PlayStation 3
Released in 2006 by 2K Sports
Grade: C+
NHL 2K7’s speedy action makes a good first impression, but the hockey logic gets stale in the long run.
Where it falls in the series
This is the first on PS3, and the series only made it to NHL 2K10 on PS3 (and 2K11 on Nintendo Wii) before calling it quits.
Praises and gripes
As the first hockey game on PS3, this game probably dazzled the eye with its sleek visuals and elaborate presentation. It moves very smooth and players seem to glide on the ice, reminding me of that “wow” feeling when I see hockey in person and realize how fast the players skate.
The controls are mostly straightforward and effective. The skating control has its learning curve, but it’s pretty good. Passing presents an odd challenge, because if you hold the button you actually make a slower pass, which is the opposite of other hockey games.
Goalies are tough, routinely stopping one-timers and shots from point-blank range. I like how players automatically hack at loose pucks around the net, but rebound goals make up too many of the goals scored overall.
There are many nice touches, but when you put it all together, it doesn’t feel enough like hockey. Teams move through the neutral zone easily, so you’re trading scoring chances one after the other. This might sound like fun, but it’s almost comical how repetitive the game feels.
There’s not much of a struggle to get into scoring position, only a struggle to score. After a while, even after ramping up the difficulty against the CPU, this game is simply not very fun.