[360/PS3] - 10 Things about NHL2k8

[bapenguin]

Last year's NHL2K game was a bit of a disappointment for some hockey fans. Electronic Arts finally stepped up to the plate and delivered an innovative new control system for a console hockey title while 2k7 was only a margin of an upgrade over 2k6. The folks at 2KSports have returned this year with NHL2K8, and they hope to deliver what many hockey fans craved last year.

Lots of information on the game came out in a recent conference call for NHL2K8 with Ben Bishop - Producer, Visual Concepts, Scott Krager - Project Manager, Kush Games, and Colin O'Hara - Lead Designer, Kush Games. Here are 10 things you may or may not know about NHL2K8 for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/previews/nhl2k8/nhl2k8thorton.jpg
10. Franchise mode has gotten a total overhaul complete with: Contract negations, a player growth system, realistic salary cap, player eligibility, free agents, restricted free agents, holdouts, and more. All these steps can be player controlled, or can be automated.
9. Much like the mod scene of Hockey on PCs 10 years ago, NHL2K8 will feature branded player specific equipment. Goalies will sport the correct pads, players will show off the correct stick, skates and gloves. Kush has stated that MOST of the players will have the correct equipment, but if not roster updates will include the specific equipment.
8. Online play has been completely tweaked. Player specific game sliders are now up-loadable and sharable online, and are easily loaded at the beginning of online matches.
7. The overall presentation has been improved featuring brand new commentary as well as a new "stitching" system for the commentary to make it sound more natural. Crowd audio and animations have been updated as well as new cut scenes and stat overlays.
6. The new NHL uniforms are available in the game, though they will be unlocked once the NHL officially unveils them. According to Kush, the actual uniform look isn't THAT different, it's more about weighting and moisture resistance, etc.
5. The graphics have gotten a huge upgrade with all new player models and faces. A new lighting engine is also in place for players and stadiums.
4. Puck physics have been greatly improved for more realistic deflections off players, goalies, end boards and goal posts.
3. The game features a brand new pro stick control that sounds quite a bit like EA's control method for NHL 2007. This is even used for an all new face off system that is said to be the most authentic face off system to date with tie ups, winger support and more.
2. While both games are identical running at 60FPS on both PS3 and 360, Xbox 360 owners get the ReelMaker highlight creator and custom soundtracks while PS3 owners get SIXAXIS control.
1. Superstar moves have been added to the game which allows skilled players to pull off crazy dekes and shots. Not every player is able to actually perform the move, which is entered in a button combo kind of maneuver. The one example they gave is the Peter Forsberg move (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2Yt6rXPi84&NR=1). I just hope the Datsyuk deke on Turco (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4CD84qo9Eo) is in the game.

[Heretic Machine]

I'm not a big hockey fan, but I do enjoy video games based on the sport. I really need to pick up a new one, so I'll definitely watch for reviews on this one. I had been considering picking up 2k7, but if this one turns out to be well received it might be worth the full price.

[ezzkmo]

Damn it bap! I was just playing 2k7 and forcing myself to believe that I don't need the new version this year. You owe me 60 bucks.

[Telefrog]

2. While both games are identical running at 60FPS on both PS3 and 360, Xbox 360 owners get the ReelMaker highlight creator and custom soundtracks while PS3 owners get SIXAXIS control.


It sounds like PS3 owners got the shaft again. Why couldn't they get the highlight creator as well? Is there a technical reason?

[grandepolloloco]

after seeing the difference between nhl 07 and 08 on the 360 I might actually be picking this up.. I was a HUGE fan of 07 but after the demo it left a "meh" feeling..

[bjornbarspingvinen]

Played the NHL08 demo, it was better than NHL07 , but somehow it felt predictable, I can´t really get into 08s inferior Defense controls. NHL2k8 really looks promising this year. The ability dependent deke system, imrpoved goalies, new gfx and all the other improvements sounds really nice!

I am excited to see how NHL2k8 will play!

[ColdForged]

I just hope the Datsyuk deke on Turco (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4CD84qo9Eo) is in the game.[/INDENT]

It is. They actually have a clip in one of the preview trailers showing Datsyuk pulling off The Datsyuk :). Don't recall if it was against Turco or not.

