NHL 06 PC
There are three things, thus far, that NHL 06 PC does better than NHL 2K6 on the Xbox:
-Better graphics
-Play by play calls players by their full name, which is kinda cool
-Rosters are much, much better
That's it. I have yet to mess much with the slider settings but on a 10 min period game, default medium difficulty, to see the Jackets beat Carolina 11-7 with each team firing 65+ shots...my god EA. I've played about 5 games on default medium and it's just hilarious to watch this game in action. It resembles NHL hockey kinda like how the Arena League resembles the NFL. It's technically the same game...but not really.
No need to harp on it, but if you like hockey and want a videogame that plays like it, get NHL 2K6. Unless the sliders can drastically, and I mean drastically, alter the way this game plays -- it's shelfware. Again.
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Dan:
September 22nd, 2005 - 22:20
The game is made to play games on a 5 min period, not 10, if you play on a 10 minute period, all your stats are double of what they should be.
Turn the speed down to between 0-2 and play a 5 min game, it takes some getting use to but it turns into the best nhl game ever made, i kid you not
Great azz game
September 22nd, 2005 - 23:50
I agree with Teebeebee. The game is made to play on 5 minute periods. I’m playing the Xbox version, Medium difficulty, default sliders, and the results to me have been excellent — shots in the 30-40 range on both sides, a good mix of scores (5-2, 5-4, even a couple of 3-2 games).
I’ve had such good experience with this game that I really am doubting people who think it’s so out of whack. I haven’t been a fan of EA’s NHL series for a couple of years but this is major fun. 2K6 just doesn’t feel right to me, and though NHL 06 is still more arcade-y in nature, they’ve balanced the gameplay out perfectly.
Just don’t play 10 minute periods!
September 23rd, 2005 - 02:02
The game needs some major adjustments in regards to scoring before franchise mode will be any fun. I have just finished my first 3 games in my Columbus franchise(5 min periods, “difficult” level, default sliders). The scores were:
Columbus 9 Wash 4
Calgary 9 Columbus 7
Chicago 8 Columbus 6
My Columbus team has 22GF and 21GA in three games. That is simply too high. I am on record pace to score the most goals in a season, while at the same time set a record for goals allowed.
While the games I played in were fun, the inflated scores really take the fun out of franchise mode for me.
-HJ
September 23rd, 2005 - 08:09
Changing the time to 5 minutes does not remove the fact that there is no CPU defense of any kind or CPU offensive philospophy other than “shoot the puck ASAP”. If a football game had this kind of play style people would freak out.
This is 100% pure fast break hockey. You can change that game speed slider all you want but it will not change the way the AI behaves. Tape to tape passes that never miss, rocket-shot backhands, spinning dekes, goalies that go double-pad for no reason whatsoever, and on and on.
I think NHL 05 was so bad that people are giving this thing way too much slack. of course if this is the kind of hokey game you want to play,, then more power to ytou. There’s certainly no correct amnswer for taste in games, but I don’t want to play pure speed hockey. I want to play something that at least resembles the real thing and thus far NHL 06 is nowhere near that.
I haven’t played this MP yet and maybe it’ll fare better than it does against the CPU. But every game is the exact same — teams do not use different play styles or tactics at all. It’s up and down the ice, as fast as you can go — over and over and over again.
Maybe you guys are right in that it is set up to play on 5 min periods, which says a lot about the kind of game EA is trying to make. On 5 min periods, who has time for a set play? Get that puck on goal and let’s get this party started!
September 23rd, 2005 - 08:47
Make sure you’ve patched your game. Also there is a bug in the game that resets the “agressiveness” slider. You can set it all you want before the game starts, but once the game starts, you have to pause the game and set it again. The current patch hasn’t addressed this bug yet.
The game is not perfect, but it’s much better than last year’s version, IMO.
I’m used to playing 10 min periods as well but I’m trying to learn to adapt to 5 minutes, it just screws with powerplays.
BTW, We really miss you posting over at the old HH site. I can’t remember how long it’s been since you were there… maybe when it was hh2004.net. We’re all hanging out at theperfectgame.net now. Stop by and say hi!
September 23rd, 2005 - 09:04
Yeah I loved the old HH Boards. A fantastic bunch of guys. I only have so much time to do the forum thing these days. Maybe if I get back into MVP Baseball, which I keep threateing to re-purchase for a baseball fix, I’ll stop by.
And yes, good point about the powerplays on 5 min periods. That is just so not for me. Again, there’s no accounting for taste in games, but I think NHL 2K6 is a vastly superior game, for me at least. I do agree that NHL 06 is better than 05. Last year it was unplayable and this year it at least has some identity.