And we have a winner...

[SoulOfTheFlame]

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/sports/nhl2k6/review.html



After read this, and playing the demo of EA's NHL 2006, I'm ready to give EA the title of top hockey game this year. Really dissapointed with the way 2k6 turned out, this will be the first time in 3 years that I will not be buying the title. Coincidently this will be the first time in 4 years that I'll be buying EA's. :P

Perhaps the only saving grace for Kush games 2k6 will be the low price tag... but it should be pretty cheap, considering they replaced ESPN with Bob Cole and Harry Neal..

[AC]

I still think EA's game feels way to arcade-like.

It doesn't feel like I'm playing a hockey game.

When I play EA it seems as if any action that happens is just a preset trigger... of course that is what is going on... but it feels way too robotic I guess.

The commentating is terrible. And this is even in comparison to Cole/Neale.

The sound effects are depressingly over-exaggerated. It sounds like non-stop cannons and explosions going off.

I'll gladly take 2K6 over EA.

I always try out both, but it really seems just as always it's a question of realism vs. arcade.

BTW, Gamespot hasn't even given EA's game a rating yet...?

[SoulOfTheFlame]

Originally posted by AnthonyCook@Sep 2 2005, 06:48 PM
I still think EA's game feels way to arcade-like.

It doesn't feel like I'm playing a hockey game.

When I play EA it seems as if any action that happens is just a preset trigger... of course that is what is going on... but it feels way too robotic I guess.

The commentating is terrible. And this is even in comparison to Cole/Neale.

The sound effects are depressingly over-exaggerated. It sounds like non-stop cannons and explosions going off.

I'll gladly take 2K6 over EA.

I always try out both, but it really seems just as always it's a question of realism vs. arcade.

I'm sure that EA's will have adequate sliders that will allow you to create a more simulation style form of play. I'm counting on it.

I thought the commentary was pretty good, and I'm sure not all of the sound FX were included with the demo.

I agree that the last few years of EA hockey games didn't feel like hockey at all... but IMO this year's does.


I guess we'll see the final product, but I still predict an EA victory.

Btw - the fact that 2K6 did not updated their rosters is completely inexcusable.

[JayP]

Originally posted by SoulOfTheFlame@Sep 2 2005, 06:41 PM
After read this, and playing the demo of EA's NHL 2006, I'm ready to give EA the title of top hockey game this year. Really dissapointed with the way 2k6 turned out, this will be the first time in 3 years that I will not be buying the title. Coincidently this will be the first time in 4 years that I'll be buying EA's.

Smart move.

Declare EA the better game without even playing 2k6.

Yeah, EA will have sliders to make the game somewhat more realistic, but it just doesn't work that way. 2k6 will be more realistic - that's a fact. That's not saying it will be a better game just more realistic.

[AC]

I think the very notion that EA includes the ability to flick the puck up and bat it into the air says all you need to know.

To me, the people who enjoy creating themselves in the game and joining their favourite team are the prime demographic areas for the EA game.

EA seems to only care about making the game look good. I honestly feel as if its simply a game for the casual fan who wants to score some pretty goals.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally posted by AnthonyCook@Sep 2 2005, 08:35 PM

EA seems to only care about making the game look good. I honestly feel as if its simply a game for the casual fan who wants to score some pretty goals.

Im not sure about that. I would consider myself more than a casual fan and I enjoy EA far more than espn. I found the '05 version to actually be very difficult to score (with the sliders in a certain way) with the difficulty on medium or difficult. And I hardly ever score fancy goals, usually its a crash and banger or a tip-in.

I plan to buy '06, I thought '05 was a tun of fun.

[Calgary Flames]

Give me a fun game, I dont care who the fata makes it... with the tweaks done to the demo of NHL 06 i'm having fun of NHL 1994 preportions.

