This game seems cool at first glance. Hockey with no rules and fighting seems fun right? It is until you actually pay attention to the game. The graphics aren't up to par, AI is random, and the physics are odd.
GRAPHICS
The first thing that i noticed about the graphics is that the camera is too far back so i couldnt see much detail. When i looked at the players in replay mode i noticed why. The players are kind of blocky and look a little odd. The detail is terrible. I could tell them apart. The only difference is the hair color which is only noticeable when the helmets fall off. When i was picking teams the only person i could pick out was Forsberg who looked scary(really weird lookin face).
There are some cool effects with the ice. The ice gets gouged up like real ice it has reflections. This is stuff that should be of normal on next gen systems.
GAME PLAY
The game play is standard hockey. Passing shooting checking and fights normal stuff. There are no rules (like all other midway games). I play hockey but im not one of the people that gets mad if the game isnt "pure". I thought that the no rules would be fun and it is. That is not what ruins the game. The first annoying thing is the physics. I got the weirdest goals. The puck bounces of people boards sticks and anything else into the goal. The goals are so random that winning requires a good amount of luck. I just got this goal where i shot it from the opposite end of the ice and hit the post, the goalie then the defense men then going in. Another one looked like it hit the goalie then in instant replay we noticed that the puck went through the goalies crotch (i dont think he had his cup on that day).
The AI doesnt help the game either. Your opponents AI just bounces around. Sometimes i could score with no effort and sometimes i couldnt get anything in. When you get ahead the game seems to overcompisate and make it impossibly hard to score then it gets real easy when your down. There seems to be little difference in the game levels. The only real difference is the moves the computer players use. In the highest difficulty they start to spin and deke and pass a ton. This is he only diffrence. No real increase in skill.
The other problem with this game is that there is no reason to continue playing after a few games. There is no season mode. The only real mode like season is custom team. You make your own team and try to win fifty games. This gets old fast.
Overall the game is ok and gets old fast. if the flaws are fixed in the next edition of the game it would be a sure buy for anyone who likes hockey.
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