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NHL 2005
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 27 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 10 votes
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Game Info
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Canada
Genre(s): Sports, Hockey
Players: 4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: September 20, 2004
Summary
OPEN ICE CONTROL: Seamlessly switch between players with or without the puck -- call for passes, tell a teammate to shoot, set up a vicious one-timer, or call for a defensive double-team on the fly with the push of a button. TOTAL PLAYER AWARENESS: With more player awareness than ever before, make saucer passes just before the blueline, call in a second defender to break up a 2-on-1, or fire off wrist shots at the perfect angle on net. FACE-OFF PLAYBOOK: New playcalling system allows you to choose offensive and defensive face-off strategies every time the whistle blows. Plan an attack in your opponent's zone or protect the net right before the puck drops. THE WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY: Take part in the excitement of this year's World Cup of Hockey event featuring teams from USA, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Russia, Czech Republic, and Slovakia playing in authentic European and North American venues. ALL-NEW SKATING ENGINE: Glide then use explosive speed to get to the open ice -- now you have more puck-handling and turning control. A refined backwards skating system also allows for unprecedented defensive precision and control. THE DRILL: The intensity explodes off the ice with The Drill -- one net, one goalie, and every man for himself. Up to four can play and the one who scores the most goals wins. NEW XBOX LIVE: For the first time ever, NHL 2005 goes Xbox LIVE. Featuring one-on-one and tournament games, online rankings, and buddy lists -- now you can light the lamp like never before. [EA Sports]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: NHL 06 NHL 2002 NHL 2003 NHL 2004
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: GameSpy Preview IGN Preview 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...
Worth Playing
I would highly suggest NHL 2005 for anyone who likes sports games, but the controls are too complex for casual non-fans who just want to pick up a game and play effectively.
Read Full Review >Xbox Nation Magazine
Skates in a league of its own when it comes to the most basic function of hockey gaming: realistic physics. [Oct 2004, p.94]
Game Informer
For the second year running, "NHL" best encapsulates the play and and authenticity of the sport. [Sept 2004, p.103]
Read Full Review >Official Xbox Magazine
A better, more realistic game than last year's, but its still-vicious checking system might turn off hardcore hockey enthusiasts. [Oct 2004, p.80]
Play Magazine
The lax AI from last year's game has been stepped up...An improved Dynasty Mode and the inclusion of the World Cup of Hockey round out this great hockey title. [Sept 2004, p.84]
TeamXbox
The on-ice gameplay is some of the best hockey you’ll ever play in a videogame; the control is unmatched. Then, the game lays an egg when it comes to all around game modes and extras.
Read Full Review >GameZone
Better than last year’s 2004 and the inclusion of Xbox Live support will be important to fans of the series, but there isn’t anything remarkably better that warrants an immediate purchase.
Read Full Review >IGN
If you're looking for a raw, wide-open experience with lots of arcade elements, NHL 2005 is for you...If you're more into the strategy of real hockey—the poke checks, the traps, the dumps, the dekes -- then you'll either have to try to design this game to fit your tastes (which can be frustrating) or go elsewhere.
Read Full Review >PGNx Media
The actual gameplay is pretty solid throughout, the visuals are excellent and the rest of the presentation isn’t too shabby. That said, it doesn’t do anything principally different and online play could have been implemented better.
Read Full Review >Computer and Video Games
Perhaps the biggest new feature for this year's ice hockey outing is the inclusion of Live compatibility...This essentially adds months to NHL 2005's appeal, and will turn the already feverishly loved title into a true competitive tussle.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
The new Open Ice mechanics allow for smoother, wide-open play than previous versions, and the Dynasty Mode is as deep and realistic as any I've ever seen.
Read Full Review >AceGamez
People who are looking for a fast sports game can't go wrong with this, but those wanting to upgrade might want to rent it first to see if it's worth their hard earned pennies.
Read Full Review >Boomtown
You even get to see the coaches of the respective teams geeing-up their players and remonstrating about decisions and player misdemeanours which all adds up to the great overall presentation of the game.
Read Full Review >GamePro
Comes up like the Calgary Flames - a very close second - because "ESPN NHL 2K5" is the better game due to its overall complete package. [Dec 2004, p.146]
My Gamer
With all of the different game modes it has to offer, NHL 2005 will keep you entertained for an extremely long time.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
This is still a solid game of hockey, but it isn't the most realistic or best-playing NHL title out there, and as such, it shouldn't be your first choice for one.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
But while EA has been able to make some improvements to their franchise, they just haven’t done enough to keep up with the ice maniacs over at ESPN.
