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

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 6:31 pm

Glad to EA is back at it...I'll can't wait for my rental copy to get here.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 6:33 pm

I just returned home from EB with ...

NHL 2K6.

The 2K series never has let me down, and as "fun" and "fluid" the EA game might be, I just can't shake the feeling it won't be as realistic as NHL 2K6 despite the improvements.

Impressions later tonight.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 6:39 pm

tjung0831 wrote:After playing two more games of NHL 06 i'm sold. I believe it's EA's finest effort ever for a hockey game. I just played as Vancouver at home against Edmonton and was shutout 4-0 and every single goal that the Oilers scored was because of my mistakes...didn't feel cheated on one damn goal. Very weird to see Pronger back there patroling the Blue line for the Oil. While I know that 2K6 will be fine game i'm extremely happy with my decision. NHL06 is everything I expected and more and I think it majorly helps that I haven't played an EA hockey game since NHL 2004.

Tim

A buddy of mine picked up EA and he was saying that it's a complete reversal of 05. The skating engine is making the difference for him and that's what hockey is all about. I am still tweaking with the sliders on 2K6 but I will be picking up 06 as well. Good to hear good things on EA.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 6:50 pm

I just Tjunged a game of NHL06 during my trip to pickup NHL2k6 and I was extremely impressed, especially with the skating model and puck physics. It took all of my willpower not to walk out with it.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 6:58 pm

I went back to the store to play some more and the more I play the more I like it. The game is so much more open than what I was use to with 2k5. The last EA Hockey game I played the heck out of was the original one for ps2 and this has somewhat that feel to it.

I played this on the ps2 kiosk but for those who have xbox, how does the game look? Is it up to par for an Xbox game or did EA shortchange Xbox in the graphics department like they did with madden?

The fat guy over at gamespot seemed to be pretty dead on when he said nhl06 was vastly improved in his preview a few months ago.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 7:00 pm

F*CK ... I just read at the 2khockey.net forums that some bugs have arisen already in 2K6, and one puckhead over there claims the hitting is excessive, even with the slider turned to zero.

Good thing I didn't take the cello off NHL 2K6 because I might be heading back to EB tonight. I'm seeing too much praise of NHL 2006 and reading too many niggling flaws about 2K6.

Damn it!

Take care,
PK

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 7:09 pm

Damn, I'm glad that I don't have release day fever for the first time in a while.

Keep the impressions coming, boys.

hrudey32 · Post by **hrudey32** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 7:32 pm

hello, my old friends....yeah, i still lurk around here....just don't post much. i, too, am holding off on a purchase for a day or so. the 2k series has become stale to me. i, like Paul, enjoyed NHL2004 but 2005 blew. but i guess i'm waiting to hear some thoughts before i go get one of the games. my playing time is pretty limited though i still play the heck out of Batman Begins.

so please guys...keep the impressions coming. i must admit though i'm kinda leaning towards NHL2004. i want a realistic experience but i'm also a sucker for a good presentation, camera angle and skating engine so we'll see what everyone has to say.

you guys wanna see what i've been up to check out the following links. thanks guys! i miss you fellas!!

hrudey32 aka known as marc anthony bowden

www.widowusa.com
www.myspace.com/widow
www.myspace.com/marcanthonyproject

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 7:54 pm

How could I forget hrudey and your famous sliders for 2k in the past. I've been playing 2K so far and as usual it needs a lot of settings adjutments, all I can say is don't give up on 2K6 yet, although it sounds that it finally has some competition from EA this year.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 7:58 pm

pk500 wrote:F*CK ... I just read at the 2khockey.net forums that some bugs have arisen already in 2K6, and one puckhead over there claims the hitting is excessive, even with the slider turned to zero.

Good thing I didn't take the cello off NHL 2K6 because I might be heading back to EB tonight. I'm seeing too much praise of NHL 2006 and reading too many niggling flaws about 2K6.

Damn it!

