NHL 2K6 Impressions

Theo · Post by **Theo** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:48 pm

I won my second game 5-1. It definitely has a learning curve initially. So far I am very impressed with the entire game. Can't wait to see how it looks and plays on the 360. BTW, is their an injury slider? I saw one when I started a franchise, but I don't see one in the regular options. I guess it's possible that there are no injuties in exhibition games.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 8:28 am

Theo wrote:BTW, is their an injury slider? I saw one when I started a franchise, but I don't see one in the regular options. I guess it's possible that there are no injuties in exhibition games.

I'm seeing a lot of injuries during my season. The good thing is that a lot of them are minor with guys missing a period or 3-6 days. I'm not sure about injuries during exhibitions.

I think this game is utterly fantastic. I haven't really seen many bugs *knock on wood*. I've had a few freezes, but my Xbox is about shot. I've seen the faceoff issue a few times. I think this series is a few minor tweaks away from reaching the bar set by Winning Eleven:

- work on the 2 on 1 and breakaway CPU AI. Too many times the CPU passes back to the point when it could easily put a shot on goal. The CPU will also frequently wait too long to shoot on a breakaway.

- add some more camera customization.

- make penalty shots more interesting. I've stopped all 3 against me so far on All-Star with very little effort (haven't got to a shootout yet).

- tone down the wrap-arounds. It's not nearly as bad as I feared from the early reviews, but they are too easy (I don't try them a lot, but the CPU can zip around the net and the puck is glued to the stick).

kicko · Post by **kicko** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 8:43 am

Yes i got the games and so far it is fantastic, no doubt the best $19.99 game and possibly the best hockey game!

Theo · Post by **Theo** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 9:25 am

There are 3 things that I HAVE to do to improve in this game:
1. Pass more frequently
2. Stay out of the penalty box (I enjoy checking way to much)
3. Win more faceoffs.

I never thought I would enjoy a hockey game this much.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 9:40 am

Theo wrote:3. Win more faceoffs.

Dimmu posted a tip earlier in the thread that has worked wonders for the faceoffs. You are probably hitting the button too early. Wait a bit longer and also watch the closeup. That has helped me win about 50%.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 11:31 am

There should be an injury slider for franchise. I havnt gone that deep yet but last year there was.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 11:37 am

Is there a way to have the player name appear under the opposing (CPU) team players? I can do it with my players with no problem.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 12:30 pm

I'm going to grab this baby in like an hour

BTW, has anyone tried Grog's sliders from last year? Sorry if I missed a post with that info but I'm hoping they work great

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 12:59 pm

Tried the sim settings last night and holy s***! The shots on goal were a little high (40-38 ) but everything else was great. Anyone looking for sliders should start out with the sim sliders and adjust from there.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 1:03 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:Tried the sim settings last night and holy s***! The shots on goal were a little high (40-38 ) but everything else was great. Anyone looking for sliders should start out with the sim sliders and adjust from there.

I've been screaming this from the hills since Thursday!

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 1:06 pm

BTW guys...after more time with the game, and confirmation from another guy (PK)...if you turn the "Net off Mourings" setting to ON, we believe that the whole "phantom goal through the back of the net" but won't happen.

Three of us who have turned that setting on from the get-go have NEVER seen the bug. I wonder if that really is the key to it. Try and it report back...I'm interested to know if that really is the case.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 1:13 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:BTW guys...after more time with the game, and confirmation from another guy (PK)...if you turn the "Net off Mourings" setting to ON, we believe that the whole "phantom goal through the back of the net" but won't happen.

Three of us who have turned that setting on from the get-go have NEVER seen the bug. I wonder if that really is the key to it. Try and it report back...I'm interested to know if that really is the case.

Make me 4. I've had the seting "on" since the day I bought the game, and haven't seen the bug yet either.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 1:23 pm

Sully wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:BTW guys...after more time with the game, and confirmation from another guy (PK)...if you turn the "Net off Mourings" setting to ON, we believe that the whole "phantom goal through the back of the net" but won't happen.

Three of us who have turned that setting on from the get-go have NEVER seen the bug. I wonder if that really is the key to it. Try and it report back...I'm interested to know if that really is the case.
Make me 4. I've had the seting "on" since the day I bought the game, and haven't seen the bug yet either.

I wish I could say the same but the first thing I did was change the Net off moorings setting to on and puck contact to full and it happened my very first game. I haven't seen it since though.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 1:31 pm

Really not too much else to add that everyone hasn't written. The game is a joy to play. Just a few ramblings....

The presentation has taken a step back, but it's not horrible by any means.

I love the icon passing! Especially when you have a 2 on 1 or a 3 on 2.

This version is much better than last year in that you can now set up your offense and pass the puck around. Last year it was one or two passes and shoot. Now I can pass it at least 3 to 4 times.

I still suck with "manual" shooting on. Gonna keep playing with it on, but I might have to switch down the road.

