Bargain Bin Gaming- Episode 27: NHL 2K7

NHL_2K7Over the past decade, the NHL 2K series has been the standard for which all other hockey games have graded on. Unmatched in levels of computer intelligence and in-game depth, the NHL 2K series has consistently dominated EA’s NHL series, until 2007.

Playing more like last year’s game on a Starbucks high, NHL 2K7 for the Playstation 2, while still having a high level of gameplay and a ton of unlockable options, fails to deliver the presentation, graphics, and offensive showboating ability that makes NHL 07 so much fun to play.

That’s not to say that NHL 2K7 is a bad game however. Sticking with the same control scheme, while adding in a few features such as “The Enforcer,” which gives each team’s tough guy a chance to change the game with bone-jarring hits and “Pro Control,” which gives players even more options in defending against the oppositions best players, NHL 2K7’s gameplay is without a doubt its strong point.

Also, the presentation, despite not being anywhere near as solid as NHL 07, offers camera views of the on-ice action that can’t be found on any other hockey game available. While the camera views in the game add depth to the gameplay experience, the commentating however, performed by the legendary tandem of Harry Neale and Bob Cole is absolutely atrocious. After playing a few games with the same teams, players will be forced to sit and listen to the same mumblings over and over again, eventually preferring to play with the sound off.

Despite the mediocre presentation, NHL 2K7’s in game action sets it apart from the competition. Focusing heavily on the defensive side of the game, NHL 2K7 plays like a game of hot potato, relying on quick shots and passes in order to score on the tough defenses that relentlessly poke-check and hit anything in its way. This element will attract the most zealous hockey fans, as it forces them to think quickly and captures the essence of speed that hockey is known for. However, casual hockey fans may not want such a heavy emphasis on the defensive side of the game, opting rather for an offensively-minded game that focuses more on the most talented players, a-la NHL 07.

In the end, the choice is a simple one. Those who wish to play a more realistic game of hockey with a ton of options should pickup NHL 2K7, while those looking for a prettier game that gives them more room to score with their favorite players should settle on NHL 07 or something else.

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 13819 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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