Xbox

ESPN NHL 2K5

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.