Hit the ice with EA Sports' NHL 06 for the XBOX. This entry in the NHL series builds on the 2005 version by adding new rules and an up to date rooster that includes just about every big name in the National Hockey League. NHL 06 includes everything from NHL 05, including the revamped shooting controls. New to the 2006 version is the use of the left analog stick for deking, which in hockey terms means to dodge and fake out defenders. The right analog stick is used to pull off fancy moves like a spin or between the legs pass. These fancy moves will distract goalkeepers, giving the gamer an opening to shoot. The drawback to these moves is that only superstar characters can pull them off regularly. The game includes many of the traditional hockey game modes, including dynasty mode. In dynasty mode, gamers will control their own hockey team and have to deal with outside pressures, sponsors, and more while trying to meet the team philosophy, which is different for each team. Other modes include single season, leagues and tournaments, quick game, and online play. The graphics of NHL 06 are top notch. This time, they've been tweaked to accurately show character size differences. The defense players and goalkeepers, who are traditionally larger players, actually look larger, while the smaller and faster scorers are indeed a little thinner and smaller. This is just one small change that adds to the overall amazing gameplay of NHL 06.
NHL 2K11 is an ice hockey video game, developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports. The game was announced on March 3, 2010, as a Wii-exclusive game. It was the first game in the NHL 2K series since NHL 2K7 not to be released on the PlayStation 3, the first since NHL 2K6 not to be released on the Xbox 360, the first since NHL 2K3 to not be released on the PlayStation 2, and the last game in the NHL 2K series to be released on the Wii, as the next entry in the series is released only on iOS and Android devices. Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick said that "As far as NHL, we're taking a year off on PS3 and Xbox 360 to refine, redesign and re-think". Then Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler is the cover athlete for NHL 2K11.
NHL 2002 is a video game released by EA Sports in 2001. It is the predecessor to NHL 2003. The game's cover man is Pittsburgh Penguins superstar and owner Mario Lemieux, who had just made a stunning comeback after being retired for three and a half years. It was the first installment of the NHL series to be released on Xbox.
NHL '95 was EA Sports' third licensed ice hockey game, promising the fastest action in the series to date. The action is viewed top-down, and can be played with or without realistic penalties. There is a full season mode, allowing you to guide a team through all 84 matches, with the option of injuries potentially putting players out of a sequence of matches. You have full control over trading and creating players for your squad. New in-game moves include dummy shots and lie-down blocks.
ESPN NHL 2K5 is an ice hockey simulation made by ESPN Videogames (now 2K Games) and published on the Xbox and PlayStation 2 consoles. ESPN's Gary Thorne on play-by-play commentary and Bill Clement on color commentary calls all the action. This is also the last NHL Game to be published by Sega.
In order to become a superstar in the NHL, you'll need a combination of speed, power, and moves. NHL 2003 gives you the abilities of all the stars and teams of pro hockey, but it's up to you to master them. This time, you have full control of the puck with Dynamic Deke Control and accurate puck physics. The game also features four game modes, including Create-a-Player, enhanced sounds and animations, and dynamic camera work to bring you closer to the NHL action.
NHL 2K is a series of hockey games by Visual Concepts for the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, iPhone, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and the Wii. Initially discontinued after the release of NHL 2K11 in 2010, the brand was revived on mobile devices in 2014. The games are officially licensed from the National Hockey League and NHL Players Association. While its games were released on consoles, its main competition was EA Sports' NHL video games.
NHL 2K9 is an ice hockey simulation made by 2K Sports, part of the NHL 2K series, and published on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles. It features New York Rangers, former Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Rick Nash on its cover.[citation needed]
NHL 07 is an ice hockey video game, released in 2006 as the successor to NHL 06. The game improved the series' gameplay with more realistic features, such as stickhandling and a wider variety of controller schemes. The Xbox 360 version features a completely revamped game and graphics engine from the predecessor, while the other versions are left behind with the old engine. It is the only game in the series to have a PSP version, the last installment to be released on Xbox, and the first installment to be released on Xbox 360.
Aside from the licenses, the gameplay for this edition sees for the first time the inclusion of the devastating one-timer shot, but to keep forwards (literally) in check, defenders also feature harder body checks, with new animations. For an additional challenge, players can also choose to control the goalkeeper manually. A popular feature in previous editions, fighting is completely removed from the game. Game modes include exhibition games (or "regular season" in-game), playoffs (best of one or best of seven) and an all new shoot-out mode. The main options remain basically the same couple since the establishment of the series - period length (5, 10 or 20 minutes), line changes (off, manual or the new automatic mode) and penalties. (off, on, on but no offsides).