Anyone pick up ESPN NHL 2k5 today?

[norkusa]

I was just at my local Gamerush and they were unloading the new ESPN NHL game from the delivery truck. I really wanted to buy one but I'm already picking up Gallop Racer 2004 tonight and I gotta save my money. Anyone buy it yet? I'm real curious to see how much the game has changed from 2k4.

[pookninja]

i will pick up a copy friday.i read that it is real good,plus at 20 dollars,you cant go wrong.

[Drexel923]

Picked up my reserved copy today...haven't had a chance to play it yet. I'm going to play a bit tonight and I'll post my impressions later.

[SoulBlazer]

Gallop Racer 2004 got pushed back a day -- so hopefully I can get it tommorow. :)

[norkusa]

Gallop Racer 2004 got pushed back a day -- so hopefully I can get it tommorow. :)

So you pre-ordered from EB too, huh? This is the last time I *ever* pre-order anything from that damn store. Gamestop and even Gamerush got their copies of Gallop Racer 2004 today, but did EB? NOOOOOOOOO!! x_x

[SoulBlazer]

It happens occesionaly. Besides, neither of those two are around here and the staff treats me very well.

[Trellisaze]

Picked up the PS2 version yesterday, I've played a few games so far. The gameplay's great, but the franchise management interface is kinda bad, probably because the low TV resolution won't let you have the kind of clear and detailed interfaces in PC games like Out of the Park Baseball. Fighting's not overdone at least; there's only 1 or 2 per game on the default setting (and I had 3 in a Montreal/Toronto game - wonder if that was deliberate), but how Alexi Kovelev would end up in a fight with Zdeno Chara is beyond me.

[Ninja Blacksox]

Anyone buy it yet?

Considering there won't be a hockey season this year, I'll pass.

They would've been better off releasing "ESPN Hockey World Cup 2K5."

-A Boy

[delafro]

Anyone buy it yet?

Considering there won't be a hockey season this year, I'll pass.

They would've been better off releasing "ESPN Hockey World Cup 2K5."

-A Boy

That's a GREAT reason to buy the game. Play your own season instead of just watching it on TV.

I'd love to pick this game up myself, for the above mentioned reason, plus loyalty to Sega, and to encourage more $20 games, but I really shouldn't buy it. I've just been spending too much on games recently.

[Drexel923]

Got a chance to play a couple of games and I like it. It's not as polished as NFL 2K5 but it still looks nice. The gameplay is fun and I like all of the extras in the skybox. I haven't gotten too far into it, but like NFL, it's certainly well worth the asking price.

[tynstar]

I am getting it tomorrow. A store called Fry's has it for $13.99 new. I hope they still have some tomorrow. :o

[Fungus]

Excellent! Thanks for the tip! I just picked it up. Yes, it was only $13.99. I also picked up NFL 2K5 which was also on sale for only $16.88. As if a starting price of $19.99 wasn't cheap enough. Too cool.

[rscaramelo]

Picked it up a couple of days ago for XBox. Good gameplay. I like the options in the franchise mode. I liked cutting some of the deadwood from my Bruins' roster. Played a couple of games and no fights yet. The graphics, in particular the glare on the ice, way amazing. I could swear the ice progressively gets scratched up as the period goes on. I'll check this when I go home. 19 bucks....thumbs up. I've played worse for more money.

roger c.

[norkusa]

I just got my copy for Xbox last night (free after trade-in at Gamerush) but I haven't had a chance to play it yet. Are the classic teams still available as unlockables? If so, are their names/numbers correct this time? My favorite part of 2k4 was the classic teams and uniforms.

[Gamereviewgod]

Yeah, the ice does get scratched up, though always in the same manner. ;)

Anyway, I didn't play 2K4, but I am absolutely stunned by how smooth this game moves. It just 'feels' perfect. I think the computer is too agressive and setting up anything on offense is practically impossible. You get into the zone and shoot. That's really my only complaint.

The skybox is great, if only for Air Hockey. I played that for over an hour. Physics are great. I can't figure out shuffleboard though. How do you give it power?

[norkusa]

I've just finished playing my first game of 2k5, and with the exception of the aggressive hits, face-off windows and fighting, it looks and plays *exactly* like 2k4.

I don't own 2k4 anymore and it's only $20, so I'm fine with it.

[Schenley]

As someone who has over 30 different hockey video games (since the 2600 days), I think this is the most enjoyable hockey game yet.

