NHL 2K8 [X360]

How good are you with your stick? Because, we're telling you right now, so-so isn't going to cut it in NHL 2K8. If you take your beloved hometown team out on the ice and can't control the puck, your socks are about to get rocked. This game isn't your typical hold down turbo, drive to one side of the net and knock it over to your wingman for a one-timer.

Realism reigns here.

It's almost virtual hockey season, and 2K is back with its beloved skate-based series that packs smooth visuals and a laundry list of NHL and worldwide teams along with a revamped control scheme.

Now, the left thumbstick will control your player while the right thumbstick -- dubbed the Pro Stick -- will control your … er … stick. If it sounds goofy, wait until you see it in action. The Pro Stick will allow you to govern where your players are keeping the puck on the ice. If you want it just out of a defender's reach, you push the control stick away from the opponent. If you have a pest in the way and want to drop the puck behind you, push the stick down. On defense, the right stick's going to be your precise poke check and -- if you hold it down -- the bane of anyone stupid enough to try and pass the puck by you.

Of course, your Ed Belfour-types aren't going to have the same Pro Stick range as Mark Messier. As 2K took us through a Vancouver-themed demo before letting us hit the ice, it was clear that superstars like Markus Naslund would have no sweat dropping the puck between their legs and using their stick to go wide; however, defenders such as Mattias Ohlund will only have a fraction of that kind of maneuverability with the biscuit.

The stick slapping doesn't end there. When things get heated and your goalie drops to the ice to cover the puck, pushing the Pro Stick in a given direction will have the goalie toss the puck that way. When the ref's about to drop the puck at face off, you'll slam the thumbstick to one side, and when the zebra drops it, you'll release the stick to swipe. Go too early, and you'll get warned. Go early again, and the ref will kick you to the side and a computer player will take over leadership duties while you sulk on the circle.

With control hinging on the two thumbsticks, it's no surprise that the Pro Stick factors into passing and shooting. Although the left bumper passes on offense and changes players on defense while the right bumper shoots, the direction of each move will be dictated by the Pro Stick. Sure, it doesn't sound that impressive, but the first time you extend your stick to the side of a defender and slip the puck to an otherwise blocked teammate, you'll see the benefit of total control.