NHL 5-on-5 2005 Hockey may be strangely named, especially since there's currently no NHL 2005 season, and, barring the success of any upcoming negotiations, there may never be one. However, the latest simulated on-ice offering from THQ Wireless delivers a nice distraction for anyone missing the beleaguered sport. So while NHL 5-on-5 2005 lacks the variety to be truly great, it does a good job of simulating the excitement of hockey on the surface level.
The only option in the game is to play a single match between any two of the 30 professional hockey teams. One team is operated by you, while the other team is operated by the game's artificial intelligence. You set up play through either the "play game" or "quick game" option, and the only difference is that quick game sets you up with a randomly generated scenario. In both modes, however, you can adjust the team selection and home/away options to your liking.
The gameplay on offer is a simplified version of the sport that consists almost entirely of passing and shooting...and very little else in terms of variety. There are a few other options on the ice that you can turn on or off, such as penalties that can be accrued for either offsides or icing only. There is also an option to change your lineup midgame, but the effects of this aren't noticeable, because players don't get particularly fatigued. The one very useful additional feature is the turbo button, which is critical to successful scoring.
Gameplay is quick (at least on our LG VX7000 test handset), much like the real deal. It's also fun, mainly because it mimics hockey's tradition of infrequent scoring. So when you do actually net a goal, there's a real sense of accomplishment. The AI-controlled goalies on both teams are adept at blocking, and as a result, bagging a goal becomes a real challenge. Unfortunately, even if you aren't always successful, the method for scoring is too formulaic. It's much easier to stick with one player so that you can employ the turbo and diagonal-movement buttons in tandem rather than relying on the passing game, which hurts the overall dynamic of NHL 5-on-5 2005 Hockey.
The player you control is automatically chosen, and he appears on the ice with a star outline just below him, which turns red when you have control of the puck. The problem with character control is apparent only when you're on defense, because the automatically chosen player is not always the one closest to the puck. If one of your nearer AI-controlled players manages to gain control of the puck, which puts you back on offense, you'll take charge of that character. However, a button to switch the controlled player would have benefited the defensive gameplay substantially. Moreover, the puck is stolen pretty much every time you cross paths with a member of the AI while not using turbo, which is another reason to keep your finger close to the turbo button.
Although there aren't a lot of options and details in this game, its audiovisual aspects are well done, if a little minimalist. The graphics are designed particularly for function, and though they aren't flashy, they don't ever detract from the gameplay, which is nice. The sound adds to the action, since there are appropriate noises to signify body checks, passes, and goals, and these are, like the visuals, much more helpful than they are distracting.
NHL 5-on-5 2005 Hockey is a simple but fun hockey game that may relieve your hockey doldrums for a short while. However, it could have ideally backed up its enjoyable gameplay with more variety and options. So even though it's pretty entertaining, you'll probably get tired of it before the Stanley Cup gets its next layer of dust.
