We here at Console Sports are big puck-heads so we were very excited to get our hands on the 360 version of Visual Concepts latest icy Opus, NHL2K10.
 
After several hours with this title one thing is crystal clear; 2K10 suffers from a split personality.
In nearly every category the game does certain things very well while it falters in others.
 
A perfect example is how this game plays on default sliders. They're not that great. You'll feel like you're skating in mud and have to hammer down the speed burst button the entire game. It begs the question "Why not just have speed controlled using analog controls only?" However, after you've had a chance to toggle some of the skating sliders (most notably skating and acceleration) the game opens up. A lot. In fact, there are so many sliders in the game to manipulate you can have this game play in almost any conceivable fashion.

 
The Good
You want authentic looking arena's? Look no further. This game features arguably the best looking stadiums in any sports game. Just fire up a game, sit back and watch the pre-game introduction. As a Wings fan I could have sworn I was sitting in my familiar cheap-seats at Joe Louis Arena watching the Wings take to the ice.
In fact, when my wife first entered the room she asked "The Wings are on tonight?". That's how good it looks.
 
Replays of penalties and goals are also very nice, especially the goals. You'll be treated to three different replays from various angles to give you the sense that you're watching a real NHL broadcast. At the end of the period you'll get a nice rundown of team stats including various highlights including saves, shots and chances.
 
The player models have also received a massive upgrade. Most of the players faces look spot-on, while the equipment, down to sock tape, look amazing as well. The art director deserves major props for everything graphics related. Well done.
 
Let's talk AI. What a difference a year makes! The CPU AI is a lot much smarter this year, compared to 2K9. You won't have to worry about dealing with a CPU that is helll bent on crashing the net or hammering everything in site. That would have been fine if you were playing with the Hanson's in Slap Shot 2K10, but not in a hockey game trying to emulate the sport properly.

The CPU will actually work the puck around and try to find that open man. If there is none, they'll fire it on net hoping for a juicy rebound to slam home.
You'll also face a stiffer more diverse challenge in the defensive zone as well. The CPU will attack when there's a chance and they'll cut off passing lanes to prevent those easy one-timer slam dunks that we saw in years past.

The best part about the AI in this game is seeing the separation between the stars and the scrubs. You won't have to worry about being beaten by a fourth-line grinder over and over as he dekes, passes and scores all over the ice. These differences are seen on both sides of the puck. So while a player like Lidstrom won't play that physically he's a master with the stick and more often than not he'll steal it or deny a great opportunity with a properly timed poke check or blocking a passing lane. However, if you're bearing down on Boston's tower-of-power Zdeno Chara, you won't have to worry about his stick blocking a passing lane as there's a good chance it'll be in your teeth.
 
I really can't say enough about how different each player will look and feel with the puck. You'll want your best defenders out there to protect a lead or kill a penalty. Just like you'll be dying to get your first line out on the ice to score a goal or create some nice chances. To help make the separation of players even more noticeable 2K included several contextual animations for every circumstance including stick lifting, poke checking, body checks, dekes, etc. There are dozens of them and each are closely tied to the players attributes. That comes in handy with the new "Regular" and "Ovie" dekes. Using the left-bumper and the right-analog stick you have several moves at your disposal for one-on-one situations against a defender or when you find yourself all alone with the goalie. But be careful. Because if the player you're controlling doesn't have the sufficient attributes, pulling off one of these moves could very well result with you losing the puck or falling down much to your teammates amusement.

If you don't feel comfortable using these pre-defined dekes, you can still use the right-analog to deke around defenders. Unlike 2K9 where you were limited to mostly east-west movements you'll have the ability to pull the puck into your skates for a little more south-based moves.
 
Stumble shots are new this year and really help open the game up. In 2K9 as soon as you were touched your shot is negated forcing you to try again. Not so in 2K10. Again, it depends on whom your controlling and what their attributes are, but in some very minor cases you can still get off a shot while being hit. If you're very lucky you might even see one similar to the goal cover boy Alexander Ovechkin scored against the Phoenix Coyotes from a couple of seasons ago. Sim-heads need not fear because after fifty-plus games I have yet to see this animation or very many stumble shot goals at all. And the ones I have seen have not been unrealistic or cheesy in the least.
 
Puck physics have always been a big part of what makes the 2K hockey series so terrific. It'll bounce and roll like a real puck would. It's great to watch replays where it might bounce off a players leg, hit the crossbar and then flip into the net.
 
To help you pile up wins in your Franchise you have several different strategies at your disposal. From playing a 2-1-2 forecheck to setting up the PP with an umbrella formation to cranking up the aggressiveness late in the game, you have total control over how you want your team to play.
And  it's not limited to just your team. When facing various teams throughout the season you'll notice that teams will mirror their real-life squads. So expect a defensive battle when traveling to New Jersey but then get your speed skates on when welcoming the Chicago Blackhawks to town.
 
Speaking of skating, it's fantastic in 2K10. Some might not believe this right off the bat (especially if you haven't altered the skating and acceleration sliders), but look closely and you'll see what I'm talking about. The players have real momentum. Don't expect to race directly into the corner for a loose puck and be able to turn up ice without losing any speed. In fact, if you try that you'll more than likely come to a screaming halt as your player nearly stops to coral the puck. You'll especially notice the cons to going into a corner in this manor if you have an oncoming forechecker breathing down your neck.
In that same example you would be better served to come in on an angle and scoop up the puck while retaining full speed and momentum leaving that forechecker in the dust.