[fredr123]

Originally posted by JayP+Sep 2 2005, 08:01 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (JayP @ Sep 2 2005, 08:01 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-SoulOfTheFlame@Sep 2 2005, 06:41 PM
After read this, and playing the demo of EA's NHL 2006, I'm ready to give EA the title of top hockey game this year. Really dissapointed with the way 2k6 turned out, this will be the first time in 3 years that I will not be buying the title. Coincidently this will be the first time in 4 years that I'll be buying EA's.

Smart move.

Declare EA the better game without even playing 2k6.

Yeah, EA will have sliders to make the game somewhat more realistic, but it just doesn't work that way. 2k6 will be more realistic - that's a fact. That's not saying it will be a better game just more realistic. [/b][/quote]
Have you played both games yet? Otherwise, aren't you kinda doing the exact same thing you're busting SoulofTheFlame for doing?

[MarchHare]

I've sworn off buying EA products forever, so I can only hope 2k6 is good. I don't care how great a game is, if it has an EA logo on the box, it's not getting my money. I still haven't bought Battlefield 2 for that reason, and I was a huge BF1942 junkie a few years ago.

[Calgary Flames]

Originally posted by MarchHare@Sep 2 2005, 11:01 PM
I've sworn off buying EA products forever, so I can only hope 2k6 is good. I don't care how great a game is, if it has an EA logo on the box, it's not getting my money. I still haven't bought Battlefield 2 for that reason, and I was a huge BF1942 junkie a few years ago.

Why?

fataing gaming hippies.... hilarious. I'm gonna boycott!!

[cheung31]

well EA's game this year seems to be another disappointment. the demo released so far, is ridiculous. the Defence is so bloody passive!! watch this video if you want to see what a joke the game is. and we've already tweaked the difficulty to Difficult, maxed out agressions, nothing helps..

http://media.putfile.com/NHL06_Footage

[Igottago]

we will not have a winner until we find out if ea's defense can be tweaked enough to come get the puck once in a while...if not, maybe we are all losers this year..2k game doesn't excite me too much this year either, looks to be the same old..let just hope next gen gets it right

[Nehkara]

Originally posted by cheung31@Sep 2 2005, 11:59 PM
well EA's game this year seems to be another disappointment. the demo released so far, is ridiculous. the Defence is so bloody passive!! watch this video if you want to see what a joke the game is. and we've already tweaked the difficulty to Difficult, maxed out agressions, nothing helps..

http://media.putfile.com/NHL06_Footage

That's pretty brutal!

I've been a fan of the 2K series for a few years and will be sticking with it. I don't enjoy EA much at all... and I will be getting the XBOX360 version of NHL 2K6 so the rosters should have an update by then and the graphics will be better.

[ernie]

How is this round 2? You see a review for ONE of the games on gamespot and give it to the title to the other game. Makes a lot of sense. You play one of the games but not the other and give the title to the one you played...makes about as much sense.

I wonder if the review was even read to tell you the truth.

from the review: "But as we've said before, this franchise lives and dies by its gameplay, and on that front, it does not disappoint."

The only real complaints came from menus and other such things. Yes bad menus and what not are dissappointing and annoying and they found a few bugs here and there (bugs they were never able to reproduce). Gameplay wise the review is pretty much says it delivers a great game of hockey. Seems to me that's why I buy a game. EA hasn't delivered that for quite some time and in their demo they still don't deliver it from what I can see.

But atleast I'll have the decency to check both games out before declaring the winner.

[SoulOfTheFlame]

IMO EA is the winner this year, and like I said, I'm no EA fanboi.

However, to get my money again 2K would have to deliver A BETTER PRODUCT THAN LAST SEASON, according to the review, they did not. After reading the review it's clear to me they did not address the issues I had with the game last season. Add a list of bugs, other sloppy elements, the same 3 year old graphics engine, and new and brutal presentation... i'll be looking forwards to 2k7. Oh wait, the way things are looking now, Kush will probabley lose their NHLPA license by then. :P

The menu's weren't the only complaint. The enforcer system? how lame is that... Making star players slow down out of fear when enforcers are on the ice doesn't seem very realistic to me. Maybe if there was some way to counter it, but there isn't.

