Since the advent of the innovative Skill Stick schematic, EA Sports’ NHL series has continued to set the bar high in the gaming world. NHL 10 proves to be no exception, and with improved visuals, greater depth in gameplay, and a create-a-player mode one can only dream of, this title is arguably the crown jewel of the EA Sports catalog.

As previously mentioned, this year’s edition of EA Sports’ NHL series once again features the Skill Stick controls, but with improved accuracy and responsiveness. The perfected control scheme is absolutely necessary not only for shooting the puck at precise locations on the net, but also for skating, dekeing, checking, and controlling the player’s hockey stick.

The breakneck speed of the sport is well translated into the game. With tape to tape passing of the puck, and severe, bone-crunching checking, quick reflexes are a prerequisite for any gamer. A poorly timed bodycheck may not only leave the intended target still skating, but more dangerously could leave the ice open for an attack on the goal.

Executing tricks and moves is not new to this series, but the inclusion of new defensive actions like pinning players against the boards is a huge step into the immersion of realistic ice hockey.

Another welcome addition to NHL 10 is first-person fighting. Fighting is not a prevalent part of ice hockey or in this game, but it certainly is a part of the game. The element of the first person view during fighting is a fun interruption in the action, and really makes this reviewer wonder what an ice hockey game in first-person view would be like.

There are a litany of modes available, including practices, drills, single-games, dynasty, and the create-a-player mode, offline multiplayer, and the famous, robust, and persistant online multiplayer mode. With the create-a-player mode, gamers create and customize a hockey player starting in the minors, hoping to be drafted to an NHL team. A gamer sticks with this player for the duration of the season, without the ability to switch players during games. This permits the camera to swing around only the created player, instead of the usual broadcast viewpoint, and adds yet another level of immersion. Even when the player is on the bench between shifts or is sent to the penalty box, the viewpoint is exclusively from the created player’s. And the new instant-action, Battle for the Cup mode places the gamer in the pressures of a Stanley Cup final game with everything on the line.

It seems with this year, EA Sports has greatly increased the graphical fidelity across all of its titles, and NHL 10 has never looked more real. From the animation, textures, lighting, and reflections, this title is visual reference material, ideal for showing off that recently purchased HDTV. There are minor frame rate issues during some of the player introduction sequences, but considering these are minor, and not gameplay-affecting, they can be overlooked.

The sounds of an ice hockey game are duly replicated here as well, like the minor atmospheric sounds of the crowd, the crisp shaving of ice by skates, and of course the slaps of the puck. While these ambient noises may not be noticeable, especially in the heat of an intense match, they serve to further immerse gamers into the world of the NHL quite effectively.

This robust and complete sports title is a must have for any sports video game fan, and will prove to provide a rich experience and replayability.

It was truly a complete experience for LA Kings fans, allowing interaction with players from the team’s dynasty, as well as current Kings players. The first event of its kind, Hockey Fest 09 certainly did not disappoint.

At the heart of the entertainment tent was EA’s NHL 10 booth.  Eight gaming stations were set up to serve as the first public demonstration of the complete version of NHL 10.  EA Sports Community Manager Alain Quinto and NHL 10 Producer Andy Agostini were on-site, guiding eager fans and gamers alike in the latest version of EA’s superb NHL franchise.

Attendees lined up to get their hands on the latest version of this award-winning, critically-acclaimed sports franchise and were not disappointed.  The new defensive actions that players can take add yet another layer to the already-deep and frantic gameplay, while graphical and control improvements make NHL 10 pure heaven to play.

Later in the day, EA gave a few lucky attendees the opportunity of a lifetime – to challenge superstar LA Kings players on the virtual ice.  A huge crowd gathered to see if their favorite players could transfer their strategies and skills into the highly accurate NHL 10.  At the end of the day, fan-favorite, Jack Johnson proved himself to be quite the hustler and dominated his fan opponent.

By all accounts, the Kings are postured to be a true threat this upcoming season, and even experts predict a playoff run for the Kings, which would be a welcome reward for the worlds most diehard fans.

Be sure to check out EA’s Alain Quinto’s coverage of the event and all things NHL 10 at his blog, “In the Crease,” and pre-order NHL 10 at your favorite retailer to guarantee that you’ll be hitting the ice when it releases September 15, 2009!

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.