Anyone else waiting for NHL 2005?

[kernkraft]

With the probable absence of professional hockey this year, like many canadians, I plan on playing a healthy dose of NHL 2005 (as well as playing the game on the ice of course). However, I've been finding myself looking on EASports.com everyday to see if they've released a demo already! Anyone else really looking forward to it too? I don't have a ps2 or xbox so I can't play that NHL 2k5 which really pisses me off.

What new upgrades do you guys think are really going to help the gameplay? Myself, I hope they've done the AI from scratch this year!

 

[Dr. Freeman]

personally im probably not.
i used to be a fan of EA's version of the NHL games but i feel after the 1996 EA's versions got too complicated and not enough about game play so i stopped buying after 1998.

have the newer versions been less complicated and better game play? just curious.

 

[kernkraft]

Well, that's hard to answer because I've never played the game before the 1999 version! I feel it's getting closer and closer to being like the real deal. Usually, I install it and play for maybe 2 months max and then I grow tired of having my star players doing donuts around the puck because they can't figure out where it is. This year though, I installed it the day I bought it and I still play it. The good thing about the game now is that you can customize the entire thing to how you like it. There are 'sliders' for every part of the game. AI, Physics, Gameplay, you name it.

The graphics are also pretty amazing. This year they say they actually modeled the face of every player instead of pasting a pixelated picture on the front face of cube like back in '99

 

[kernkraft]

Well, it seems I am the only one...

 

[Seppo]

You're not the only one. I'm looking forward to NHL2005, because NHL2003 wasn't as good as I would've thought. Now I hope NHL2005 will be closer to the smooth gameplay of NHL98. There's a big gap in my knowledge concerning EA's NHL series, because I lost interest in them after NHL 99. I still think the best in the series is NHL98.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

Well, that's hard to answer because I've never played the game before the 1999 version! I feel it's getting closer and closer to being like the real deal. Usually, I install it and play for maybe 2 months max and then I grow tired of having my star players doing donuts around the puck because they can't figure out where it is. This year though, I installed it the day I bought it and I still play it. The good thing about the game now is that you can customize the entire thing to how you like it. There are 'sliders' for every part of the game. AI, Physics, Gameplay, you name it.

The graphics are also pretty amazing. This year they say they actually modeled the face of every player instead of pasting a pixelated picture on the front face of cube like back in '99

i aware of the improvements made as far as customizing goes.
plus i heard there was a salary cap/GM system with 2004 (i might have the year wrong since i don't own it) and while all that stuff is attractive, i am more interested if they have improved the game play aspect of the series.

i remember for the 1996 and 1997 versions it was rather simple.. shoot, pass, fake shot and that was pretty much it.. when i tried these newer versions they had so many more complicated plays and such... err.. i was just turned off by it

whatever happened to the good ol' shoot, pass, kick em in the ass?

 

[kernkraft]

I hear ya Freeman, NHL 2004 had a dynasty mode in which you decided everything about your team, contracts, rosters, draft picks, arena and staff improvements, you name it. Try the demo of NHL 2005 when it comes out. Take some time to get accustomed to the controls and you'll be rewarded with some insane fun.

 

[thefiznut]

Anyone remember NHL 94' for Sega Genesis? ROFL I loved that game.

http://www.videogamecritic.net/genmo.htm#NHL_'94

Admittedly, i'm not a sports person at all, or even sports games. But hockey games are fun as hell, so I might get NHL 2005. It looks good.

 

[ship]

Anyone remember NHL 94' for Sega Genesis? ROFL I loved that game.

http://www.videogamecritic.net/genmo.htm#NHL_'94

Admittedly, i'm not a sports person at all, or even sports games. But hockey games are fun as hell, so I might get NHL 2005. It looks good.

Dude, you'll love this! I think. Try it out!
http://www.easports.com/free/games/nhl/home.jsp
Hit "Play Now."
It's so much friggin' fun and a good time waster.

Oh, and I've given up on both NHL franchises. I was buying too many sports games. I stick with Tiger Woods and MVP now. I buy ESPN NFL instead of Madden.

 

[Adidajs]

my fav hockey game of all time is N64 Wayne Gretzky. i played that game with my friends every friday for at least a year. soooo much fun.
the EA series is ok imo.