NHL Slapshot
Score: 85% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: EA Sports Developer: EA Canada Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 - 4 Genre: Sports (Hockey)/ Arcade/ Simulation
Graphics & Sound: EA has the video hockey market on complete lockdown. Their NHL franchise is arguably the most consistently superb sports series in gaming. Hot on the heels of NHL 11 is NHL Slapshot on the Wii. I know what you're thinking: "But everyone avoids the Wii version." Lay that thought to rest. NHL Slapshot is a fine game of hockey that features one of the best Wii peripherals in recent memory. As long as your attention is on the ice, you won't really find too much to complain about when it comes to NHL Slapshot's graphics. Yes, it's a Wii game, so keep your expectations in check. However, the lightning speed of hockey demands slick animation work; Slapshot delivers in this regard. Faces don't look so great, and you'll see some blockiness most everywhere you look. But again, this is a Wii game. The Wii Menu screen for NHL Slapshot offers an instrumental loop of The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop." If that's not a good sign of things to come, I don't know what is. When I was setting up my Peewee to Pro game, I was pleasantly surprised to hear "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by Dropkick Murphys. The soundtrack is great and fits the NHL like a glove, though too many of the songs repeat themselves too often. On the ice, there's hardly anything to complain about either. Peewee games sound like they should; the precocious little tykes scuffle and grunt, and goals are accompanied by car horns. And if you've seen or been to a professional hockey game, you know to expect organ tunes and play calling.
Gameplay: NHL Slapshot is a fully-featured casual hockey title that hits all the criteria that most sports games require. Play Now? Check. Simulation? Check. Training? Double check. There's a laundry list of modes that I shouldn't get into; if I did, this review would read like a genealogy book. Chances are, if there's a mode you expect out of a game based on ice hockey, it's in NHL Slapshot. Among gamers who identify themselves as "hardcore," the phrase "Wii version" usually invites a grimace, often followed by a blasé dismissal. NHL Slapshot is a casual game of hockey, to be sure. However, it knows where to position itself in order to offer the highest possible amount of content to the largest possible number of people. If you like simulation and player growth, Slapshot's got it; just don't expect the level of depth and micromanagement found in the next-gen offerings. This pendulum swings evenly across both sides; if you don't want to control your skater, you don't have to. Leaving the Nunchuk alone signals the game to take over movement controls, allowing the player to focus on making shots and completing passes. NHL Slapshot includes features for both the hardcore and casual crowd; the beauty of this is that none of these features are ever forced on the player. For that, EA Canada is to be commended.
Difficulty: The hardest time I had playing NHL Slapshot was putting the hockey stick together, and that's not because it's poorly designed. You see, I suffer from a condition I call "stupid fingers." The assembly assistance video will play once when you load the game for the first time, but you can access it from the Training Menu at any time after that. Some things aren't explained as well as they should be, but if you pay enough attention, you'll get the thing put together just right. I spent most of my time in the Peewee to Pro Simulation. As I moved up from Peewee to Bantam and all the way up to the NHL, I noticed subtle changes to the difficulty level. My difficulty setting remained fixed at Pro (the default level), but I started noticing differences in the gameplay. That is to say, it became more believable. In Peewee League, penalties are completely eschewed from the formula and body checks are absurdly easy to pull off. You can win a face-off, squeeze through the easy opening, then score an quick goal. You'll be repeating this pattern often. Furthermore, you can put all three moving opponents on the ground within seconds. Of course, 3v3 is be easier than 5v5, but the subtle shift towards realism is easy to catch -- and appreciate, for that matter.
Game Mechanics: NHL Slapshot comes included with a single hockey stick peripheral. Two would have been nice, but I'll let bygones be bygones. The hockey stick cradles both the Wii-mote and Nunchuk. Movement and aiming is handled with the Nunchuk, while (A) allows the player to pass the puck. Shooting is handled with motion controls. A quick flick will have the player execute a wrist shot, while a slapshot requires more backswing and more power. The game usually does a good job of distinguishing between the two, but sometimes it will misread your actions. This is especially true of dekes. Dekes are executed by holding a button down and actually pulling dekes of your own. The problem is, if you're trying to fake out the goalie, you won't have much time to hold the stick still, release the button, aim, and make a solid shot. I found myself letting go of the button too soon; this always resulted in a poorly-aimed and poorly-timed wrist shot. I don't really see how EA Canada could have gotten around this, so I won't hold it against them. If you don't want the biggest piece of the action, you can opt to play as a goalie. The goalie is controlled with a gesture-based control scheme that requires you to take the Wii-mote and Nunchuk out of the hockey stick peripheral. The two controllers represent the goalie's glove and stick. It's nice to have this option, but I found the skating, passing and shooting to be much more gratifying. NHL Slapshot presents the best case for motion controls I've seen in a long time. The game is clean, slick, and rewarding. If you see it on the shelves, you might make the mistake of thinking it's a gimmick. Don't fool yourself -- NHL Slapshot is a riot.
-FenixDown, GameVortex Communications AKA Jon Carlos
Related Links: Official Website of NHL Slapshot
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