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NHL 2K6

EMAIL PRINT xbox360

5.5 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 37 critic reviews
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Based on 18 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: 2K Games

Developer: Kush Games - Visual Concepts

Genre(s): Sports, Hockey

Players: 8

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)

Release Date: November 15, 2005

Summary

ProControl - Play like the pros with our revolutionary icon-based passing system. All-new combo passing and shooting controls let you queue up give-and-go attacks, tic-tac-toe passing, puck cycling, behind the net plays and more. PureMotion Animations - Hundreds of new NHL-caliber animations to feast your eyes on including spectacular saves in goal by Marty Turco. On-The-Fly Coaching - Play your style of hockey at both ends of the ice by calling team strategy during the action. Crash the net, screen the goalie and pinch defensemen on offense. Then, counter the attack by clearing the crease, clearing the zone, or setting up a break out for an offensive rush. Enforcer System - Throw opponents off their game by bringing out your checking line. Now, bigger and more aggressive players weigh into the outcome of a game as much as your leading goal scorers, as physical play will lower opponents’ performance ratings. Maximum Goaltending - Take matters into your own hands by utilizing your right analog stick to make quick, intuitive saves when it counts the most. [2K Games]

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats

Also On The Web: GameSpot Hands-On Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Operation Sports

For those looking for the most realistic hockey game on any console, look no further.

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AceGamez

The lack of a good range of game achievements, the occasional lag and the only slightly above average graphics is about all that I could complain about, but when you put that next to clever AI (that can skate backwards, by the way), icon-based passing, Enforcer players, goalkeeper perspective and commentary better than I've ever heard in a sports title and the complaints are pretty trivial in comparison.

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Game Chronicles

The improved defense, especially at the net, the new momentum feature, manual goalie option, and the long-overdue icon passing interface all combine to make this game the closest thing to the actual sport of hockey without putting on all the padding and a pair of skates.

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PGNx Media

A solid game for the Xbox 360. It was an incredibly solid game for the original Xbox. Just keep in mind that you’re not getting a huge update from the game since the graphics are marginally better than the Xbox version.

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Game Informer

The gameplay is alll that really matters. [Jan 2006, p.147]

Extreme Gamer

As far as game play is concerned, it seems a little smoother on the 360 for some reason. I am not sure if it is how the controller reacts to the console or if it is in my head but it just felt more flowing between hand and eye.

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Gaming Age

The only other complaint I have is that the menu system is clunky, hard to navigate and often does the opposite of what you expect.

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GamePro

It's a great sim game. However, it's simply not a solid buy at $60 a pop--especially considering this is basically the same game as the PS2 and Xbox versions, just without the Crease Control feature and hi-definition graphics.

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GameZone

Everything about this game is really nice, yet it feels like a current generation game with a higher resolution.

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Official Xbox Magazine

Making saves wtih the crease control system is wicked fun, even in multiplayer. [Jan 2006, p.80]

Computer and Video Games

A refreshing diversion that'll provide you with weeks if not months of entertainment and gaming intensity - whether you're already a hockey fan or just stepping onto the ice for the first time.

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PALGN

It mightn't be much different from the Xbox version, or very 'next-gen', but NHL 2K6 is a worthy upgrade from ESPN NHL 2K5, and well worth a look for all 360 owners looking for a good sports game.

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Thunderbolt

There’s a nice online feature which, after you’ve navigated through the terrible menu’s, is quite a blast, even for someone who doesn’t have a clue about ice hockey.

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Gaming Target

NHL 2K6 is your only choice for Xbox 360 right now, but it presents itself well enough and plays true to the sport.

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TeamXbox

Overall the same game that we’ve enjoyed for the past four years. New features like Crease Control, ProControl, and On-The-Fly Coaching are welcome additions, but this isn’t really a "next-gen" game.

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Xbox Solution

It does take time to learn the controls and coaching commands but it is worth the time.

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GameSpot

It's got new goalie controls and marginally improved graphics, but taken as a whole, NHL 2K6 just isn't as appealing on the 360 as it was on other platforms.

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DailyGame

Sure there are a few new features, but none of them are so outstanding that they make the game significantly better. NHL 2K6 is a slightly beefier game than its current-gen brethren, but it just doesn't justify a $60 price tag, shiny helmets or no.

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IGN

For now, the game feels like a transition step between current generation and the generation to come, and is a mashing together of a few new graphical details, a new mode, and then all the content from the old generation.

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Next Level Gaming

It doesn't have the same level of "wow" factor that NBA 2K6 has.

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Play Magazine

I haven't enjoyed a hockey game this much in a long time (it's just cheaper on the original Xbox). [Jan 2006, p.48]

Gamer 2.0

If you have an Xbox or PS2, save yourself the pricetag of a brand new game and pick up a version that's frankly just as good and holds greater value. If you just have the 360, you can go ahead and pick this game up, but don't count on it to blow your mind.