Take care,
PK

I think the hitting is damn near perfect in NHL06...the best i've seen yet. It's not a checkfest like the past ea games. This and the fact that i'm now 0-5 on the medium level is a good sign. The average score so far is 4-2...it's good stuff for sure. Also the roster update is already out on live and that makes everything pretty much golden.

blueduke · Post by **blueduke** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 8:06 pm

From a poster at 2Khockey.net:

Pros
-Nice scoring variety
-Online is better, nobody can cancel your replay, better feedback etc
-Slapshots have some heat on them!
-Surprisingly I like the announcers. Cole's pbp is great and Neal's cc isnt that bad.
-Music is way better, no more lame cockrock thank god.

Cons
-Takes way too long to get a shot off sometimes
-HITTING IS EXCESIVE really guys, I dont think 1 person complained there was too much hitting in 2k5 yet they cranked it up. Its almost EA style hitting. I had Daniel Sedin laying out every player he touched.
-Extremely obvious line change bug WTF??
-Cloutier has a normal size goalie mask, this really pisses me off
-Dammit they kept slapshot the same as dive poke so I STILL cant skate into a slapshot without diving at the puck #*$^#*(&$(*#&
-Some of my goals have felt spoadicly weird and unearned (EA like)
-Still cant use Canucks green and blue original jersey online

I am sure I will add to this list, only played 2 games.

Glad I haven't opened it yet but I'm not going to rely on one review. Funny none of the other posters so far complained about excessive hitting. Lockups during instant replays have been the main gripe. Thus far tjung and a couple of others has me wishing I'd purchased EA's game.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 8:11 pm

pk500 wrote:F*CK ... I just read at the 2khockey.net forums that some bugs have arisen already in 2K6, and one puckhead over there claims the hitting is excessive, even with the slider turned to zero.

Good thing I didn't take the cello off NHL 2K6 because I might be heading back to EB tonight. I'm seeing too much praise of NHL 2006 and reading too many niggling flaws about 2K6.

Quit browsing forums looking for bugs and just play it already.

Have you ever considered investing in a shrink wrapping machine? It could save you alot of money, allowing you to rent new games for free.

All kidding aside I bought and have played a few games of 2K6 and it seemed fine to me. I had a couple slapshots for goals and I use manual shooting. Of course I was born and raised in Texas so anything I say puck releated should be taken with a salt lick.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 8:32 pm

Ya just play the game pk. I mean what is it 20 bucks? Just sell it towards nhl if you dont like it.

Sometimes those game sites dedicated to one particular game can suffer from a dose of over-analyzation.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:17 pm

OK, call me a Frosted Flake. I went back, returned NHL 2K6 and bought NHL 06.

It should have been my MO all along. The 2K series is a known quantity, so that should have been my backup. But I can't ignore the praise about NHL 06, so I'm giving it a whirl. Just a gut feeling.

Yeah, I should have just bought both and sold one when I'm done. But I've never brought home two games of the same sport at the same time, and I'm not breaking that streak.

Yeah, I'm a freak. But I love hockey, and I take hockey gaming as seriously as most of you cats do football. I'm just getting a really good vibe about NHL 06 and not a great one about NHL 2K6. Totally subjective, I know.

Impressions later, after I record the podcast.

Take care,
PK

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:21 pm

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.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:30 pm

ScoopBrady wrote: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.

2k QA testing strikes again?

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:31 pm

With the recent 2K sports games, it is definitely wise to wait a day or two to find out if there are any freezes, franchise issues, or weird gameplay bugs.

I haven't played an NHL game since 02's presentation mesmerized me on the PS2. Definitely sounds like it could be worth at least a rental this year.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:46 pm

Also when you download the roster update some of goalies on new teams are wearing their old masks...just go in to the editor and you can change that. I saw some guys complaining on other sites about it...it's pretty easy to fix.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:48 pm

I just read some of the 2khockey.net forums and that guy that posts here 'TRI', posted there. Assuming it's the same person.

Well he is ripping 2k6 and from what I remember, he is a big 2k sports guy, anti-ea. So if he is ripping a 2k game....

I hope he can post on here with some impressions of both games.

also......for nhl06, how are the xbox graphics?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:51 pm

OK, the podcast can wait. I popped in NHL 06 and played a quick game, and I'm feeling like a bit of a dick for making two trips to EB.

NHL 06 is improved, but it's still too carnival for me.