I stand by my decleration, I don't need to play 2k6. By the looks and sounds of it, I already played it - last year. Though, it had better presentation back then.

[AC]

Originally posted by SoulOfTheFlame@Sep 3 2005, 06:11 AM
The enforcer system? how lame is that... Making star players slow down out of fear when enforcers are on the ice doesn't seem very realistic to me. Maybe if there was some way to counter it, but there isn't.

And if only you could turn it off!

Oh wait, you can.

Also,

"As EA Sports entertains the idea of integrating moves from the NBA dunk contest into its NHL title, developer Kush games has made the wise decision to invest in content that actually fits into the context of professional hockey." ~ Game Informer Preview

[JayP]

Originally posted by fredr123+Sep 2 2005, 08:05 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (fredr123 @ Sep 2 2005, 08:05 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Smart move.

Declare EA the better game without even playing 2k6.

Yeah, EA will have sliders to make the game somewhat more realistic, but it just doesn't work that way. 2k6 will be more realistic - that's a fact. That's not saying it will be a better game just more realistic.

Have you played both games yet? Otherwise, aren't you kinda doing the exact same thing you're busting SoulofTheFlame for doing? [/b][/quote]
No, if you're familar with both series if a pretty easy statement to make.

EA isn't trying to make a realistic game. Sure, every year they claim it will be "more realistic" to try and draw 2k6 fans over, but it's always the same style of gameplay.

2k6 is designed to be a realistic game. Always has been.

This year will be no different in terms of realism - 2k6 will be more realistic

[MarchHare]

Why?

fataing gaming hippies.... hilarious. I'm gonna boycott!! laugh.gif laugh.gif

You are aware that EA locked up the NFL license so no other company can make an NFL football game, right? They're also trying to do it with other leagues.

Then there's the matter of how they treat their employees.

[JayP]

Originally posted by SoulOfTheFlame@Sep 3 2005, 06:11 AM
IMO EA is the winner this year, and like I said, I'm no EA fanboi.

However, to get my money again 2K would have to deliver A BETTER PRODUCT THAN LAST SEASON, according to the review, they did not. After reading the review it's clear to me they did not address the issues I had with the game last season. Add a list of bugs, other sloppy elements, the same 3 year old graphics engine, and new and brutal presentation... i'll be looking forwards to 2k7. Oh wait, the way things are looking now, Kush will probabley lose their NHLPA license by then. :P

The menu's weren't the only complaint. The enforcer system? how lame is that... Making star players slow down out of fear when enforcers are on the ice doesn't seem very realistic to me. Maybe if there was some way to counter it, but there isn't.

I stand by my decleration, I don't need to play 2k6. By the looks and sounds of it, I already played it - last year. Though, it had better presentation back then.

Who's saying they didn't deliver a better product than last season?

Major upgrades to franchise mode, including practices, team chemistry.

Brutal presentation? Why? Because it's not ESPN? Everyone on 2khockey.net adores the new menus compared to the old ESPN ones. It's a ton improved from last year.

Complete revamping of all animations. Watch some gameplay footage and it's like watching a different game.

All of this is partly fluff anyways - your only complaints with the game were menus, graphics, etc? Gameplay is what 2k6 focuses on and what every game should be about. We'll see this week which game is better when both are released, but 2k always seems to end up on top regardless of the EA hype before the games are released.

Also, if you think the enforcer system is that unrealistic I'd recommend re-watching the Detroit series. The pounding Datsyuk, Zetterburg, Hull, and others took really didn't affect their performance at all.

[Patek23]

Originally posted by cheung31@Sep 2 2005, 10:59 PM
well EA's game this year seems to be another disappointment. the demo released so far, is ridiculous. the Defence is so bloody passive!! watch this video if you want to see what a joke the game is. and we've already tweaked the difficulty to Difficult, maxed out agressions, nothing helps..

http://media.putfile.com/NHL06_Footage

It was like that in 2K5 also, I can't remember how many times I would forget to pause after I scored went to the bathroom and came back to see my guy with the puck and everybody standing around him, that's with it on HOF too.