ESPN NHL 2K5

Serious fanatics of the puck are divided into two groups: those that are fans of the EA Sports hockey franchise and those that are fans of Sega’s ESPN NHL game. Both hockey games put up quite a competition since both games play fluidly and realistically. Both always up the ante and offer improvements in practically every aspect of the game to the point that there’s something different every year. ESPN NHL 2K5 is this year’s entry in the competition to win hockey fans over and I must admit that not only is this game astonishingly priced just right (it retails for $19.99!) but it also has my vote for the best this series has released so far.

Much like the current console war, the sports gaming scene is truly Darwinian in its nature. This is particularly true of the sport of hockey, as only two companies are actively fielding…err, icing… a simulation hockey experience. As it stand now, SEGA and EA have each garnered plenty of support for their respective hockey franchises. Fans of each constantly point out the merits of one and the demerits of the other, but it can’t be denied that they are both solid franchises for different reasons. However, that being said, SEGA has really pushed ahead this year and is making a charge to be the leader in videogame hockey.

OK, maybe that’s a bit melodramatic, but that is easily the best way to describe the state of hockey fans at the moment. The bad news is that the sport of hockey seems to be headed south faster than the Pittsburgh Penguins after Mario Lemieux got injured last season, with deadlocked labor negotiations and a lockout well underway, threatening to destroy any hopes of a 2004-2005 season. The good news is that video hockey doesn’t have to deal with messy things like CBAs and salary caps. So, even if the players and owners never make up, Sega and ESPN have still dutifully provided fans with the latest version of their hockey game to help pass the time. Better yet, much like ESPN NFL 2K5 before it, ESPN NHL 2K5 is available for a budget friendly price of only $20, which even the owners and players could agree is an amazing deal.

ESPN NHL 2K5 is the best current-gen hockey game I've played. It seems I say that about Sega's game each year, but that's because Sega's ice hockey title always seems to improve. Despite the $20 price tag, developer Kush Games hasn't let the series slide one bit. If you love hockey or if you are simply a fan of hockey video games, there's no reason not to pick up ESPN NHL 2K5. Harder hits, smarter AI, better gameplay, a deeper Franchise Mode, and online leagues? Yeah, there's a lot going on this year to be happy about. It's not all perfect -- in fact, there are a few things I have major issue with -- but overall NHL 2K5 is the only hockey game you need.

Ice Hockey isn't really the most beloved sports for the average Belgian. Soccer, cycling or tennis, of those they know everything but if you ask them what a puck is, they'll look at you like a fool. Luckily there are publishers like Sega who managed to convince us with their NHL 2K series that hockey might be a quite alright sport. This series has recently gotten its latest update: ESPN NHL 2K5 and I was the candidate to check it out. With my past as ice hocket player I was quite enthusiastic even before the game arrived at my door.

When you combine the depth of gameplay, breadth of modes and quality of delivery with the salary-cap friendly $19.99 price tag, it’s easy to see how ESPN NHL 2K5 stays on top of its division. If there was ever a time that hockey fans needed a good game, that time is now, and that game is this one.

While there may not be a real season to keep hockey fans occupied this year, you can rest assured knowing that you will still have one of the best hockey games to ever hit the market. Hopefully it will ably fill the real-life hockey void for you. Visual Concepts and Kush Games have once again delivered an incredible hockey package that's filled with more game modes than you'll probably know what to do with. And once again they've orchestrated the best hockey gameplay you're going to find anywhere. If you're still on the fence for any reason, the incredible $19.99 price tag should be more than enough to convince any sane person that this is a game worth owning. Simply put, if you like hockey, you need to own ESPN NHL 2K5.

Mittlerweile ist es üblich, dass alle namhaften Publisher zum NHL Saisonstart in jedem Jahr einen neuen Eishockey-Titel herausbringen. Neben Electronic Arts, die schon seit mehr als zehn Jahren mit der „NHL“-Reihe nicht nur Genrefreunde begeistern, werkeln auch diverse Teams im Auftrag des US-Sportkanals ESPN an immer besser werdenden Titeln. Seit dem Milleniumswechsel steht nun das Kürzel „2K“ hinter den Titeln.

Last year, Tampa Bay struck down the NHL with a mighty thunderbolt and snatched Lord Stanley’s Cup away from Calgary’s flaming grasp. But unlike the old adage, lightning can, in fact, strike twice. As evidence, I present ESPN NHL 2K5, another bolt from heaven courtesy of Sega and Visual Concepts.

While there may not be a real season to keep hockey fans occupied this year, you can rest assured knowing that you will still have one of the best hockey games to ever hit the market. Hopefully it will ably fill the real-life hockey void for you. Visual Concepts and Kush Games have once again delivered an incredible hockey package that's filled with more game modes than you'll probably know what to do with. And once again they've orchestrated the best hockey gameplay you're going to find anywhere. If you're still on the fence for any reason, the incredible $19.99 price tag should be more than enough to convince any sane person that this is a game worth owning. Simply put, if you like hockey, you need to own ESPN NHL 2K5.

With no NHL season in the real world then it's even more important that the virtual hockey you play this year is as good as possible and the best game on offer has to be ESPN NHL 2K5. The improvements on last year's game are not huge but they don't really need to be. The Franchise mode is more satisfying and if you have a few friends around you can enjoy the additional Party modes. Like in the other ESPN games this year, the online mode has been trimmed from NHL 2K5 and once again this is unfortunate. Hockey is a game suited to online play and it would have been great being able to go online with such a superb game. Still at £19.99 the game's a fantastic bargain and all hockey fans who own a Xbox or PlayStation 2 should definitely pick this game up.

