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NHL 2K8 (Xbox 360) Review (By.Zach Westfall)

So another season of hockey is under way, with all the big hits and backhand goals that we could ever ask for. For hockey fans like me, that means another installment of the hit 2K series. This time around, it’s NHL 2K8. This year’s installment brings a few nice updates, such as the new pro stick handling feature. This feature allows you to control how you move your stick with the right analog stick, meaning that you are now more up close and personal with the opposing goalies. You can maneuver your stick whichever way you want in order to trick the goalie, and this new feature makes goalscoring a lot more satisfying.

Another great thing about 2K8 is the new and improved superstar moves system. Superstar moves are basically moves that you can pull off with a superstar status player while on a breakaway, and you can do things like a fake slapshot, a crease stop, and a spinning shot, as well as my personal favorite, batters up, where you flip the puck up in the air and use your stick to drive it like a baseball bat. All of these moves work when executed properly, and all of them are beautifully animated. Speaking of animations, the player animations and facial expressions in this game are amazing. The players look completely realistic, right down to the sweat on their brow.
The sound in this game is amazing as well. The grunts that your players expell as they take a hit is completely spot-on and sounds as if someone actually took a bone-crunching hit in your living room. When a player is checked up against the boards, you can hear their pads nailing the boards with full intensity. And speaking of hard checks, that may be the only gripe I have with this game. The checking in NHL 2K8 is very, very brutal, and you’ll see hits that you would never see in a real-life game of hockey. The developers did not seem to take the size of players into account when it comes to checking; there is no way that Joe Sakic should EVER be able to completely level Chris Pronger, EVER. That being said, the hitting is actually very satisfying.
This game is also a great multiplayer game. It’s great to get a few buddies and go beat the virtual piss out of Detroit over and over again, as up to four players can play this game on each team at a time. Online play is also very smooth and very satisfying. It’s easy to find a match most of the time and the tournaments are very fun. I find myself spending entire nights playing this game online (if you want to play me, I’m lancer8869 and I’m chillin’ in the top 10 right now) and I’m always left craving more. The feedback system is also great as it lets you rate your experience with your opponent.
The gameplay is very smooth and free flowing, and all of the animations are nicely done. All in all this is a great game of hockey and you should definitely pick it up if you’re a hockey fan. It’s a very enjoyable experience that lasts, and you won’t be left feeling let down.

8.5/10