In most games, you really get into a rut of

-hit the other guy
-steal the puck
-make 1 or 2 quick passes
-rush into the offensive zone
-shoot as quick as you can
-start all over again

That is (to me) how most hockey games go... This one, however, allows you to 'take your time' and set up some plays. You can enter your zone, hit the R stick and stop on a dime and set up some plays. You can get off a bunch of passes in the o-zone before the AI picks off a pass. To me, it's much more realistic that way. I like the controls when you get pinned against the boards.

What's more, the online play is fantastic. Last night, I had the most enjoyable online game ever. I played against someone who was ranked similarly to me. He (or she - who knows? :P ) went up 4-0 really quick. Then we had a long time with no scoring - but fantastic plays in both ends of the ice. I started coming back, and got to 6-4. In the third, I tied it up, and then we traded goals until I won 8-7. The online experience is great.

And, it's only $20. Go get it!

[junglehunter]

I might have to pick this game up now. Which version is the best? Until then I can only wait by playing the graphically amazing Ice Hockey for the Atari 2600! LOL

You know it, it's still a blast to play! ;)

[Avenger]

the Xbox version is superior, but not by much at all....i love 2k5 and i love Sega even more for makin these games so cheap...it makes so much sense if your the kind of person who buys sports games EVERY single year...you dont wanna pay 60 bucks a year for the same game, but 20 seems just right...way to go Sega

[dsullo]

I love this game. I am the king of the 'one timers' Won my first game 6-1 without even reading the instructions. I think I need to kick up the difficulty level

for 19.99 its a must have

[Avenger]

i won my first game 25-1....i def need to kick up the difficulty lol

[Gamereviewgod]

Anyone having trouble getting their preferences saved? Fo some reason, the arena horn is set back to zero every time I turn it back on. Some of the difficulty settings won't stay right either. It's just a wee bit frustrating.

[Avenger]

you have to save them....your profile saving has nothing ot do with the settings...assuming you play the season mode, youll have

a)your profile save
b) your season save
c)your settings save

you just load the settings save each time you turn it on and your good to go

[Ninja Blacksox]

The skybox is great, if only for Air Hockey. I played that for over an hour. Physics are great. I can't figure out shuffleboard though. How do you give it power?

Wait wait wait...

Air hockey?

I retract my previous statement.

I will DEFINITELY be buying this game.

-A Boy

[Avenger]

there was air hockey in ESPN Hockey too...is if you just want air hockey get this one...its probably like 99cents sumwhere lol

[Ninja Blacksox]

there was air hockey in ESPN Hockey too...is if you just want air hockey get this one...its probably like 99cents sumwhere lol

Uh. Dude?

I want air hockey with the UPDATED ROSTERS.

Le doy!

Jeesh...

-A Boy

[Avenger]

oh man im sorry....your right cuz this year it seems blue paddle has a slight advantage over red :P

[Gamereviewgod]

Nope, damn options still don't save. Well, at least the arena horn. That's the ONLY thing it's not saving. You just can't play hockey without an arena horn. :angry:

[Avenger]

thats very odd....keep trying i guess....remember when you load to load the settings AS WELL...just incase your not

[Avenger]

I AM ABOUT TO GO INSANE:

please someone tell me how to change the sound to surround sound...i go to Audio Test in the options menu but no matter hwat i do i cant change it from stereo to suroound! i cant sleep! @_@

[Neil Koch]

I can't figure out how to do that either... odd thing is that the music in the pause menus is in surround but during the game it's stereo.

It's a great game anyway... anyone playing on Xbox Live?

[Gamereviewgod]

I had the same problem with the sound today as well. It's a long story, but I had to move my XBox to the upstairs TV for a while and I don't have surround up there. I took the console downstairs today for the first time in a LONG time after hearing how good NFL 2K5 sounded (which it does....my god does it sound good), but NHL was just plain weak. Now I guess I know why. My receiver registered it as 5.1, but it does that with every XBox game. We need to figure this one out (along with the arena horn ;) ).

[Avenger]

OH MY GOD I HAVENT SLEPT SINCE I LAST POSTED IM GOING INSANE...hehe not really but yes its pissin me off SO MUCH...maybe its sumthin you have to do with the xbox itself...in the system menus...ill try that and if i have any luck ill report back later

over and out

[Neil Koch]

I figured it out. Go to settings on the Xbox main menu (without a game in), then to audio... the system default is stereo. You can switch it to Dolby from there.

Just got Xbox a week ago and haven't fiddled around with it to much yet... still feel kinda dumb tho! :D

[Avenger]

yea that was also the conclusion i came too...so everyone else whos pissed off, do the same! :D

[Schenley]

What about saving your team strategy?

Every game I play, I have to set it up all again. (PS2)