I downloaded a roster update on XBL last night, but Pronger is still on the Blues. After you download a roster update, you should go to load rosters, correct? I don't see the roster update to load.

Have only played a couple games, but it still seems the A.I. is shooting too many one timers. It was wonderful to see them shoot a wrist shot however.

I'm still experimenting with the camera angle. Right now I'm using the default camera and zooming back just a notch. However, it seems a little too far back, but at least I can see all my players. What is everyone else using?

I'm playing on "sim", but the skating feels a tad sluggish. Has anyone upped the pace?

That's it for now. Quite happy I bought this game. Oh, and I bought it used albeit a couple dollars less.

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 1:50 pm

I am getting my ass kicked on "SIM" even on Pro level....6-3 and 4-1 after 2 periods.

This is a good thing....I need to tighten up on D for sure.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 1:53 pm

sportdan30 wrote:I'm playing on "sim", but the skating feels a tad sluggish. Has anyone upped the pace?

Wow, really...I turned down the speed to 2. It was much too fast on default.

As for the rosters...just get these and use AR:

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

The 2k6 rosters are third from the bottom.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 1:59 pm

What camera is everyone using? I am sticking with default for now but I sure wish they would implement a custom camera, similar to the one in NFL 2K5 and the Basketball games so I could change the angle and height.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 1:59 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
sportdan30 wrote:I'm playing on "sim", but the skating feels a tad sluggish. Has anyone upped the pace?
Wow, really...I turned down the speed to 2. It was much too fast on default.

As for the rosters...just get these and use AR:

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

The 2k6 rosters are third from the bottom.

DB, do you know if those rosters have Jeff Carter, and Mike Richards on the Flyers?

Jima · Post by **Jima** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 2:50 pm

Sully wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:BTW guys...after more time with the game, and confirmation from another guy (PK)...if you turn the "Net off Mourings" setting to ON, we believe that the whole "phantom goal through the back of the net" but won't happen.

Three of us who have turned that setting on from the get-go have NEVER seen the bug. I wonder if that really is the key to it. Try and it report back...I'm interested to know if that really is the case.
Make me 4. I've had the seting "on" since the day I bought the game, and haven't seen the bug yet either.

Same here

RallyMonkey · Post by **RallyMonkey** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 5:10 pm

Have to agree. 2K6 is the winner this year again. I tried to like EA's offering but after having played the two this afternoon we have a clear winner BUT, what is the solution to the wrap around goal. It is a GLARING error and if there is no fix it could ruin the game. It isn't something that can just be an "oh i just won't do that" type of thing because it's a huge part of hockey. Someone help.

Everything else is terrific and this is without any slider adjustments, pretty much right out of the box but with manual shooting.

Also, is there an easy way to unlock the olympic squads? if this has been answered somewhere in these four pages i apologize, but i'm jamming this in prior to running out to dinner with the kids.

Thanks

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 6:55 pm

Just got the game today and so far it is playing great out of the box for me. Playing on pro level with the sim settings, 3/4 camera view zoomed the whole way out. Just updated my rosters and am ready to start my franchise.

Sully, I checked the Flyers roster from the save file that db posted and saw Mike Richards on there but not Carter.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 7:30 pm

I feel like a fool getting nhl 2006. All the impressions here for 2k6 are what I thought would be in nhl 06. 2k6 is sold out in my town so I'll have to wait until next week.

You guys play a lot of online yet? Hockey is probably the most fun online game.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 7:40 pm

I think the problem this year was that people wanted a change. 2k has been working off the same solid engine for the last three years (2k4 was the first ridiculously good hockey game, but with Uber Goalies). When NHL 2006 came out, people gave it a try and tried to convince themselves it was a good game...it's not. Some might like it...that's fine. But it's not a sim.

2k6 is a nice sim allegedly with a few bugs (which I have yet to see by the way). It's standard fare for the 2k games...I can't remember the last time they released a bug free game to be honest. But regardless...now that people are going back to the 2k series after realizing that NHL 06 was flawed itself...you're starting to see the praise being heaped on the series again. For the next few weeks, it will likely be the same. Remember...a lot of guys who are claiming that NHL 06 is the second coming...haven't even played 2k6.

It's all ironic to me...but in the end 2k6 will once again hold the crown for the best hockey game available. That's all there is to it.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 7:45 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:2k6 is a nice sim allegedly with a few bugs (which I have yet to see by the way).

Well, I can tell you it's not alleged. I've seen 1 goal through the back of the net and I've seen the faceoff bug 3 times (where the center doesn't quite make it to the face off). That's not preventing it from being the best hockey game I've ever played though.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 7:47 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:Well, I can tell you it's not alleged. I've seen 1 goal through the back of the net and I've seen the faceoff bug 3 times (where the center doesn't quite make it to the face off). That's not preventing it from being the best hockey game I've ever played though.

Hey...it's only true if I've actually seen it, which I haven't, so I have to say allegedly.