Das Lager der europäischen Eishockeyfans bleibt wohl weiterhin halbiert. In puncto Gameplay liegen die Vorteile noch immer beim Take 2-Titel, die Teams der europäischen Ligen sind aber weiterhin nur in “NHL 2005“ aus dem Hause “EA“ mit von der Partie. Da “ESPN NHL 2K5“ jedoch wie auch seine NFL und NBA Geschwister zu einem günstigen Preis über die Ladentische geht, kann man dieses Manko ein weiteres Mal leicht verschmerzen. Ansonsten erwartet den Spieler abermals alles was das Eishockeyherz begehrt und das ist jeden Cent wert.

There's tons to do, tons to play and tons to unlock in ESPN NHL 2K5 which will leave you playing right up until next years instalment, which I won't even bear thinking about. The fantastic Franchise mode will no doubt be the main port of call, and you could even spend time in the Dream Team section grabbing your favourite stars and beating the hell out of everyone with them. There's even a roster changer and a line editor which will keep you busy for a while. Hell, everything's here, there's stuff I found that I never knew existed in Ice Hockey, and it'll keep even the slightly interested and intrigued sports fans out there happy. All this for £20. Cheap as chips, depending on where you go.

Those minor issues are hardly enough to destroy the experience. With a meager $20 price tag, a NHL fan that will likely be denied a season this year has no reason not to pick this title up and simulate this season without collective bargaining. Even if it's not a major improvement over last year, the already solid engine was enough to make this one worthy for any hockey fans collection.

The actual season may be in serious jeopardy, but at least puck heads can count on getting their virtual fix, and it doesn't' get much better than ESPN NHL 2K5. Thanks to stellar graphics, an in-depth control scheme, and solid features, it sets the bar for what a hockey game should be, providing gamers with the best sim on the market this year.

The actual season may be in serious jeopardy, but at least puck heads can count on getting their virtual fix, and it doesn't' get much better than ESPN NHL 2K5. Thanks to stellar graphics, an in-depth control scheme, and solid features, it sets the bar for what a hockey game should be, providing gamers with the best sim on the market this year.

Yet another quality title ESPN NHL 2K5 is a great purchase at under $50. Once again the lack of online options is disappointing with the big difference being that EA's NHL 2005 includes online gameplay in PAL territories. Still if online gameplay doesn't concern you then this is a purchase you won't be disappointed with.

There is no reason for any hockey fan to be without ESPN NHL 2k5! Add one low price of $ 29.99 (CND) to jaw dropping NHL hockey action and you have a sure winner. ESPN NHL 2k5 is the best virtual experience of hockey to date. Pick this sucka up!

Recognizing that most gamers are just casual hockey fans (if that), ESPN incorporated an interesting new "party mode" for one to four players. In this collection of mini-games, you can challenge friends to collect icons, traverse an obstacle course, or engage in a free-for-all shootout. It's not worth buying the game for, but it certainly adds to the replay value. In the final analysis, I think it's safe to say that ESPN NHL 2K5 is the best hockey game on the market right now.

ESPN NHL is the most realistic, complete hockey experience of the year, and if NHL labor negotiations go as expected, that will include the real thing. Gameplay, Stats, Franchise and online leagues – everything you could want is there. The only things it's missing are the game-breaking bugs found in many sports games. And it's $20. This is the second excellent sports game offered by Sega for $20, and that price still comes as a shock to any sports fan accustomed to paying $50 for games that aren't half as good.

Sega has done what they wanted to with the $19.99 price point for NFL 2K5 - increased its popularity. SEGA decided to follow through with the same price point for all of its sports titles, and at twenty bucks, ESPN NHL 2K5 ends up being a steal. Especially when you consider that this may be the only hockey that is played this year, or scarier, that this is the only hockey that anyone cares about.

In the US, there’s some confusion as to the future of the National Hockey League. Sadly, because I have no interest in delving into what’s going on, I won’t bore you with the details of this selfish and pathetic situation plaguing the rinks across the pond. If you’re interested in the sport that much you’ll already know, and if you’re not: why the hell are you reading this review? Look, I’ll save you some time and tell you that if you’re looking for a worthy NHL game this year, this should be the only game you pay attention to for a long time to come.

It is easy to ignore a game like this. It is a simulation of an American sport that is only played by a few people in Europe. It has also been released at a Budget price. However, don't let either of these points prevent you from taking a look at ESPN NHL 2K5. As far as fast entertaining sports games go, this is up there with the best of them. Had online play been included this would have been a no-brainer, but considering very few other budget titles are this polished, it is hard to complain.

We'll get the bad news out of the way first. There's a good chance there won't be an NHL season this year. The good news? For 20 bucks you can have a kick-ass game to simulate the "season that never was." Want better news? You won't even have to wait until the cooler fall weather to hit the virtual ice. Thanks to Sega's ESPN NHL 2K5, you can experience this year's iffy NHL season while the boys of summer are still worried about pennant races and the guys on the gridiron have yet to play an official down.

It is easy to ignore a game like this. It is a simulation of an American sport that is only played by a few people in Europe. It has also been released at a Budget price. However, don't let either of these points prevent you from taking a look at ESPN NHL 2K5. As far as fast entertaining sports games go, this is up there with the best of them. Had online play been included this would have been a no-brainer, but considering very few other budget titles are this polished, it is hard to complain.

American sports channel ESPN’s coverage of US sports is so well renowned for presentation and depth that when they got together with SEGA and developer Visual Concepts to produce the ESPN series of games it became immediately apparent that the stranglehold that EA Sports had over the American Sports games market was seriously under threat.

The World Cup of Hockey aside, this is proving to be a cruel year for puck players. So thank whomever you'd like to thank for video games, where hockey isn't just alive, it's better than ever. And especially thank Sega, who've taken this year to tweak ESPN NHL 2K5 into the sweet spot, making their solid game more powerful and just as fun to play.