Review – NHL 10
In a nutshell: NHL 10 from EA Sports is once again the absolute best hockey sim out there for any console this year.
Why you should play it: The board play engine adds more depth to the best offense and defense around. First-person fighting is quite possibly the best fighting ever included in a hockey video game. Atmosphere changes makes it feel more like real playoff hockey than ever before. Minor yet noticeable gameplay tweaks make NHL 10 that much better than its predecessors (and are very much appreciated by hardcore hockey fanatics). Online play is just as good if not better than before. New player customization options will be loved by many. EA uses the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” motto to near perfection.
Why you may want to avoid it: NHL 09 was so good and similar to NHL 10 that there are not that many good reasons to upgrade from many casual hockey fans out there. GM mode is a decent addition but feels more shallow than it should. Some computer controlled GMs are downright stupid with their trade offers.
Final Thoughts: The hardcore hockey fans out there will be upgrading to NHL 10 no matter what. For the rest of the crowd it really comes down to wheter a few gameplay tweaks and additions are worth the full price of addmission. If you are on the fence, wait for a price drop or holiday deal to pick this up. However, if you somehow missed out on NHL 09, or just want an even better hockey sim than that one, pick up NHL 10 as soon as possible. You’ll be glad you did.
