from last year. Bring back the NHL 95 user interface... it was vastly more user-friendly.

"A great game in my opinion"
I write this to address some comments I've read :

- Defense? Well, checking is harder to achieve than before. However, with some practice, you can knock everyone quite hard (I've broken glass with some of my checking).

The ability to slide on the ice to intercept pass is also a nice addition to the possible move.

- Offense? In my opinion, the offensive move are quite good even if they lack some realism.

- Goalie? BAD. They just keep themselve on the ground. You just need to put it "top net" and you score. However, I do use house rule (I'm always inventing house rule).

- online gaming? BAD. Not much possibilities (customization) there sadly but it's quite fun. In fact I only play vs. my brother over the internet. Much funnier than playing vs. the AI.

all in all, a very fun game with lots of actions as you can expect from a hockey game. However, it's not a simulation.

"A mixed bag"
EA sports' latest offering in the NHL series is somewhat a mixed bag.

On one hand, the graphics are by far the best yet, extremely realistic. The playability is pretty good, on medium level; but as with every edition of this game, highly flawed.

A number of issues will come to your attention.

1. The scores get run up very high, and are very unrealistic; even by the standards of the new NHL. Scoring 10 goals in a game (or having 10 goals scored against you) is not a rare occurrence; and wild scorelines such as 8-6; or 10-7; are the norm rather than the exception. Goaltending is very poor; especialy since it is difficult to control odd-man rushes and breakaways.

2. EA sports have gotten rid of markers such as "big hitters" and "big shooters". This is manifest in the fact that, although they have been very miserly with regards to shot power stats (now broken down into wrist shot AND slap shot power/accuracy; it seems that every player on the team has the capability of blasting off a 120mph slap shot; whether they are rated in the 60s or the 90s for shot power; on the default shot power level (about 40%). This is great for goal-scoring potential, but is very unrealistic.

3. It is apparently impossible to edit lines during a period; or switch goalies; as there is no way of getting out of these menus during the period, you have to wait until intermission.

4. As mentioned earlier, defence is still limited. Hits can be lined up with relative ease, and it is possible to poke-check; even blocking is possible; although I haven't bothered with this yet, as it is 2 MORE buttons to have to control during a game.
NEvertheless, it is difficult to defend against breakaways and odd man rushes; and the goaltending is exceptionally poor, one the opposition's forwards have moved in towards the slot. Goalies are easily fooled by dekes, and special moves.

5. The function of the skill stick varies depending on ice position. At center ice, you can spin around 360 degrees and keep the puck; but as you move into the offensive zone, all you can do is to play the puck backwards through your player's legs (which leads to giving up posession).

However, despite these flaws, it is still a very playable game, if you don't mind unrealistically high scorelines. It now includes taegets that appear to help you aim your shot. A good feature introduced is the highlight reel at the end of each period, highlighting all the goals, along with the best saves and hits of each period.

I haven't tried playing on the difficult level, but if past editions are anything to go by, this will be almost impossible, with the opposition scoring at will, and the opposition goalie being inpenetrable. Medium setting should be playable for most; but it is hard to see anyone acheiving sucess on the hard level of an EA sports NHL game.