NHL 08 [X360]

Among these "other good things" is the inclusion of every AHL roster. Now when you call up players, you are calling up true potential stars of the future. Then there is Goalie Mode, which puts you in the skates of a goalie the entire game. You watch from the goalie's perspective, with total control. Being a goaltender is not an easy task and if it proves too tough for you, at least you can switch out of the mode at any time during a game. Add to all of this a better player creation system and the ability to create teams. And last, but certainly not least, is the addition of online leagues with full stat tracking and the ability to play 3 vs. 3.

For all of the good things added this year, there are still a few areas in need of greater attention. The Dynasty Mode has seen some tweaks to smooth out problem areas, but hasn't been given any significant upgrades. The strongest improvement is with free agent signings. Players now take more than just cash into consideration. They also consider the success of a team, how many minutes they are likely to play, and the age of the team. This is then balanced against cash and play time to decide if it's worth signing. The Dynasty Mode is serviceable, but won't feel too different for those who played NHL 07.

Also lacking is a broadcast-quality presentation on the ice. While NHL 08 offers up quite a lot of features and has some nice moments during games, it does almost nothing to try to look like a dazzling NHL game. There are some standard overlays, but nothing approaching what EA's licensed partner, ESPN, might do. Sports games should either feel as if you are right in the thick of things experiencing the game as a player might or need to have the look of a TV broadcast. NHL 08 tries to split the difference.

Now for the bad news PS3 owners. EA once again does you a huge disservice. With its first NHL title on PS3, EA has really dropped the ball visually. While the gameplay and feature set is identical to 360, the framerate is not. And while EA would like to say the PS3 version runs at 30 frames per second, that's questionable. PlayStation editor Greg Miller put it best upon first seeing NHL 08 running on PS3: "It looks like they're playing hockey under a strobe light." You can still play and enjoy NHL 08 on PS3, but don't you deserve a perfect framerate? Shouldn't you demand a better-looking game? Write your Congressman and get EA to pay the PS3 a bit more respect. Nearly a year into its life, the PS3 should have sports games that run smoothly.

©2007-09-10, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved