Gretzky NHL 06 PSP impressions

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:09 pm

Well, I picked this one up Saturday night because I was a fan of Gretzky 05 on the PS2 and I've been wanting a hockey game for the PSP. I skipped over the first PSP Gretzky because it didn't have play-by-play and reports of tremendous slowdown. Despite being disappointed in NBA 06 for the PSP (at least I didn't buy that game) I still thought Gretzky might turn out pretty good.

I'm really glad I decided to pick it up as I'm having a blast with the game. Those looking for a sim to rival NHL 2k6 won't take to it and those looking for a total arcade experience to rival NHL 06 might not take to it, but those who are looking for a cross between the two will find a lot to like about this game.

The graphics are good in this one. The player models and skating animations are nice and there is a cool fog effect during the pre-game in some stadiums. If you play the Sharks in San Jose they have the big shark head that they skate out of.

Gameplay, as I mentioned, is a cross between NHL 2k6 and NHL 06. It's an arcade based game that has some sim elements. One thing I noticed after watching a lot of the new NHL is that this game captures the feeling of the new NHL quite well. There's a lot of end to end action and plenty of scoring chances. The speed of the game out of the box is too fast but if you lower the speed all the way and change the default close up camera to the traditional camera things are much better. It's still a little fast but it's really fun. The speed and pace of the game coupled with the difficulty to stay in defensive position make this one feel a lot like NHL 94. I know, blasphemy, but I couldn't put the game down this weekend.

There are a few AI gaffes here and there but nothing to ruin the game. The new Wayne vs. Wayne mode is a blast too. It's basically a typical arcade 5-on-5 game with no offsides or penalties where you gain Wayne time by playing well and lose Wayne time by playing poorly. When you Wayne time fills up you can call Wayne Gretzky onto the ice for your team to earn a 6-on-5 powerplay with the Great One himself. There's also a 3-on-3 mode where you play to 3 (or more if you choose).

The shot totals are a little high (30-40 range instead of 22-32 range) but it's a lot of fun. Emerick and Pang handle the commentary and they're great as always. Overall, I'm glad I picked up the game.

HipE · Post by **HipE** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:27 pm

Thanks for the impressions Scoop, this game definitely sounds interesting. I also skipped last year's version because of the reported slowdown, I'm guessing that it has been fixed this year since you didn't mention it? Also, are the rosters reasonably up to date, and if not is it possible to create players and make trades? I'm guessing Crosby isn't in the game, but if I could just create him that would be fine.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:32 pm

HipE wrote:Thanks for the impressions Scoop, this game definitely sounds interesting. I also skipped last year's version because of the reported slowdown, I'm guessing that it has been fixed this year since you didn't mention it? Also, are the rosters reasonably up to date, and if not is it possible to create players and make trades? I'm guessing Crosby isn't in the game, but if I could just create him that would be fine.

I didn't notice any slowdown over the weekend. The rosters are fairly good but I didn't check for Crosby. I'm not sure on a CAP feature but I do know you can make trades. I'll check when I get home for Crosby and the CAP. I wasn't expecting much but I sure had a lot of fun this weekend with it.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:58 pm

Well, it doesn't look like there's a CAP unfortunately. I checked the Penguins and there's a Center by the name of Rookie.P but I haven't seen any way of editing the name. I know that will be a killer for some but I'm still having a blast with the game. Those looking for a total sim should steer clear though.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 9:01 pm

How does this compare with the PS2 version? Same gameplay?

slyguy · Post by **slyguy** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 9:15 pm

Thanks for the info Scoop i will go and pick this one up.Dam the PSP has some pretty good sports titles now,and with some good nonsports titles coming soon.Now i don't feel to bad that i bought the PSP

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 12:12 am

Ovechkin and Crosby are not named after the game but you can tell Sony refers to them in their proper teams as "rookie". Crosby'# is 0. Overall rosters are updated. I played 3 games so far under PRO level, the game is fast on default and I needed to lower the speed to 1. And while I think is an improvement over the previous version there were times when you try to control a certain player and for some weird reason, pressing X is a pain as the player closest to the puck keeps missing the puck. It's almost as its avoiding a HOT potato. Especially when the CPU is all over your zone and you try to ice the puck, get a jab at the opponent , whatever, but the passes are so fast that you just keep missing the guy closest to it and the X button is a fraction late to achieving your purpose.

It doesn't happen all the time but when the CPU tries to control the flow of the game in your D-zone primarily, it just seems that it's harder to break their pin point passes because you just can't control your player, again because of that 1 second lag in your control. Scoring is the usual one timer, rebounds and some nice slap shots from the point. Graphics are very nice and some players look remarkably close to their likes while others just don't.

I think if you can tinker with the gameplay settings a bit, you can make it truer to today's NHL especially by lowering the speed which I find too fast.
Camera angle is OK, while not perfect, the "team" camera angle is probably the one to use as it's focused on your player while letting you see enough of what your other guys are doing on the ice.

Refs call penalty fairly on both sides and winning faceoffs while on the PP is key to some of the great slap shots I scored on the opposition. Commentary is decent for a PSP although at times repetitive but for the only NHL action on the handheld, Gretzky is a game I would recommend only to the Hockey starved nuts for the PSP. A good effort but at this point it feels jsut a bit too slick for my taste.

Blublub · Post by **Blublub** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:57 am

Leaving aside the multitude of AI problems the first PSP version had, does anyone know if '06 will let you select alternate uniforms for your opponent? That really annoyed me about the initial release...

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:49 am

Blublub wrote:Leaving aside the multitude of AI problems the first PSP version had, does anyone know if '06 will let you select alternate uniforms for your opponent? That really annoyed me about the initial release...

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