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Xbox World Australia

NHL 2K6 seems more like a game made for the original Xbox. While the game play is still fantastic, the new features brought to the table by the Xbox 360 version in my opinion, do not warrant the extra 30 dollars.

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1UP

An incredibly unimpressive port of the best hockey game of the year.

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Digital Entertainment News

There really isn't much reason to take part in 2K's hockey experience on the Xbox 360.

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VideoGamer

By far the best hockey game on the market, but with the near identical current-gen versions already at bargain bin prices, it's hard to justify forking over the extra cash for moderately improved graphics and a goalie system that still needs tweaking.

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Games Radar (in-house)

Unfortunately, NHL 2K6 barely seems like a next-gen game. The graphics are cleaner and slightly prettier than the last-gen versions, but there's no wow power here - you wouldn't be surprised to see this game running on Xbox.

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360 Gamer Magazine UK

Disappointing that the 360 edition isn't visually distinct from the last-gen versions. [Issue #3]

Boomtown

A reasonable sports simulation that’s fun for fans and non fans alike. It’s a real pity they couldn’t have done more with the 360 version though, as apart from a slight bump in the graphics department and a couple of new moves it’s pretty much identical to the Xbox and PS2 versions.

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Xbox Evolved

The A.I. in the game is alarmingly bad sometimes though, and you can score against A.I. opponents like a hot knife cutting through butter, or is that ice?

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XGP Gaming

If a goaltender were to freeze the puck, probably 55% of the time the team protecting the goaltender will be faced with the ever popular glitch.

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Planet Xbox 360

It sounds ridiculous for a newly released title to be described as dated, but this is. Even the cover star (Mats Sundin) is rumoured to have retired today. As in: he’s never playing again, 3 weeks after the game hit the shelves outside of North America.

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Worth Playing

The problem is that it should have been done better. This is the Xbox 360 dammit, show it some respect and put some effort into your ports people.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

This is the Xbox 360 dammit, show it some respect and put some effort into your ports people.

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Gamers Europe

But sadly, with the advent with more realism comes the responsibility of not indulging in the arcade-style fantasy that made games like this so memorable in the past.

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G4 TV

Casual hockey fans should give this series the cold shoulder until the developers take better advantage of the new platform, something that will likely happen with "NHL 2K7."

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GamerFeed

This game could've been so much more had Kush Games been on their game, driving with the kind of innovation that they put into the goalie control feature. But it comes up giving us the short end of the hockey stick.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 5.5 (out of 10) based on 18 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Mark J gave it a0:
This game has its flaws like confusing front-screen menus but, when you get down to it, it is actually fun to play. The graphics and commentary do a respectable job of mimicking the feel of NHL and the game controls aren't too shabby. That said, the game's achievements are overshadowed by the fact that the game is rendered virtually unplayable by a bug that randomly appears and subsequently causes the game to crash at the end of every game you play. For that this game, gets a well-deserved zero.

Job A gave it a9:
This game is great!Its the best hockey game I have ever played and I have played hockey games since Blades of Steel. give it a 9.3

Jeremy B. gave it a0:
Please tell me there is a patch for this game...WTF!! I'm not even half way through my season and it freezes...finish a practice or a game and after i exit that game...it says 2k6 loading please wait....and never does anything else. I would have given it a 5 for being playable and a mediocre distraction from the true nhl games by ea sports but if the game isn't even supported it's without a doubt gets a 0, since negatives aren't an option.

Chris P. gave it a0:
This game gets ZERO because it is completely unplayable. The game freezes completely after exiting ANY type of game, meaning no Franshise or Season play. The online play would be salvagable, but quick games are played at the default settings (Incredibly slow, horrific goaltending, non-existent checking, etc), leaving you to plod through a mind-numbing game against opponents who use the manual goaltending (read: EASY MODE) which stops the game and moves to a paifully slow goaltending cam on EVERY shot. Awful, putrid piece of crap. Best of all, once you complain about this rip off, you'll be told it's YOUR fault that it doesn't work. Fantastic! Avoid at all costs.

Late Z. gave it a4:
Nice graphics, and player look to behave just like in real life, BUT: I'm not very fanatic hockey game player, but still I won my second ever match 11-6 in the hardest difficulty with Capitals! I don't have to use the 90% sure shot to the top of the goal, but I just wanted to try how much I can score with a cheap trick.

Logan W. gave it a6:
This is a great game. The new "Crease Control" feature is an amazing addition, the only problem with it is the AI doesn't shoot enough. They wait for one-timers, so your save percentage will always be 80-90%. It's hard to have higher when they only shoot 12-18 shots in every game.

Jordan H. gave it a9:
Best NHL game on the system.

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NHL 2K6

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