NHL 2008

I have been playing EA Sports NHL series for like...15 years or something. I loved it during the 90's and into the early 2000's. I took a break after 06 because the games coming to the 360 were, well they were shit when they first came out. Back in the 90's, it was all about hockey, fighting and knocking the ever loving CRAP out of players on the ice. Hell, if you saw Swingers you know what I'm talking about.

Then, EA Sports got retarded. Not just with the NHL series, but with its golden boy, Madden. Gone, really, was the fun of the series. More and more "cool shit" was put into the game and an effort to make the games more "real" started to take the fun out of the game. Skill stick features, saucer passing, realistic checking, penalties and what not have seemingly ruined what I found fun about the NHL series for so long. What do you mean? Well, this is what I mean.

1. You can't check opposing players with any real effect any more. Not only do you miss because your players skate like retards, but if you DO hit someone, they just flail about for a second and move along. Some times, if you get lucky, your checking will knock a dude on his ass but it used to be that you could go flying into the boards and fuck someone up. No longer
2. Poke checking = Tripping. Its the only way you can get the puck back from opposing players besides hitting them or getting lucky and having them pass you the puck. 90% of the time, it seems, attempting to poke check someone makes them fall and bring down a tripping penalty on you. Its a penalty in the real NHL, I know, but you don't see players being called on it 5+ times a game when they are playing the puck. So you are forced to let the other team come screaming at your goalie and take a few shots.
   
3. Your team mates AI is fucking RETARDED! I mean seriously. Do NHL players NOT go for the puck anymore? Do they LIKE letting the other teams shooters camp the net? Do they hate passing with any form of skill? It becomes mind boggling how only YOU can clear out the front of the net. Your defense seems to enjoy wasting its time and letting your goalie deal with 40+ shots on net every game. That would get your ass FIRED in the NHL today.
   

Those are just the tip of the iceberg. It seems like the opposing teams goalie AI is fucking a brick wall. I throw 45+ shots, mostly one timers, at them and they stone wall me. The opposing team comes back down the ice, takes a little wrist shot and bamo! Goal. I was playing the Ducks last night, using the Dallas Stars of course, and they put in 5 goals in the first period with ease. Ya, I know the fucking Ducks are awesome but really. It was 5-1 after the first period and I nearly threw my controller through my tv. I had shot the puck 1 less time then they did but oh no. Their goalie stone walled me and Turco went fucking blind and lost any control of his body.

Or what bout when you are leading in the third? I was up 4-0, some how, in the 3rd period against the Chicago Blackhawks. The fucking Blackhawks. Anyway, up by 4, I go defensive and try to get my goalie a shut out. Oh no. Not a fucking chance. Suddenly, its 4-3 with 1 minute left my guys are falling all over the place and the Blackhawks are playing like they are all some kind of hockey super men. It was insane. I have lost two games thus far this season in the last 2 seconds of two games. I shot more, had more time on the attack, took a fuck ton of one timers and was beating the shit out of the opposing team for 60 minutes. Sure, they got goals to come back and tie it and that drove me BAT shit insane but oh well. I let it go. It happens. But to lose the game with 2 seconds left after leading for most of it is crazy. I mean, its goals that make zero sense. Little pussy flip shot from a dude at the blue line? Goes in. Slap shot through traffic, and I have 4 guys in the box to block those shots, goes through those 4 dudes, their guys trying to get to the net and my goalie flails around like he is having a god damn seizure.

Anyway. The game. Is it fun? It can be. Is it cool? Ya, when you actually score you cheer because it never fucking happens or not nearly enough. Does it feel like a NHL game? Yes it does. The announcing is spot on, doesn't get annoying quick and the announcers, though limited to what they say during the opening, actually sound like they are watching the game.

Rent this mother fucker, see if you like it. Also, if you have any tips for me, please share. Will also let me know someone is reading this