Good Game, but too similar to 2006

Nhl 07 continues EA's long standing tradition of building successful hockey games. EA's Nhl 06 was a huge hit and very enjoyable with a brand new mini game feature, RPM (realistic puck momentum), and the new skill stick (made use of the annalog stick on the game pad to help the player perform amazing deekes and score cool goals). This year EA divided its lineup into the next generation (XBOX 360, PS3) and the current generation (PC, PS2, Gamecube, and XBOX). The next gen game has tremendous graphics with ultra-realistic commentary from Bill Clement and Gary Thorne and a new TV style presentation. The current generation platform includes similar graphics to NHL 06 and the same boring and unrealistic commentary. This review will contain my experience s of the PC version of this game.

Gameplay

NHl 06 was a little too fast paced and had too many goals, so this year EA has decided to tone down the speed of the game and make the defense somewhat more aggressive and realistic. The problem is that the game runs incredibly fast and has has way too many hits. I have been watching hockey for nearly 10 years and have never seen over 150 hits in a game. The goalies, however, are much better and make realistic saves and leave rebounds. In this year's version you'll have to use a good variety shots to beat the goalies. also enjoyed the new skill stick as it allows you to do fancy shots and show up the other team with a flick of your annalog stick. The passing is a little bit better than most years, but is still too accurate, as both teams complete nearly 80% of their passes: the real life percentage is around 55-59%. I love the fact that EA allows you to customize how the game plays by allowing you to edit the sliders in several different categories. For instance, you can decrease the game speed. increase the checking, and do many other things ranging from aggression to puck momentum.

Graphics

I have a slightly old GeFoce 6800GT, but the game still runs extremely smoothly. EA didn't do much with the in-game graphics this year and it looks mostly the same as 2006. The players are slightly more detailed and you can now the see the wrinkles on the jersey, the helmets are a little bit duller, not so shiny anymore, and the arenas have a little bit more detail. However, the ads in the arenas are nothing like they are in real life and the ice sheet remains too dull.

Menus

In NHL 07, EA has managed to update the menus a little bit and they appear crisper and cleaner than years past.

Sound

After year of using generic goal horns, it is nice to see that EA finally put in the realistic ones. The music tracks are also updated and I liked most of the songs, but I still wish that the company would put in realistic arena sounds, instead, of the cartoonish ones they have now. The commentary remains dull and boring as ever, as the current generation people don't get the new ultra-realistic commentary from Bill Clement and Gary Thorne, instead, we get the boring tandem of Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson. The commentators repeat the same stories over again and rarely have anything interesting to say. I wish that EA would have put the new commentary of Clement and Thorne in because they make the game so much more interesting and have cool stories.

Franchise and Dynasty Mode

The Dyannasty mode has been updated and you now have to deal with the new salary cap. I have never been a fan of this feature because the game handicaps you by giving you inadequate medical facilities, managemet, scouting, marketing, and coaching. The gamer then earns upgrades by winning in the playoffs or the stanley cup. The reason why I hate this feature is because you often lose close games because your team's stamina ends, due to your bad coaching abilities.

Other Things

EA has updated all of the teams to have their proper jerseys and has added more European teams.

Overall

This game is pretty good, but I wish that EA would have given all of its customers the ultra-realistic graphics of the XBOX 360 game and not left us out. I believe that EA will update the 2008 game on the PC to have much better graphics. In addition, there are plenty of upgrade sites for the game including, arenacenter.net and on Sports Gamer I found the Double Minor Hockey Network, both of these sites offer cool add-ons for the game from realistic arenas, to updated rosters.

My computer

Pentium 4: 3.6Ghz with HT
Geforce 6800GT
Audigy 2ZS
1 GB PC5300 DDR ram
160 GB hard drive
16X DVD drive