Read Full Review >GamerFeed
It's worth purchasing for the World Cup and Free-4-All modes alone, but be aware that this isn't the defining hockey experience it could have been.
Read Full Review >Yahoo! Games
While the game's is an improvement over the 2004 edition, it's still not quite up to snuff.
Read Full Review >Armchair Empire
You’re better off picking up "ESPN NHL 2K5" because for the third year in a row Sega’s hockey series takes the Cup as it’s made the furthest leap forward in improvements.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
The ease of play, with the challenge of a good A.I. creates the perfect balance that not only makes for a realistic competition, but an enjoyable one as well.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
Flow? NHL 2005's skaters have no flow, 'cause they're always lying out on the ice from hit after hit - just like last year. I know hockey is a rough game, but c'mon, I like to control the puck for more than two seconds before picking up my teeth. [Oct 2004, p.99]
Eurogamer
Even though this is undeniably a good representation, the feel of it is really not all that different from the SNES and Mega Drive titles of yesteryear.
Read Full Review >G4 TV
The bar has been set higher by "ESPN NHL 2K5," whose presentation, sense of realism, and play modes simply outclass, outshine, and outperform those found in NHL 2005.
Read Full Review >games(TM)
This is EA’s take on NHL action as it’s always been, rejigged with improved animations and new moves so it’s inevitably the best version yet. [Nov 2004, p.119]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 6.1 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Buried-In-The-Box gave it a 7:
It looks like EA has finally met its match and been bettered by Sega once again. This game, like Madden and Live, don't hold a candle to Sega's new and improved sports line-up. Just stick with the Sega sports line-up this year. Next year they may not be as good, but taking 1st place from a competitor that has been on top for 15 years is enough for me. EA is going out and will have to completely re-think and re-work it's sports line if it wants to be taken seriously anymore. $50 for their updates each year has gotten old and has finally come back to bite them in the ass. They are on their way out just like the FF series by Squaresoft. Neither one of them have evolved in 15 to 20 years and people are starting to get smart. Sega may be the new king if they improve every game every year as much as they have this year. EA's hockey game makes me want to "hock" one in their faces. Oh, yeah, that's right, Sega already did that for me!
Steve P. gave it an 8:
This is a very good game once the body contact slides have been adjusted to their lowest settings. The graphics, gameplay and on-ice pacing are superior in this game compared to ESPN 2K5, but it is lacking with respect to modes and other such options. I buy my hockey games for on-ice gameplay, and this is the one for me.
Mark K. gave it an 8:
All the problems of this game can be fixed by adjusting the sliders for the most part. The play AI is still a little stupid at time. Overall, not bac, and better than 2004.
Monique H. gave it a 2:
This is absolute garbage. The skating is unresponsive and sluggish, even with the game speed up. The shots are just as bad or worse than 2004, and it just doesn't "feel" like a real hockey game. I don't like it one bit. NHL 2002 is much better in terms of playability.
Bill F. gave it a 0:
Barney Rubble skating animations, dumb AI and essentially the same game for the past 3 years all wrapped into a lame MTV presentation system (where's the hockey?) Maybe my sister will like this game.
Uter gave it a 6:
It's a tough call on this one. There's some really cool additions. The goalies and scoring variety are better than ever. The animation is the best of any hockey game out there. They also seriously nailed the look of most players and coaches. But there are definately a few flies in the ointment. Like a lot of reviewers, I have a problem with the insane amount of hitting in this game. It can be completely ridiculous at times - imagine a big hit every 3 seconds on average. Not even nhl hitz has this many hits (and that game's named hitz!). Okay so that wouldn't be a big deal if there was a slider to take the hitting effectiveness down a few pegs. But sadly there isn't a slider to do that, or much anything else for that matter. Other options aren't very customizable either. For example, period length has to be nice round figures... would you like them to be 5, 10 or 20 minutes long? You'd think this being their 13th edition of the game they'd have the basics down, but apparently not. Also considering this is the 3rd xbox version, you'd think they'd have considered including a custom soundtrack option. Why are we forced to listen to the stupid "ea trax" again? Although I must admit these tracks are less offensive than usual ea trax, there's not many of them, so you'll be hearing the same songs over and over. I sometimes wonder what moron is in charge of this franchise. It has the potential to be seriously awesome, but always disappoints me in a bunch of areas. Maybe they are cleverly avoiding putting out the perfect game just to keep suckers buying it year after year. Although I think it's just incompetence.
