NHL 2K6 and NHL 06 out this week...

[pigpen81]

No freezes for me in 2 games with my new Xbox...the game feels good.

On All_Star I got hammered 2-1...wasn;t that close, and 2-0.

Hitting isn't that bad IMO....did see the no C in face-off once so that is true...but at least I won the FO..haha

Glad I picked it up for sure.

[pk500]

Thanks for the impressions, PK. I'm glad I held off buying 06, although I will certainly give it at least a rental.

I wish I had your self-control today, especially with gas at $3.25 per gallon. Usually I do, but today I just melted over the thought of playing a great hockey game.

I don't think NHL 06 is that game at all, but I need to give it a LOT more time.

Take care,
PK

[AcemanPR]

Just played two games of NHL2K6 and I love it! I haven't found any of these bugs yet, nor am I searching for them.

The game animation this year is so smooth. Love the presentation too. I won my first game against the CPU 3-0 playing on Amateur level, kind of dicking around. The CPU wasn't doing much of anything. Then I bumped it up a couple notches to All-Star and what a different game. Playing on default settings, the game played great. I won 2-1 on a wrist shot off the cross bar with less than a minute remaining. My first goal was from an awesome deke to fake out the goalie.

I'll give NHL06 a shot, but NHL2K6 is certainly one hell of a hockey game IMO.

[Inuyasha]

PK:

How are the graphics for the xbox version? Are they washed out like madden or vibrant like ncaa?

[Sudz]

bought both....

i'm really digging the EA offering...

still needs more time and some tweaks...but i think it might be a what i go with for the season.

[pk500]

PK:

How are the graphics for the xbox version? Are they washed out like madden or vibrant like ncaa?

A mix of both. So-so.

Take care,
PK

[tjung0831]

Thanks for the impressions, PK. I'm glad I held off buying 06, although I will certainly give it at least a rental.

I wish I had your self-control today, especially with gas at $3.25 per gallon. Usually I do, but today I just melted over the thought of playing a great hockey game.

I don't think NHL 06 is that game at all, but I need to give it a LOT more time.

Take care,
PK

dude this game rocks!!!! Take those anti EA glassess off!!!

[pk500]

Just played another game, this time on Difficult setting. I turned all speed assists and game speed to zero clicks. Same with shot accuracy, pass speed and shot power. Turned pass interceptions all the way up, and turned up aggressiveness to nearly max.

And I don't know how much more of this I can take. This is torture.

The f*cking pass speeds are a joke. Detroit moved a puck tic-tac-toe from behind my goal to nearly my blue line in about a second -- bing, bang, bing -- with the pass speed set to zero.

Shots remind me of the old FIFA games -- all too fast. There is no board play, no neutral zone play, no pinning. Nothing. It's up-and-down hockey, even with the speed set to zero.

I haven't missed a pass even with interceptions maxxed out. Two of my shots have missed the net, and the CPU hasn't missed the net once -- with shot accuracy turned to zero.

I'm really scratching my head at this one. I can't believe people are blowing this game. Maybe NHL 2005 was so bad that people are willing NHL 06 to be good. It might be fun, but it's not a sim. Not even close.

More playtesting to come. I owe it to myself to give this game a very good chance, and two or three games are not a proper chance.

But honestly, I don't know how much more I can take. My distaste for this game is very strong, especially since I drove back to EB, 20 minutes each way, to get it.

Take care,
PK

[tjung0831]

Shots remind me of the old FIFA games -- all too fast. There is no board play, no neutral zone play, no pinning. Nothing. It's up-and-down hockey, even with the speed set to zero.



Take care,
PK

Uh...isn't this what the new NHL wants...a freed up neutral zone that flows which gives team the opportunities for more offense. They want to get rid of obstruction in the neutral zone. They want up and down hockey with increased scoring chances. It's a new NHL and you and the 2K series are still stuck on the old NHL! LOL!!! Change is good!!!!

[pk500]

Uh...isn't this what the new NHL wants...a freed up neutral zone that flows which gives team the opportunities for more offense. They want to get rid of obstruction in the neutral zone. They want up and down hockey with increased scoring chances. It's a new NHL and you and the 2K series are still stuck on the old NHL! LOL!!! Change is good!!!!

Tim:

Nowhere in the new rules did the NHL make the neutral-zone a non-contact zone or outlaw checking or pinning ANYWHERE along the boards.

NHL 06 doesn't have a freed-up neutral zone. It has the Oklahoma land rush of 1889 on ice.

Now I know you like it because you're not a big sim guy when it comes to hockey. But if you want a sim like me, you'll be disappointed with NHL 06, plain and simple.

Take care,
PK

[Inuyasha]

Shots remind me of the old FIFA games -- all too fast. There is no board play, no neutral zone play, no pinning. Nothing. It's up-and-down hockey, even with the speed set to zero.



