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Once again we have the newest release of EA's "NHL series, their most popular in Canada. Play as any of your favourite NHL teams,
or head overseas and captain a Swedish, Finnish or German Elite League franchise. Play a season, dynasty mode, a tournament, or lead
your favourite nation to victory at the World Cup of Hockey. Whatever you choose, get ready to lay some bone crunching hits,
score some pretty goals and when it's all said and done, bring home that fabled Sil
ver Cup.
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Version Reviewed:
PC
With a lockout this year, NHL 2005 is probably the only NHL hockey that we will see, so desperate hockey fans will be rushing out
to get this game when they can’t take it anymore. NHL 2005 brings back most of what made NHL 2004 so great, but there are several
distinct differences between the two.
Gameplay in NHL 2005 is a step up in terms of realism. The hits and checks are much more realistic, the AI plays a more plausible
form of defence and the outcome of a face-off are much more dependent on face-off ability. However, the create-a-player feature that was
very popular in NHL 2004 no longer exists. The management functions are much better in Dynasty mode with the upgrade costs being
much more reasonable, and the tracking of a player's progress is better. However, the statistics are less organized. To find the league
leader in scoring you will need to scroll through every team since there is no longer an "Overall" category.
The visuals of NHL 2005 are a nice step up. Motion is smoother and looks much more realistic this time around, not every check
is a crosscheck to the face. Now there are hip checks which send the opponent tumbling. Players can lose their sticks as well, although
they don't snap. Goalie saves look possible and there aren’t any ridiculous-looking saves where the goalie pops from sprawled to standing.
There are some phenomenal Dominik Hasek-esque stops, however, as goalies will flail their limbs if necessary. However, an odd clipping
issue does exist with players passing through each other in the clips after goals or penalties. Occasionally sticks will pass through
players as well, a common problem that continues to plague all hockey games.
The audio of NHL 2005 is seemingly a rehash of NHL 2004, with many of the same bands including some of their singles, and
the new bands failing to add anything new. The national anthem of the home team plays before every game, as well as for the victor of the
World Cup of Hockey. The play by play of Jim Hughson is not original at all, with the exception of a few new names. The commentary of
Craig Simpson is fresher, but as usual includes annoying one-liners and stupid comments that make a die-hard hockey fan cringe.
I would much rather hear Bob Cole and Harry Neale call the game. But, as the song goes, “you can’t always get what you want.”
Overall, NHL 2005 is a good game. Unfortunately, it only makes small improvements in the NHL franchise and it is lacking one of
the most enjoyable features in “Create-a-Player.” However, the fun of playing with your favourite stars of the fastest game on ice
is still there, and with no hockey being likely this year, this is one game you should definitely get.
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