You may think, "Gamecube...ewwwwwwwwww." If you do, you're soooo wrong. This game is the great for lots of reasons. I got this game the day it came out. I wanted a die hard game of hockey. And boy did I get it. Not only are the graphics great, the sound and controls are amazing. Unlike the previous NHLs, the goalie is auto-save, so you can concern yourself with getting the puck. The shooting is distinguished with one button for wrist shot, and one button for slap shot. The previous games chose for you....that didn't help. There are many game modes, and you never get that bored. There's also the new feature Free 4 All, where you can pick your favorite player and compete 1 on 1 against your friends, or alone. This game is really better than it sounds, and should be part of your sports sim library.