The NHL series just keeps getting better.
This is another classic in the NHL series. Having not played the series since about 2005 I'm not sure what features have been added from the previous years version so I will not be focusing on that.
In general this game is your typical hockey video game. You control the team, I mean that is the general idea. But in NHL 10, there are many ways to experience hockey.
The Be a Pro Mode (BAP), offers a gameplay mode where you get to create your own player, or play a current hockey start, and play them completely through their career. If you create your own player, you can choose any position you want to play, choose your looks and choose your equipment. If you use your own player you get to either choose a team, or you can simulate the real life experience by playing in the draft game and get drafted by a team. In this mode you'll have to work your way up through your career gaining skill points, being traded and playing hard to help your team win. You are graded on every game you play which results in you being move up a line or maybe moving down a line depending on your performance.
The Be a GM mode allows you to completely manage the team of your choice. You get to manage all aspects such as trades, drafts, scouting and the make up of the lines. You can move people down to your AHL affiliate team, or call them up to the NHL. Apart from being able to manage the NHL team of your choice you can also play every game, hoping to win and take your team to the cup. You are graded on your performance as the GM for the team, and by completing certain objectives your GM ranking will go up. Having a low GM ranking may mean that the team won't renew your GM contract when it is over, and having a high GM ranking means you are at the top and are a desired GM to have.
There are also other game modes such as tournament mode and playoff mode, both which are pretty self explanatory.
Apart from having all NHL teams and their AHL affiliates, you can also play with a number of teams from other leagues such as Elite Europe Leagues as well as the National League. You can also combine any match up of these as you desire. If you want the Calgary Flames to play team England, then it's not a problem.
The controls in NHL 10 are easy to get used to and very versatile. For those that enjoy that classic controls you can also use them. Gameplay is easy to control whether it be passing, shooting or hitting. A various number of settings and options can be changed so that you can customize the game experience however you desire. (Turn up injuries and aggression,and turn down penalties for a laugh).
Whether it be one of the single player modes, playing on one console or a system link with your buddies, or playing online, NHL 10 is a rewarding hockey game that offers something for players of every type and fun for everyone.