Difficulty:

Hard

Time Spent:

10 to 20 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Overrated"

PROS: Graphics are amazing and players animations are top notch. Voice overs, crowd cheering and overall game sounds really capture the feel of watching an actual game on TV. The gameplay is good since you have entire control of what you want to do with the puck or when you're on defence. deke, protect puck, raise stick, etc. It takes pratice though. Shooting using the right analog pad is a neat idea and works almost fine (later on that...). Lots of play mode but...(later on that too). The fact you can play as either NHL, AHL, vintage NHL, International and so on is a nice addition.

CONS:This game may be fun but there's a serious difficulty problem. It's too hard to score goals and too easy to get scored. I mean, even if I play at pro does not mean the CPU has to win on cheap goals like my goalie's a freakin' peewee player!! ( some goals almost had me send flying the controller out the window!) The way CPU wins games smells cheating all over. And what's with all those shots that go 10 miles passed the freakin' net??? I know you have to barely press on the corner of the control pad to shoot on the corner... but that's ridiculously inaccurate and too sensitive. Anyway. Ho.. and no complete season mode... yes you have be-a-pro mode which is kinda nice but... come on EA... removing features is like coming back years before.