NHL 2K10 (Playstation 2)

My husband loves it! Gave him a new challenge! Was a great purchase for me to him!

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I have stuck with the NHL 2K series over the last few years because the $19.99 price tag is tough to beat. That being said, I was more than a little disappointed with the transition from 2K9 to 2K10. It is quite literally the exact same game. I know they rush these games out early, and updates are available on-line, but the rosters did a poor job of reflecting off-season signings & acquisitions. AI feels the same, controls are identical, announcers repeat most of the same repetitive one-liners from last season, visual appearance is the same, and I think the music took a step back. When I purchase any sports game, I do so with the hope that it will build upon the previous year, move forward, and add a few new features. I don't think that was really the case here. I was disappointed to see that EA abandoned the PS2 this season, so it looks like I'm stuck with a near carbon copy of last year's 2K until I upgrade to PS3 at some point.

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I'll admit that I've always been a fan of 2K's sports games - NFL 2K got me hooked on the Dreamcast, and NBA 2K6 was one of the first 360 games that convinced me the system was worth the price. That being said, the NHL 2K series has had some bumps in the road lately. While 2K5 and 2K8 were stellar games, 2K9 and 2K10 have been lacking on the next-gen front. Oddly enough, though, the Playstation 2 versions of these hockey games have stayed consistent, and have maintained their quality over the years while the PS3 and 360 versions have been going through a bit of an identity crisis. The bottom line is, if all you have is a Playstation 2, NHL 2K10 should be a no-brainer. If you're like me, and you've played both the PS2 and PS3 versions, you may be surprised to learn that the Playstation 2 version of the game is surperior to its next-gen counterpart. How, exactly? Read on!

For starters, this year's game runs much, much more smoothly than the past few year's titles. 2K8 for the Playstation 2, in particular, ran at about 15 - 20 frams per second, making the game look choppy and rough. 2K10 runs at a solid 30, at least, and never slows down. The player models move very fluidly, and though they may not have all of the "stumble shot" animations of the PS3 version, the look like hockey players in motion. The players, themselves, look great for a PS2 game, with accurate player faces, glossy helmets, true-to-life jerseys, and full-body reflections in the ice. Overall, the game is similar to the past few year's PS2 2K hockey games, but it definitely moves a little smoother, and looks just a little more polished. The only complaints are the 2D crowd that looks like a cardboard cutout, and arenas that visually get the job done, but nothing else.

Online play is great, and works perfectly on a PS2 with a network adapter, or a backwards-compatable Playstation 3. Downloadable roster updates are already up, and there's more players online that I would have thought. This part of the game hasn't changed much of the years, but it still works very well.

Minigames like pond hockey and the mini-rink are back, as are the skybox and 2K beats. The soundtrack is pretty good this year (I like Phoenix's "1901") and never gets in the way. Speaking of sound, you'll probably have to tweak it a bit before you play a real game - the commentators are a little muted, while the arena sounds and stadium music are way, way too high. A little tweaking makes for a very realistic presentation, though, and the sharp audio and fitting commentary really make the game come to life. Fan Mail makes a return this year, too, so you'll have something to listen to during those pause menu breaks.

Lastly, franchise mode is back, but it's about the same as before. Schedules are inaccurate (doh!) but the season gameplay is great. You can still hire / fire coaches, sign free agents using the modern CBA rules, practice with your squad, assign training regiments, and roll the dice with "Opportunity Knocks" scenarios. If you've played a 2K hockey game since 2K8, you'll find this pretty familiar, but it's still a solid system.

The bottom line is that this year, 2K Sports has made more changes on-ice than in recent years, and it shows. The new aerial camera is great (though I still like Panametric the best) and the commentary is better than last year, as well. Turn the speed slider down a bit, and the game plays almost exactly like a real NHL contest, which is definitely what you want in a hockey video game! Adjustable controls mean that anyone can pick the game up and play it - if you want to use the buttons, or the right analog stick, or a combo of both, you can, and they all work perfectly.

Have no fear when shopping for this one, guys - for twenty bucks, you're getting a season's worth of hockey excitement. I only caution those who are looking for something drastically different than previous 2K hockey games. This game essentially has a new coat of paint, vs games from previous years, but it makes all the difference.

I'd take this one over the Playstation 3 arcade-heavy mess any day, and you should, too.

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