NHL 08 (Xbox 360)

NHL 08 isn't entrenched in realism, but it's a blast to play all the same.
1/31/2008 12:00 AM | 0 Comments | Page 2 of 2

The game's online component, while improved, still needs further development. Playing against a buddy over Xbox Live is a blast, no doubt about it, but the new league functionality leaves a lot to be desired. There are no play-offs in the league setup. The season just...ends. Honestly, what is the point of having a league if you just play the games and then crown a champion? Still, playing the game itself is great over Xbox Live, and while there's nothing stopping you from forming your own league and doing some of the work manually, EA Sports needs to step up and provide a real structure to its league system.

The same can be said for franchise mode, which works, but remains way behind the NHL 2K series. The franchise mode is basically the same as it was last year, and lacks a lot of the bells and whistles that are in 2K's game, like the rules for the Collective Bargaining Agreement, team and player morale, realistic free agency, etc.

Quibbles aside, NHL 08 is a must-buy simply because of its unabashed fun factor. It's a joy to play, and when you add its first-rate gameplay to its fantastic graphics and play-by-play commentary that sucks you into the action like no other hockey game before it, you have a recipe for a sports gaming classic. So while EA Sports clearly has some areas that need to be tweaked and polished a bit, the company can finally claim that, for the first time in years, it has produced a brilliant hockey videogame.

This review is based on a retail copy of the game purchased by Crispy Gamer.