Honestly this is almost certainly the best year yet for video game hockey. Both studios are playing for keeps and coming out with new features and, more importantly, more believable hockey and the biggest winners will be us. I'm definitely buying both this year as I think they'll each have something good to offer.

[Kadoo]

11 things
It's not available for the wii.

Nor is NHL08 I'm a little pissed off. 2 year drought without hockey on the wii! Ouch.

You know 2k sports you are in a constant battle with EA. If you were smart you would release a version for the wii. If there is no competition people will buy your version.

I know a lot of people who are die hard EA Hockey fans. They won't even look at the 2K series. This could be a way to sway a few fans.

Ice hockey the best hockey game you can play on the wii 2006 till ????

[ZanderKeith]

I just wish they'd port 2k4 or 2k5 ..... cuz they been taking steps backwards ever since them dayz.

[Ted Huge]

I've been waiting a long time for a new-gen hockey game with solid enough graphical presentation / player models that I will be able to tell who the players are based on how they look, rather than hoping to spot their numbers.

Good choice of Turco giving up the goal there, Bap. I know he was a consultant with Kush in previous years, and I think they brought him in again this year to advise on all things crease-related.

I assume the reelmaker feature allows one to not only create but upload highlights? That's tempting.....but sixaxis control might be the step to convincing my wife to play. She can finally wave the controller through the air and actually have it do what she's trying to make it do.

Can't wait for this.

[Jack B]

BA, I love your "10 things about.." posts. I'm a big sports fan, but haven't played hockey in a few years. This could be the year. I don't follow hockey at all though, so we'll see.

The one thing that's bothered me about hockey games is the relative size of the players. I'd prefer smaller players and more room to skate. Small gripe, but it often looks very crowded. I remember playing Wayne Gretzky (I think it was Wayne Gretzky) hockey on the Amiga. You'd lead the players around with the mouse cursor and had a much higher view with relatively smaller players on the ice. The farther away you had the cursor, the faster they would skate. You'd pass the same way, buy holding the mouse button and then quickly placing the cursor where you wanted to pass. I guess most people didn't like it as much as I did, because I think that style went away years ago.... I was really into that game back then, but haven't been since.

[sprankton]

not sure if I will pick it up, because I choose NHL07 over 2k7. I don't know what it is about the 2K Hockey game that I just don't like. The game play videos from E3 and what not just turned the whole thing off for me.

I loved NHL07 with a passion and will not play the 08 demo, because EA sports demos are bad. I don't know what it is, but the NCAA 08 demo had me scared, but when I got the full game it felt different, in a good way.

Anyway, I may gamefly it.

[Franjo]

I've always loved the 2k hockey series, I d/l the NHL demo and was floored with the fluidity, graphics and the control stick. Like someone else mentioned...it feels like you don't have the proper tools on defense. To me not being able to swing your stick on D in any direction is not a good thing. Makes me feel naked while playing D.

I do like the little things in 08. Like when you score a goal, the player starts his celebration in the same skating path you were in. A small but nice feature. Also the puck physics are terrific, passing the puck around the offensive zone is great, also being bumped off the puck is a good thing too. I also like the fact that it isn't a hit fest. One other gripe is the saucer pass, seems too weak and not high enough.

Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to trying the 2k game. I'll wait until someone from the 2khockey.net forums comes up with some good sliders..I'm looking forward to starting a season.

[MrE]

Hopefully 2K nails the stick controls cause it took EA 2 years to get it right. After playing NHL 2007 and now the demo of 2008 on Live, I think EA has a winner this year. I've always sided with the 2K series for its "better than EA" game play, so I hope it doesn't take them as long to get pro stick play to work well.

[ColdForged]

Like someone else mentioned...it feels like you don't have the proper tools on defense. To me not being able to swing your stick on D in any direction is not a good thing. Makes me feel naked while playing D.

I don't know, I've found the revamped stick sweeping to be completely comparable to 2K7's defensive stick sweeping. And the mechanic to lay down the stick works well, too. In what way are you not able to sweep the stick on D that you feel you should be able to?

[Franjo]

I don't know, I've found the revamped stick sweeping to be completely comparable to 2K7's defensive stick sweeping. And the mechanic to lay down the stick works well, too. In what way are you not able to sweep the stick on D that you feel you should be able to?