Take care,
PK

Uh...isn't this what the new NHL wants...a freed up neutral zone that flows which gives team the opportunities for more offense. They want to get rid of obstruction in the neutral zone. They want up and down hockey with increased scoring chances. It's a new NHL and you and the 2K series are still stuck on the old NHL! LOL!!! Change is good!!!!

Maybe he's talking about something different. Even though I enjoyed my time at the kiosk, there were times where each team would make 2 to 3 rushes in a row to each others net. Sort of like basketball.

[pk500]

Precisely, Weaver. Well said.

(Sorry, dude, you're always going to be Weaver to me just like Sean Combs always will be Puff Daddy to me. )

Take care,
PK

[JRod]

I'm glad PK is willing to sacrifice $3 a gallon for us cheap basturds that will only get a hockey game if its close to the quality of say MVP. Which it sounds like neither games are that good. Not bad but not that good.

Thanks Paul. To make you feel better, I once bought FIFA twice in the same day.

[pk500]

Uh oh. I popped in 2k6 and was able to play 1 period. For the first 19 minutes of the period I was loving it (7 minute period with last minute real time) but what happened in the last minute pissed me off to high heaven. It was a scoreless tie and all of a sudden I was down 1-0 on a play from behind the net. I was wondering how the hell the puck went in and after going into the replay I discovered that the wing put the puck through the back of the net and it counted. This better be a very, very, very , very rare occurance or else this game is ruined.

Scoop:

Sorry, you're not alone:

http://forums.operationsports.com/vBull ... p?t=140451

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Another 2K6 bug I've seen reported at OS and 2khockey.net:

From OS:

Re: Official Bugs/Glitches Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by chrisg21
Has anyone seen the faceoff bug where the centerman, either yours or opponents just circles around, and never actually lines up for the faceoff? Ref just drops the puck while the centerman skates back and forth.

This has happened to me a bunch of times in about 5 games.

chris


Yes sir! I have seen it several times and it is usually in my zone the L/R of my goalie. My center just hangs back and the CPU wins it clean.

Also, I have experienced a bug where I couldn't change my lines during some face off breaks. It has nothing to do with the new icing rule.

Take care,
PK

[dbdynsty25]

I've played about 5 games...I'm impressed with 2k6, but I'm fairly bored. It is almost exactly like last years. 20 bucks for the new rules I guess is worth it. The announcing sucks ass compared to last year. Anyone who says otherwise is lying to themselves. BORING cannot begin to explain how crappy the commentary is.

The game on the ice is solid though...I haven't seen any of the bugs you guys are talking about yet.

[10spro]

Pk, having played a couple of games on EA and tweaking the pass speed, do you wish you didn't go the store twice? I haven't had any freeze on 2K6 yet.

[pk500]

Pk, having played a couple of games on EA and tweaking the pass speed, do you wish you didn't go the store twice? I haven't had any freeze on 2K6 yet.

You bet I wish I stayed home instead of racing to the store at 8:30 p.m., getting there 10 minutes before it closed.

Live and learn, I guess.

Take care,
PK

[Leebo33]

I've played about 5 games...I'm impressed with 2k6, but I'm fairly bored. It is almost exactly like last years. 20 bucks for the new rules I guess is worth it. The announcing sucks ass compared to last year. Anyone who says otherwise is lying to themselves. BORING cannot begin to explain how crappy the commentary is.

The game on the ice is solid though...I haven't seen any of the bugs you guys are talking about yet.

I was kind of unimpressed after the first 3 games, but now I'm really seeing a lot of improvements. I was a little surprised at how many goals I scored on All-Star in two games (9) with the default simulation sliders. I'm using updated rosters and the Penguins are loaded with offensive talent though (these rosters even have Malkin...the announcers say his full name too).

I'm seeing much greater goal variety than last year. The CPU still f*cks up most breakaways by skating too close before getting a shot off. Either manual aiming is easier or I just "get it." It seems like it is more of just a simple quick flick of the joystick while holding shoot than before. My fading reflexes can handle that.

Did I accidentally mess with the sliders or does the CPU have a built in speed burst advantage on default? I had to put it to even on All-Star after giving up 20 breakaways in one game and I never purposely touched a slider. Odd.

[dbdynsty25]

Where'd you get the rosters? Thanks!

[Leebo33]

http://www.2khockey.net/downloads/filesystem/index.php

BTW, I have seen the face off issue once...no biggie. I haven't seen any other bugs.

[dbdynsty25]

Thanks Leebo.

[pk500]

Lord, NHL 06 is getting worse the more I play it. More problems:

-- I'm averaging one to two penalties <b>per game</b> with the penalty slider <b>maxxed</b>.

-- My defensemen are making no-look passes, while pinned along the glass behind their net, to forwards up at the blue line. What, are they using the reflection of the glass for vision?

-- The lack of hitting is appalling. I'm deliberately trying to use contact situations, such as taking a small wing along the boards while entering the zone and just leisurely skating along the boards toward the corner. The defensemen <b>NEVER</b> leave the lane to pinch me against the boards and take me out of the play. Never. I'm rarely hit in the neutral zone, too.

