- Publisher: EA Sports
- Developer: EA Canada
- ESRB Rating: “E” for Everyone
- Genre: Hockey
- Pros: Great gameplay; nice presentation; Be A Pro mode
- Cons: Good luck scoring; not a huge jump from last year
NHL 10 poses a unique problem for me as a reviewer. It doesn’t seem that different from last year. I know people say that about the Madden games all the time, but at least I can articulate why the Madden games are usually better year over year. With hockey, that task is a little more difficult because I’m admittedly not as knowledgeable about hockey as I am about football, so perhaps there are some game-changing upgrades that I just can’t see. Kind of like all the nerds that hate Madden who can’t see the subtle changes that have a big overall impact. I can tell that is likely the case here. Hardcore hockey fans (and who else buys a super realistic sim hockey game other than hardcore fans) will eat up everything NHL 10 has to dish out.
NHL 10’s feature list is mostly the same as last year. Exhibition, season, dynasty, GM mode– all the good stuff. The great Be A Pro (best thing ever to hit sports games) mode is back and as good as ever. The options are a little beefier this year with a few presets (casual, normal, hardcore) that greatly change the speed of the game and other slider options. You’re also able, of course, to adjust sliders for everything on your own however you like. Another interesting option is to play with the simple two-button NHL ’94 controls. I gotta say, though, after using the normal controls going back to old controls is painful
Gameplay
With that thought in mind (no, not the bitterness that hockey is only on one channel, the “just like on TV” stuff), NHL 10 is really ridiculously accurate to the real deal. This is simulation hockey, and if you don’t know your stuff you aren’t going to score. The A.I. is just too good. The goalkeepers are just too good. If you just crash the net and fire off shot after shot, you aren’t going to score. You have to play realistically to score, and that makes the game incredibly satisfying when you do. Not great for casuals looking for high scoring, fast paced hockey, but there is another series that lets you do that.
Online play returns with normal single matches as well as the great EAHL. The EAHL lets you hook up with five of your friends and play teams made up of other real people. It is just amazing how smooth it all works and how seamless everything is. Even if you can’t get a full team together, A.I. players do a great job filling in the open slots. Local multiplayer is also available, of course.
Graphics
The graphics in NHL 10 are stunning. The players look great and are very smoothly animated. Not a lot has changed from last year, but goalkeepers have some new animations that can lead to some pretty spectacular saves. All in all, the arenas and players and everything else looks great.
Sound
The sound was a high point (in a sea of high points) in NHL 09, and that continues in 10 as well. The commentary from Gary Thorne and Bill Clement is still rock solid.
Bottom Line