Hmmm maybe I missed something...I'm at work right now so my memory may be incorrect...you use LB to get the stick on the ice, is there a way to swing the stick back and forth on D? If I use the right stick while holding LB, does that swing my stick in whatever direction I press with the right stick?

[ColdForged]

Hmmm maybe I missed something...I'm at work right now so my memory may be incorrect...you use LB to get the stick on the ice, is there a way to swing the stick back and forth on D? If I use the right stick while holding LB, does that swing my stick in whatever direction I press with the right stick?

The RB makes a return from last year as the stick sweep on D. However, it's been improved since last year given that in NHL07 when you tried to stick sweep you couldn't change your skating direction or speed. So it was almost useless. This year you can sweep -- again, quite comparable to 2K's -- at will and skate where you want, as well as drop the stick to the ice to block passing lanes.

The only area where the controls aren't quite as fine-grained as I would like is in the shot blocking department. EA still (supposedly) does contextual diving or dropping to a knee (if memory serves) but all I've gotten out of it is sliding feet first somewhat uncontrollably.

Even so, the defensive controls have been beefed up considerably and, along with the tweaked skating engine making it so that the skating isn't so damnably twitchy on defense, you can play quite good positional defense.

[Franjo]

The RB makes a return from last year as the stick sweep on D. However, it's been improved since last year given that in NHL07 when you tried to stick sweep you couldn't change your skating direction or speed. So it was almost useless. This year you can sweep -- again, quite comparable to 2K's -- at will and skate where you want, as well as drop the stick to the ice to block passing lanes.

The only area where the controls aren't quite as fine-grained as I would like is in the shot blocking department. EA still (supposedly) does contextual diving or dropping to a knee (if memory serves) but all I've gotten out of it is sliding feet first somewhat uncontrollably.

Even so, the defensive controls have been beefed up considerably and, along with the tweaked skating engine making it so that the skating isn't so damnably twitchy on defense, you can play quite good positional defense.

Can't wait to give that a shot then. Thanks for the heads up Forged. If I can stay positioned close to the attacker and having stick ability then I'll be happy. It'll be a purchase game for sure. Hell even the shootouts alone are fun.

[bjornbarspingvinen]

NHL08 still have issues , the defense tools ain´t at 2ks quality , and that´s compared to 2k7.
Notice that the players don´t move their feet when sweeping the stick on D, they just float around, looks really bad and kills the illusion. Besides that it´s also to stiff.

LIke 08s collision though, but their checking feels wrong, the hits seems to connect in mid-air, and sometimes the hit stick does nothing, not even a shove.

A good demo, but I am more excited to try out 2ks demo of NHL2k8. It´s going to be a demo with 4 playble teams, one 5 minute period with sliders you can change, even the difficulty. Coming in a few days according to http://www.2khockey.net

[Wolvie]

FUCK! Another game I didn't need to see and desperately want! You are a cruel, cruel man bap.

[DubiousQuality]

Anyone notice they haven't mentioned anything about bugfixes or AI improvements at all? My guess is a one demensional offensive AI and a non exsistant defensive AI just like the past 3 years.

[bjornbarspingvinen]

Anyone notice they haven't mentioned anything about bugfixes or AI improvements at all? My guess is a one demensional offensive AI and a non exsistant defensive AI just like the past 3 years.

THey do mention it in interviews and a few podcast interviews.
Don´t worry there is a demo coming soon apparently. What´s the myth about bugs, 2k7 had one real bug, that was the rivalry slider setting not reverting after a rivalry game. It´s not 2k6.

[DubiousQuality]

THey do mention it in interviews and a few podcast interviews.
Don´t worry there is a demo coming soon apparently. What´s the myth about bugs, 2k7 had one real bug, that was the rivalry slider setting not reverting after a rivalry game. It´s not 2k6.

lol um it had more than one. Players leaving the face off circle occasionally and not taking the face off, an injury bug where a guy gets injuried but finishes playing the game anyway, I'm sure there was more too. But then again thats par for the course with a 2ksports title.

[Haemorrhage]

Will the the online support be similar to previous game? ie. multiple players on 1 xbox/PS3, or even like EA 08 having up to 6 players on different 360's /PS3's via Live of PSN.