Impressions from a Calgary at Edmonton game on Medium skill, the second-highest level:

First, the speed of the game, passes and shots is way too fast. So I turned down the pass speed to 0, and pucks still rip around the rink, tape to tape. You'll never miss a pass. Your only hope is to turn way up the pass interception slider. I turned the shot speed down to one click, and every shot has the same speed -- still too fast.

But the big bugaboo for me is the utter lack of checking in the neutral zone and board play. I know the NHL is trying to open up the game with these new rules, but the neutral zone looks like an open house for a gorgeous home on your street. Just walk right in -- come on down. It's so f*cking easy to enter the offensive zone it's not funny. No defensemen tried to stand me up at the blue line.

And there is no cycling of the puck whatsoever by the CPU team. They'll tic-tac-toe it around the circles and the slot, but not behind the net. I never was pinned once. Hell, I was barely checked, and I fiddled with those sliders.

Oh, you better turn penalties up considerably because I saw zero at default. None. Not one. The rinks also feel smaller than in ESPN NHL 2K5 to me.

Finally, the right skill stick is silly. Everyone, including goons, can do a spin-a-rama.

It's only one game, and I'll give it more time. But this game is NOT NHL 2004, based on my first impressions. It's improved over NHL 2005, but my first inclination is that this game is getting way too much love here and elsewhere. It's not the sim that NHL 2004 was and definitely not the sim that NHL 2K5 was.

More impressions to come. I need to tinker with the sliders, big time, to see if this game can resemble a sim at all.

Positives include the graphics, which are nice, the roster update already on XBL, the international league and national teams, and the skating physics. But the skating physics aren't the same or as good as NHL 2004. They're kind of a hybrid of NHL 2004 and NHL 2K5. Better than 2K5, but not as good as NHL 2004. And NHL 06 has nowhere near the amount of cool animations you saw in NHL 2K5, not at least in the game I played.

P.S.: Bummer to read about the glitch in 2K6. That's not the first glitch that's been reported, either, sadly.

Take care,
PK

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:53 pm

I downloaded a roster for 2K6 and just started a season on Pro. I'll probably have to bump it up right away to All-Star. I won 4-2 at NJ after falling behind 2-0 early. Crosby had 3 assists and the announcer even said his name, which was nice. I had fun. The simulation setting was good, but still needs some work. The hitting is not *that* bad as in frequency, but I do think some of the hits are too hard even at the lowest level. It doesn't really bother me much, but could bother some hockey sim nuts as players end up on their ass a bit too much for my liking.

I've had 3 freezes already with 2K6, but I'm hoping that it is just my crappy Thompson drive (another reason I am getting a 360 at launch...I'm not sure how long my Xbox will last). Only one ended up in a DDE. The rest came back, but I lost the announcing for awhile.

Only video games can make a penalty shot boring. I hope the next generation of games has better sound and atmosphere.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:54 pm

Leebo33 wrote:I've had 3 freezes already with 2K6, but I'm hoping that it is just my crappy Thompson drive (another reason I am getting a 360 at launch...I'm not sure how long my Xbox will last). Only one ended up in a DDE. The rest came back, but I lost the announcing for awhile.

Sadly, Leebo, a lot of freezes at various points are being reported in the forums at 2khockey.net. NHL 2K6 might be cryogenic.

Take care,
PK

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:57 pm

Leebo33 wrote:
I've had 3 freezes already with 2K6, but I'm hoping that it is just my crappy Thompson drive

.

ehh......

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:58 pm

pk500 wrote:OK, call me a Frosted Flake. I went back, returned NHL 2K6 and bought NHL 06.

It should have been my MO all along. The 2K series is a known quantity, so that should have been my backup. But I can't ignore the praise about NHL 06, so I'm giving it a whirl. Just a gut feeling.

Yeah, I should have just bought both and sold one when I'm done. But I've never brought home two games of the same sport at the same time, and I'm not breaking that streak.

Yeah, I'm a freak. But I love hockey, and I take hockey gaming as seriously as most of you cats do football. I'm just getting a really good vibe about NHL 06 and not a great one about NHL 2K6. Totally subjective, I know.

Impressions later, after I record the podcast.

Take care,
PK

I cracked and got it too on my way home from work tonite

Lets try and hookup online for a game tonite

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:58 pm

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