NHL 08 for PS3 Review

NHL 08 for PS3 Review

Perhaps the best known name in the world of sports video games is Electronic Arts, particularly their EA Sports wing. It is through this company that we have been treated to years of Madden NFL football, NBA Live basketball and Tiger Woods PGA Tour golf.

Speaking for myself, it is the NHL series that has always captured my interest. I love hockey. I remember playing NHL 95 on the old Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Sure, the graphics were nowhere near as good as they are today, but it was a great sports game. There really was nothing more fun that playing a rousing game of hockey with a good friend. It was so authentic.

Fast-forward to the present and we find ourselves enjoying NHL 08 for the PS3. Naturally, the high-definition graphics found within this Sony PlayStation 3 title are leaps and bounds beyond what we experienced on earlier versions. The controls are also remarkably tight, and fighting your way through an authentic 82-game schedule is simply blissful.

Where's the RBK Edge Uniform System?

Because several team uniforms were not announced until very close to the NHL 08 for PS3 launch date, EA Sports was not able to include all of the RBK Edge Uniforms for the 2007-08 season. For example, when you first load up the video game, you'll find that the Canucks only have their jerseys from the 2006-07 season. In order to unlock the new Vancouver Canucks RBK jersey, you must go to one of two sites to receive an unlocking code.

If you read through the provided instruction manual, it will direct you to either of these two websites:

• easports.com/nhl08
• rbkedgeuniform.com

Navigating through either of those websites, you'll find an unlocking code which you can then enter in the appropriate options field in NHL 08.

New or Classic Controls

Having grown up with the NHL franchise from EA, I started out with a preference for the classic controls in this hockey game. The classic controls would get you to maneuver your player using the left analog stick, and then each of your key actions are mapped to the face buttons on the right. For example, you could set it so that X is shoot and O is pass.

By contrast, the newer controls make use of both analog sticks on the PS3 controller. The left analog stick is still used to move your player, but the right analog stick basically corresponds to your player's stick. By thrusting it towards the net, your player takes a shot. The right analog stick, on defense, is used to initiate a body check. You can also hold the R1 button for a poke check, pointing the direction of your hockey stick using the right analog stick.

Although it took some time to get used to, I find that the newer control scheme is actually more effective for most in-game situations. It really makes you feel like you're a part of the game, rather just controlling it as a spectator.

Graphics and Sound

The sights and sounds of a real NHL game are totally in place with NHL 08 for the PS3. You visit real arenas and each player actually bears the likeness to their real-life counterpart. From Daniel Sedin to Dany Heatley, the resemblance is uncanny. If you enjoy a 5.1 surround sound system, the aural experience is equally impressive.

One gripe that I do have is that while the video game renders are highly detailed, each player seems to have a strange glow or "aura" about them. This is particularly apparent during the slow motion replays and I found them to be unrealistic. I suppose the players are supposed to be quite hot and it's simply the evaporation that is causing this glow, but I didn't like it.

I'd imagine that the graphics on the Xbox 360 would be similar to the PS3 version of NHL 08, but if you opt for the cheaper PlayStation 2 version of the game, the graphics are probably nowhere near as good.

Hit the Ice with NHL 08

In case you haven't figured it out from this NHL 08 for the PS3 review, I love this game. It could be because I'm such a huge hockey fan, but the utter realism and intense high-definition graphics make this a wonderful experience.

I rate this game 9.0 out of 10.0.