[Typhoid]

Here is some things on EA's game. And im liking what Im reading.


9 More days!!!!

A handy feature added this year is the ability to take control of an up-ice player when in control of the puck. With a simple button press, you can switch control to the pass-receiving player, get him in position, and then have the puck controller make the pass. This allows for much more-accurate setups for both attacking passes and one-timers.

The addition of a wraparound move is another authentic touch, and while we weren't able to notch a wraparound goal in our limited time with the game, it's nice to have such an integral hockey play as part of your offensive arsenal. Assigning the slap shot and the wrister to separate controls, which represent additional features in this year's game, provides another layer of control when it comes to burying the biscuit.

NHL 2005's new gameplay tweaks aren't just on the scoring side of the puck, however. Playing as a defenseman, you can now call for support during a breakout situation, effectively creating double-team opportunities on the fly, a useful technique when you've got a speedy Martin St. Louis bearing down on your goalie. The defensive artificial intelligence has been tweaked for the better this year as well. We saw one instance where the defensive AI broke up a pass by lifting up the opposing teammate's stick instead of going the harsher route by laying him out (and possibly drawing a penalty in the process).

Body size has an effect on the checking animations. A smaller forward checking a defenseman nearly twice his size might result in the checking player falling on his tail or merely bouncing off his opponent. Finally, the faces and body types of players and coaches are more accurate this time around, meaning the Flyers' rotund coach Ken Hitchcock no longer has the same lean physique as the Thrashers' headman Bob Hartley.

Tune in to any NHL broadcast and you'll hear tons of talk about team chemistry--especially chemistry within specific scoring and defensive lines. NHL 2005 has taken this idea into account this year with a very cool chemistry rating that's assigned to each line you put out on the ice. A high line-chemistry rating means an added bonus for each player in the line, while a line with no chemistry could result in a ratings penalty. The rating is determined by more than just the ratings of the individual players that comprise the lines but also by the skill set and style of play (such as playmaker, scorer, or grinder). Running out three superstar scorers on the same line, while tempting in a dream team sort of way, will likely result in a low chemistry rating and subsequent penalties for all players involved. For best results, choose complementary players to find that ideal mix of talent and player type to create scoring opportunities on the ice.

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