General Play Review
That means I am going to avoid talking about the GM mode and the differences in Be a Pro mode in any detail. Why, because every review I have read, at least professional review, has talked about the lack of any innovation in this area (which is fair). Also because this area pertains to all aspects of this game...save GM mode.
So if the modes are not innovative surely something in the game play is going to be. Many people at this time have said no, but I disagree. (okay the board play and fighting but those were slight additions to the existing formula). Overall this game feels different, better, and more precise. The difference is in the gameplay options.
You are now able to control the level of AI assistance you will receive with passing; which opens up a whole new world to you. It Ranges from a high level of assistance (you don't have to worry where your teammate is the AI will find him) -to- complete control, including power and exact direction of the pass. It may take some getting used to but it gives the player a copious increase in possibilities. Do you want to headman the puck but the passing lane is plugged? Throw it off the boards. The idea of total pass control is not new to EA Sports, see Fifa series, but this is the first year it has been utilized in the NHL franchise, and it works beautifully.
For anybody with any on ice experience this set up comes naturally and for this reason alone NHL 10 is worth your money.
Oddly I find the two advertised changes in the game to be the worst. The board play is awkward, a lot of the time, with a magnetic looking pull to the boards occasionally. Once you are on the boards you don't actually protect the puck all that well. Your player is merely bracing himself on the boards with the puck loose in his feet. Also, for whatever reason, you will have a difficult time body checking the player, along the boards, with any real effect, regardless of angle or speed.
Secondly, the fighting is only slightly better. I wouldn't imagine this style would have been an improvement following most NHL games; given 09's terrible set up, it is. The First Person mode removes you from the fight more than anything. The controls feel awkward and unresponsive. And they are ultimately too short and too fast.
However bad these two portions of the game do look NHL 10 still looks better than 09. It is not perfect but the movement of the players is more fluid: The sticks move around the ice in a more realistic way (i.e stick handling pokechecking, recovery of the puck). The puck ricochets off players, or sticks, in a sensible fashion. And the body movements and positions of the players has a more intelligent feel.
On the downside there are some of the same frame-rate issues that were found in NHL 09, specifically Be a Pro mode in the corners. And where new glitches are gone, old ones have surfaced. None of these, however, remove from the whole experience, as they are few and far between.
The only thing holding this copy down is the unrealistic expectations set by its predecessor. If I thought this version had any real chance of breaking significant new ground (i.e EASHL/be a pro of last year) I would have been more disappointed in this game. I, however, do believe every small change made in this game adds up to a big success for NHL 10.