NHL 2006 Impressions

rubba19 · Post by **rubba19** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:06 am

PC patch is for bug that updated rosters were getting written over by the default one.

I need to get this for PC when I finally get into my house. Up for a game then, JackB1 and anyone else with the PC version?

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:46 am

I've been playing the PC version a lot and having a surprising amount of fun with it. I couldn't stand last year's but I played about 12 games of a franchise in the first weekend I had it already.

hoserthehorrible · Post by **hoserthehorrible** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 12:38 pm

I think NHL 06 was meant to be a "fun" game and on that it delivers. It's not a perfect simulation of hockey for sure but it can provide a fun and challenging game of hockey if you let it.

There's lots of ways to score, there's lots of types of penalties called, the skating physics are very good, you can setup on the powerplay and pass the puck around, the CPU will attack you and score goals if you don't play sound defense, the fights are pretty good, and the new rules are all in the game (except the salary cap).

If you make a couple slider adjustments you can get relatively realistic scores and the stats aren't too bad although the hits and penalties are usually a little bit skewed in the human's favor. You can most definitely find a challenging game from the CPU if you adjust the sliders properly and the game does force you to play fundamentally sound defense.

Aesthetically the game looks great on a high end PC. The on-ice sounds and announcers are pretty good although I'd like to hear a new announcing team next year just because I've heard the same team for a few years now. The end of period replays are outstanding although you may end up skipping them after playing a lot of games.

There are some realism flaws in the game for sure. The defenders play too passively and let me enter the offensive zone and setup in the corners or behind the net. The passes are simply too fast and too tape to tape. The shots are too fast and too accurate as well. It's not uncommon to see 120+ mph shots. The CPU typically doesn't get enough penalties and also typically will get outhit. The goalies probably stack the pads too frequently and get out of position at times because they overcommit to the puck carrier or a pass.

Just like with any game, and I mean any game, if you want to there's lots of ways to adjust the sliders to make the game a farce. I think the majority of people will like this game although there will definitely be a minority that will hate it for various reasons. We'll have to see whether this is true by the sales that this game and its competitors put up. It's not an MVP 05 or WE8 masterpiece but it's a long ways from the NHL2005 or TriplePlay blunders EA has put out in the past. Overall, this is a solid fun type game but not a true simulation of the game of hockey.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 1:09 pm

I put all the details on the highest settings in 1280x1024 and use my XBox pad with the XBCD driver, and it's a joy.

I think the little right stick moves are probably too easy to score with (Sykora went crazy once) but it's better than getting stonewalled on every breakaway. Sliders will probably be a nice adjustment to that, but I love the way they move on the ice, don't magnet-control the puck constantly, and how the pace of the game is fast as hell.

I actually really like it so far, contrary to what I thought I'd think about it after reading a thread here and there.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 1:21 pm

TCrouch wrote:I put all the details on the highest settings in 1280x1024 and use my XBox pad with the XBCD driver, and it's a joy.

I think the little right stick moves are probably too easy to score with (Sykora went crazy once) but it's better than getting stonewalled on every breakaway. Sliders will probably be a nice adjustment to that, but I love the way they move on the ice, don't magnet-control the puck constantly, and how the pace of the game is fast as hell.

I actually really like it so far, contrary to what I thought I'd think about it after reading a thread here and there.

I am really loving 06...it's just a blast to play. I'm getting realistic shot totals and goals scored. I have yet to be blown out worse than 6-3 and i have yet to dominate the CPU. I played on Xbox live saturday night and it was just downright fun. You can't play on default live settings though because the game is set to play fast. you have to play unranked and change speed to slow. That really helps out a lot. NHL06 is getting mega play time from me right now.

GridIronGhost · Post by **GridIronGhost** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 1:28 pm

TCrouch wrote:I put all the details on the highest settings in 1280x1024 and use my XBox pad with the XBCD driver, and it's a joy.

I think the little right stick moves are probably too easy to score with (Sykora went crazy once) but it's better than getting stonewalled on every breakaway. Sliders will probably be a nice adjustment to that, but I love the way they move on the ice, don't magnet-control the puck constantly, and how the pace of the game is fast as hell.

I actually really like it so far, contrary to what I thought I'd think about it after reading a thread here and there.

Yeah, I'm liking the game too, got it at BB for $14.99. Had them price match Fry's $19.99 price and used my $5 off GGC (gamers gift card). That's a hell of lot cheaper then waht I sell it for.

I like the PC version better then the xbox version. Feels so much tighter with my PSX controller.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 1:33 pm

I am curious to know as more 06 fans are coming forward and saying that this EA's NHL is lots of fun. Which system are you guys playing with? (I know Hoser, rubba, tcrouch have the PC) Since the price for the PC version is not a big deal this year, I am tempted to give it a try. Having said that, I am still having a great time with 2K6.

hjb1 · Post by **hjb1** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 1:57 pm

TCrouch wrote:use my XBox pad with the XBCD driver, and it's a joy.

Are you able to program the "L" and "R" buttons on the XBox pad for NHL 06? I am testing out the demo, and it does not seem to recognize those two buttons.

I am using the latest XBCD drivers.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 2:07 pm

Yeah I have it set up as buttons 5 and 6 I believe...7 and 8 are the white/black buttons and back/start are 9 and 10. The axes on the R stick were the toughest to figure out but I got those after trial and error.

hoserthehorrible · Post by **hoserthehorrible** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 2:37 pm

I read a post elsewhere, from a fairly reliable poster, that it might be possible to increase the CPU penalties and CPU hits by adjusting each player's resist penalties ratings. It sounds like adjusting this will make the CPU players play more aggressiveley and they'll go after you with more hits and get more penalties.

This will require a global editor, like found in Suchy's NHL View editor, although you could probably edit each player individually if you were a sado-masochist.

I haven't confirmed this yet myself but if this works it might be possible to adjust the gameplay to play a lot more realistically while still maintaining the fun factor of this game.

hjb1 · Post by **hjb1** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:50 pm

TCrouch wrote:Yeah I have it set up as buttons 5 and 6 I believe...7 and 8 are the white/black buttons and back/start are 9 and 10. The axes on the R stick were the toughest to figure out but I got those after trial and error.

Thanks for the help. I have them all working now..

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 10:19 pm

you can now download the NHL editor for the PC version of NHL 2006 and modify the player attributes:

http://www.online-translator.com/url/tr ... _fixed.zip