NHL 06

 Xbox
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 19
  3. Negative: 3 out of 19
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  1. Scott
    Sep 8, 2005
    7
    The game isn't much different from last year. They seriously need to improve goal variety. I also can't stand how the goalies cheat. Why they can't make it so that if it hits the goalie then it's a save, rather than resorting to goalie psychic powers and surrounding them with an invisible glue is beyond me. By far the best way to score is via one timers and dekes. But The game isn't much different from last year. They seriously need to improve goal variety. I also can't stand how the goalies cheat. Why they can't make it so that if it hits the goalie then it's a save, rather than resorting to goalie psychic powers and surrounding them with an invisible glue is beyond me. By far the best way to score is via one timers and dekes. But those types of goals constitute maybe 20% of goals in the real NHL. Trying other methods to score just isn't rewarded. Playing through an 82 game season when you only really score 2 ways just isn't that fun. With all that said, this game does include a lot of neat details. I am impressed with all the NHL player faces - they capture their likeness' very well. I was also pleasantly surprrised seeing somewhat updated rosters. They are within a month or so of the real NHL rosters unlike NHL 2K6 (released on the same day). But admitedly there have been a lot of transactions within the past little while. Overall the game is a mild improvement on last years version, but I wouldn't wholeheartedly recommend it.… Expand
  2. RJBEESWAX
    Sep 10, 2005
    7
    I also have 2006 and my initial reaction was the same as yours. But, last year I grumbled too at the 2005 version compared to what I was used too, the 2004. I think as far as game play comparison we tend to prefer what we know and become frusterated with what we don't. Althought I am really getting sick of how EA every year seems to be putting less care into it's NHL product. I also have 2006 and my initial reaction was the same as yours. But, last year I grumbled too at the 2005 version compared to what I was used too, the 2004. I think as far as game play comparison we tend to prefer what we know and become frusterated with what we don't. Althought I am really getting sick of how EA every year seems to be putting less care into it's NHL product. SImple little mistakes that seem paltry to most really show a lack of consideration and effort on their part. Here are a few examples.: -Goalies masks and pads always stay the same as their original team (last year at the very least if you traded a goalie to a new team his mask would go neutral white)(to top this mess off, Khabibulin was correctly a BLACKHAWK in this year's game but his pads and mask are and will be forever from his TAmpa years!!) -Rosters, holy f..k! what a mess, Kelly Buchburger still playing for the PENS, and yet the biggest news in hockey since Lemiuex himself, CROSBY isn't even in the game...ditto with Washington's great draft, Ovechkin...their is no excuse for this whatsoever. -The cut scenes are exactly the same as last year, bench celebrations and what not except they cleverly altered the camera persepective to try and convince you they're new ones. BULL.... -The play by play and color commentary is essencially the same as 20005 with the exception of very few new ones that are getting old fast. -Way too many posts! EVery game I hit the post about 3-7 times. -When I went to correct the and update the rosters I had to drop some players into free-agency, which was a nightmare because they restricted the number of players you can actually put into the FA pool..so it's a total pain in the neck and I had to get clever and trade players and shite like that, about 2-3 steps more in order to get players to the proper teams. WHy couldn't they have just made the FA pool hold way more players? I'm sure they could have, they just didn't deem it important. -The Create-a-player feature that they brought back after stupidly leaving it off of the 05 version is horrid. I mean, its better than nothing but, the analogue face creator is a mess, every character I create comes out looking like an Ogre. Sidney Crosby is now an Ogre cuz I had to create him. I was really considering buying the 2k6 game, going with EA's main competitor. But thanks to my friend I am no longer gonna do that, it's even worse than EA's 06. (I played at his place last night, he bought it and I thought it really sucke, brutal graphics and skating on air---but just my first impression) Besides the more I play the more I realize that slowly but surely I'm warming up and getting used to the new EA. I like the deke option, especially on break-aways, it feels like you have some real control in-tight that has been lacking in other years. The goalie does drop down too easily but if you up your difficulty level they still make great saves (even if they have no right in making them--just pretend they aren't on their backs) Also I like certain features alot: -the puck physics, the puck injures and bounces and slows and raises more appropriately -the skating physics is better, the players have more realistic momentum and speed bursts(you can't always hold speed down because, like real hockey, a player at top-flight will be less stable and less in control of the puck and his shots will be ineffective. -The AI for the other team, especially on D seems much improved. As far as a complaint against the graphics, I think they're very similiar to 2005's game which in my eyes was a step backwarsd from 2004's offering. Over all EA is still the best hockey game out there, I just wish they didn't care so little about this title and put the effort in that it deserved. I would love to see even a 1/4 of the money and effort they put into the MADDEN title, it would make a world of difference. pissed off with EA but gagging at EK_ still I reluctantly give EA's NHL 2006 a 7/10… Expand

Awards & Rankings

56
#56 Best Xbox Game of 2005
65
#65 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    73
    I like that in 06's franchise mode each NHL team has its own objectives - be the Wings and anything short of Canada's Holy Grail is a disappointment. [Oct 2005, p.114]
  2. Game Informer
    70
    A complete turnaround from last season, and a direction that I hope EA steers clear of in the future. The user should always have control over the most basic gameplay functions. [Sept 2005, p.96]
  3. Xbox Evolved
    66
    In reality it is just a few minor tweaks from 2005, completely updated rosters, and the fact that it says '06'.
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