You'll also want to keep this in mind when firing off passes up ice. If you're noticing your players are stopping to receive a pass it's probably because you hit them with it when they had poor body position to receive the puck. This isn't a fault of the AI. You need to pay attention to what direction your players are skating in and where their stick is positioned at.

You wouldn't expect to see a wide-receiver twist to catch a ball that's thrown behind them and still retain his speed while heading up field would you? Then don't expect it here either.  Gamers will be punished for delivering poor passes.
 
What's a hockey game without a few fisticuffs. 2K10 has the best fighting engine ever. Hands down. No contest. Using the right and left trigger buttons to sustain balance you have a choice between a strong or weak punch. The fights are over quick but there is strategy to it. Use a few quick shots to get your opponent off balance and then unleash the haymakers. Of course, no amount of strategy will help if your middleweight champ drops the mitts with George Laraque. Just throw as fast as you can before you find yourself face down in a pile of your own chicklets.
 
Franchise and Online have been revamped this year as well. There are many options to create the Franchise of your dreams. Want to create a team? Do it. Want to shuffle teams from one division to another. Go ahead. Want to utilize a fantasy draft to put your own personal stamp on your favorite team? Done.
CPU controlled teams will also retain their own personalities. Depending on the standings some GM's will be buyers while others will sell. Teams will even make draft choices depending on their history. Clubs such as Boston and Philadelphia will choose the tougher players while the Red Wings or Wild will prefer the more skilled or sleeker players available.

The Salary Cap can be turned on or off, and you even have the choice to work with a team's particular budget. So make sure you're filling those seats or you won't have enough cash in the offseason to sign that highly coveted free agent you've been eyeing.
One of my favorite aspects of Franchise mode is the NHL.com page. Here you can sort news from around the league or even by individual teams. Seeing a screenshot of a highlight from an out of town game, including a brief write-up really immerses you into the game.
For stats-freaks like me, it was refreshing to see that the simulated stats are also very accurate. At the end of the year you can expect to see the usual suspects battling it out for the Art Ross and Rocket Richard Trophy's.
Going online with a buddy has never been easier. Every mode is internet capable, including Franchise where you can invite one or more friends to play with or against you. You can even upload or share sliders and rosters.
 
 
The Bad
 
While replays of goals and penalties are nice that's all you get. No highlights featuring big hits, saves, or chances. You'll have to wait for the end of the period for anything more than goals and infractions.
 
The real-time celebrations are very cool but the transition between animations can be very clunky. And it would be nice if all five skaters on the ice would huddle together with the goal scorer, not just a couple of them.
 
Transitions from one animation to another are too slow at times. Especially when there's multiple animations that chain together. You'll have pressed the shoot button, but before you can get it off your player is bumped, which triggers a stumble animation. But before that animation is over, you're hit from a different angle sparking a different animation. By the time your player is finished with this chain he finally gets off the shot you called for 3 seconds earlier. Trouble is, you might be well out of position by now making the shot useless and more than likely an easy turnover for the CPU.
 
Controls can also appear to have a bit of lag. Most of the time it's due to an animation being called into play, and since they depend on the players attributes, it helps with the realism of the game. But there are still times where the controls do seem to lag for no reason. Tightening these up for 2K11 is a must.
 
As good as the AI can look at times, it can also be a head scratcher. You might become frustrated watching your teammates stare at a loose puck. Or you'll notice the defenseman backing down to the side of the net when a puck carrier attacks them.
It's also hair-raising to watch your wingers exit the zone the second one of your defenseman takes control of the puck. If a tenacious forechecker gets on you, the only option you'll have is playing keep away with your defensive partner or risk a stretch pass to a winger who's already standing on the opposing teams blueline.
 
No loose puck physics.
 
The Ugly
 
Commentary is horrible. Could be the worst commentary in any sports game I've seen. San Jose Sharks play-by-play team Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda sound as if they're being forced to read off a script by gunpoint. No life at all. I heard more emotion from 'Joshua' in "War Games".
 
Goalies. They look nice but they're not that bright. Too many times you'll find your goalie lunging towards a loose puck that's out of reach.  Sometimes they will lunge for other odd reasons. It'll really get your goat when you're scored upon for such tom foolery. Luckily sliders can help but it would be nice if the 2K would focus on goalies for 2K11. They need it.
 
No "My Player" like NBA2K10 will have. This is the future of sports games and the NHL series would be wise to add this for next year.
 
Chris Pronger. (Sorry. I'm a Wings fan. I couldn't resist).
 
Conclusion
 
NHL2K10 is a smart, sleek and gorgeous hockey game. The word that comes to mind most when playing is 'organic' thanks to the incredible AI and realistic puck physics. Nothing feels scripted.

The worst thing I can say about 2K10 is how the game plays using default sliders. Please don't judge the game on that.
I urge anyone who buys this game to use the online 2Kshare option and download some of the excellent sliders available online.
You'll be happy you did and if you're like me, you'll be enjoying this title all season long.
 
Overall Score - 7.5/10.

If the goalies, commentary and presentation were all a bit deeper NHL2K10 would be deserving of a higher mark. But it's still a very solid hockey game with some of the best AI you'll ever experience.