Here we are. Hockey season is upon us, and that means we get to hit the ice for another round with NHL 10. Last year's game won so many Sport Game of the Year awards that it'd be absurd to see an even better model so soon. But EA has done it again, they've made an even more perfect hockey game. Those bastards.
Let's dive right in.
One of the major changes touted by advertisements and press releases was the shift of perspective in fighting. Fighting in NHL 10 is now first-person. When I first caught wind of the change I immediately thought that this would go one of two ways: either it would be wildly game altering and amazing, or it would be a nuisance that kept players away from initiating conflict. Well, between myself playing offline and the rest of the world in the EASHL, first-person fighting change is welcome. I remember reading that they brought in some NHL enforcers when they were developing this aspect, and it shows. The fighting feels awkward but realistic. Two men square dancing on skates isn't exactly a symphony akin to boxing, no... fighting in the NHL is grubby, rough and all about being overpowered. That's how it works in NHL 10. Grab a dude's jersey and move it with the left stick, throw punches with the right and block with the Left Trigger. It sounds simple until your dainty little sniper gets nabbed by a grinder, power forward or tough guy. Yeah, then it sucks.
And they didn't just change the camera angle and controls when it comes to fighting. The EA Canada team changed up the entire set of dynamics that surrounds fighting. Whether you love it or hate it, fighting is a strategic part of hockey. Go after a team's star and get everyone riled up in a negative or positive way. A fight isn't just about the two guys squaring off, it's about the change in momentum that a fight can bring. Look to last year's playoffs when Pittsburgh was down by a few goals in Philadelphia. Maxime Talbot proceeded to be a general douchebag (love that guy) and piqued the angry interest of Dan Carcillo. Maxime got destroyed, turned to the crowd and gave a little "shush" face, with finger and all. The Pens went on to rally back and win that game, dismissing the Flyers to the golf course and advancing a round in the playoffs.
That kind of momentum change happens in NHL 10 and it's awesome. Just before starting this review, I was playing a game offline with my Be a Pro and we were down 3 goals. I picked a fight with the star of the other team, of course he didn't fight me, one of his enforcers stepped in. We fought and I pummeled the sorry bastard. Now, I'm spending my 5 minutes in the box. Sure enough, my team scored 2 quick tallies in time for me to skate onto the ice and tie it up. That's type of momentum shift happens a lot in NHL 10. So with the perspective change and the dynamics that surround fights, NHL 10 has made fighting in video hockey closer to what it is in the real NHL; a strategic choice with an outcome that can benefit a whole team and the crowd supporting them.