-- I saw an 89-mph wrist shot from the low crease to the goal.

-- The CPU goalie covers the puck once or twice <b>per game</b>, on average.

-- The CPU never ices the puck and rarely goes offsides. Once per game on the offsides, if lucky.

-- I have shot accuracy set to zero, and I've seen the CPU miss the net <b>once</b> in a bunch of games.

I have the most sim settings I can find. Zeroes on speed, speed boost, pass accuracy, pass speed, shot power, shot accuracy; maxxed on pass interceptions, player fatigue, aggressiveness, checking. And this does nothing to help this game.

Man, what a bag of goods this game is. I can't believe people are calling this a hockey sim. It's not. The more I play it, the more it's closer to NHL 2005 than NHL 2004, except for EA hasn't toned down the physical play. It's removed it.

Take care,
PK

[hoserthehorrible]

In NHL 06 I'm getting all sorts of penalties; tripping, hooking, slashing, elbowing, holding and fighting. Also got called for a haul down from behind and a penalty shot was awarded. The penalty slider isn't even maxed out yet. The CPU doesn't get called as often as I do though. Perhaps 2 or 3 penalties a game for them.

The CPU doesn't go out of its way to hammer you this year for sure. They keep you to the outside or behind the net and won't attack you unless you just sit there. However, try going to the net and they'll definitely attack you. Also, try making a pass to the slot and they'll intercept a lot of passes and attack the player receiving the puck. With the sliders I have my one timer passes are getting picked off quite frequently.

My goalie and the CPU goalie will cover the puck if there's an opponent in a dangerous position. It happens frequently in the games I've played. The key is to skate toward the goalie and look for him to pass the puck. I've picked off an errant goalie pass and hammered it home for a goal. I've also forced the goalie to cover the puck numerous times. As for my goalie, I control whether he passes it or covers it.

I haven't see an icing by the CPU yet, that's something that should obviously happen more often. I do see offsides by the CPU frequently though. They won't go offsides if you just let them skate through the nuetral zone. However, if you stand up and try and make a play at the blueline the CPU will go offside fairly often. The other thing to consider is that touch up offsides will result in fewer offside calls. This rule is designed to do just that because the offsides are no longer automatically called. Instead, the players can retreat from the zone and the offside will be waved off.

I think both NHL 06 and NHL2K6 have strengths and weaknesses. I don't see one game playing a vastly superior game of hockey to the other. I think what we have are two games that are both fairly good yet they both have room for improvement. I think the reason you see a wide range of reports for and against both games is because of this and because a lot of people look for the flaws in one game or the other and almost want the game to play like crap so they can say I knew <insert your least favorite game title here> was flawed.

If you happen to like the NHL XX series and not like the NHL2K series then you can easily make your case for NHL 06 and against NHL2K6. Similarly, if you're a fan of the NHL2K series and don't like the NHL XX series then you can easily argue your case the opposite way as well. I think it's all about personal preference, perception, and what game you really want to be better. The good news is that there appears to be a couple games to choose from and one of them will likely satisfy hockey gamers if not both.

[blueduke]

Lord, NHL 06 is getting worse the more I play it. More problems:

-- I'm averaging one to two penalties <b>per game</b> with the penalty slider <b>maxxed</b>.

-- My defensemen are making no-look passes, while pinned along the glass behind their net, to forwards up at the blue line. What, are they using the reflection of the glass for vision?

-- The lack of hitting is appalling. I'm deliberately trying to use contact situations, such as taking a small wing along the boards while entering the zone and just leisurely skating along the boards toward the corner. The defensemen <b>NEVER</b> leave the lane to pinch me against the boards and take me out of the play. Never. I'm rarely hit in the neutral zone, too.

-- I saw an 89-mph wrist shot from the low crease to the goal.

-- The CPU goalie covers the puck once or twice <b>per game</b>, on average.

-- The CPU never ices the puck and rarely goes offsides. Once per game on the offsides, if lucky.

-- I have shot accuracy set to zero, and I've seen the CPU miss the net <b>once</b> in a bunch of games.

I have the most sim settings I can find. Zeroes on speed, speed boost, pass accuracy, pass speed, shot power, shot accuracy; maxxed on pass interceptions, player fatigue, aggressiveness, checking. And this does nothing to help this game.

Man, what a bag of goods this game is. I can't believe people are calling this a hockey sim. It's not. The more I play it, the more it's closer to NHL 2005 than NHL 2004, except for EA hasn't toned down the physical play. It's removed it.

Take care,
PK

Thank goodness I didn't break down and go exchange 2k6. I started to a couple times-even had my car keys out on one occasion. With your usual detailed review and other's impressions of 2k6 I opened it and popped it in the xbox. Not bad so far (4 games played on All Star default). Have yet to see any of the glitches others have mentioned but the hitting is frequent but not over the top. Looks like EA went from one extreme (EA Sports Rock'em Sock'em Hockey 2005) to the other (EA Sports Powder Puff Hockey 06).