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Released
last Christmas in the US, NHL Powerplay Hockey recently arrived on PAL format.
The reason for the delay is probably something to do with the fact that ice
hockey doesn't really reign supreme in Europe like it does in the US. Although
TV coverage is finally giving this sport the exposure that it deserves, most
Europeans still wouldn't know the difference between Dallas All Stars and the
Mighty Ducks.
The only way that this could ever improve would be through
education of the sport and what better way to teach the uninitiated the rules
than to sit them down in front of a Playstation and load up a copy of one of the
many ice hockey games that are presently available. The question is whether NHL
Powerplay could convince a die-hard soccer fan that similar enjoyment can be
gained from participating in a team sport that replaces studs with blades and
grass with ice.
Well let's see, because I love soccer and my experience of
ice hockey is watching the Mighty Ducks three times on the Disney channel while
the Play Offs can only be associated to the soccer teams that didn't quite make
promotion and are given a second chance.
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NHL
Powerplay, in case you haven't already gathered, is a simulation of the sport of
Ice Hockey. The game features all 26 teams within the National Hockey League
and a selection of top International squads. Each team has five outfield
players and a keeper to begin with but rough play can see your team numbers
rapidly reduced for timed periods. The game is played on an enclosed ice rink,
obviously, and the ball is a puck which the players attack with a hockey stick.
The players wear up to fifteen wooly sweaters because it's cold while masks,
gloves and knuckle-dusters are worn because it's dangerous.
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When
the players first take to the ice and skate off to their allocated positions
they appear as smart animated figures. Their reactions and movements are quite
realistic. A tackle from behind will see them wobble around as if they are
about to lose balance, a trip sends them sprawling head first across the icy
surface while a puck in the midriff shows the player as he doubles up with pain,
which is just how I would react.
The smooth scrolling ice rink is accurately
set out with the blue and red lines that highlight the zones having a misty edge
to them that gives them a slightly melting appearance.
Once the game begins
it is immediately noticeable that the fixed camera angle makes it difficult to
collect the puck when two or more players are in the vicinity. As the game does
not offer the option to adjust the in-game camera angle the outcome of one on
one situations leaves a lot to chance.
A replay mode is available for use
at anytime during or after play and the use of the fast forward and rewind
controls allow you to check out individual players performances and abilities.
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There
is not much to report on the sound effects and music because there is sadly no
big name commentator to report on the action, therefore you must rely on the
on-screen display which names the player in control. It's hardly a grumble
because I usually end up turning off the commentators voice during sporting
games because they are usually repetitive and annoying.
The noise of the
crowd is basically a raising and lowering of a muffled.... er, crowd type noise.
There's the clatter of hockey sticks and the occasional sound of the referees
whistle and that's about it.
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First
you must grasp the rules of the game otherwise play will degenerate into a
series stop-start frustrations. The red line divides the rink into two halves
and the two blue lines mark the start of the offensive and defensive zones.
Penalties will be called for hooking, slashing, tripping, interference, cross
checking, elbowing, holding and probably for throwing snowballs. Thankfully
this can be turned off for a thoroughly enjoyable dirty game. Offside is called
when a player enters the blue offensive zone before the puck does. Thankfully
this can be turned off for the goal moochers. A two line pass is penalized when
the puck is passed from the defensive zone to the area past the red centre line
without contacting a player, while icing determines whether a puck can be played
from the defensive half to the area behind the goal you are attacking. If these
are also switched off then you don't need the ref.
There are a variety of
game modes on offer which are Exhibition that allows one or multiple users to
play a customized single game. Season offers you the chance to control one team
through a variable length NHL Season. Play-Offs allows you to jump the grind of
a season and go straight into a pressure-packed NHL Play-Off and a World
Tournament is a 16 team round robin format that is split into 8-team pools with
divisional winners competing to become World Tourney Champion.
Powerplay
holds the official stamp of the NHL which allows use of the real names of the
top sporting stars while the teams they play for are graded by their recent
form. Click onto Quick Start and all the options you require are displayed on
one screen, teams, rating, rules on/off and period length. Ideal for the
beginner.
Once the game is underway the only controls you will initially use
are pass, slap/wrist shot, poke check and fast skate. These actions will get
you through your opening game against a lesser team but if you wish to succeed
against the top teams you must learn all fifteen actions.
During the
interval of each quarter your offensive and defensive set ups may be edited to
change the flow of play. Getting to grips with this facility is essential as a
correct tactical change should alter the course of the game.
NHL Powerplay
was an enjoyable experience but is not without faults. Certain situations
require a burst of speed but the fast skate button didn't really offer much
acceleration. Also, when passing the puck the nearest player is not
automatically selected but must be selected manually. This results in a fair
amount of button bashing throughout the entire game.
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NHL
Powerplay is a smart looking game that is easy to pick up and play. With so
many similar games on the PSX market I wouldn't say that it was the best
available but I could certainly recommend it to the novice ice hockey player.
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MARTIN |
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GRAPHICS: |
Good |
Definately
a game for beginners with it's pick-up-and-play handling. The graphics look
good but I sometimes found it difficult to see who had control of the puck, but
then again my eye sight is not as good as it was before I began spending half of
my life on a Playstation. Powerplay also lacked the punch ups which add that
bit of realism to ice hockey games. I also thought the after goal celebrations
went on a little too long, especially when it was the opposing team dancing
around in delight. |
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SOUND: |
Poor |
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PLAYABILITY: |
Good |
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VALUE: |
Good |
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OVERALL
7/10 |
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ADAM |
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GRAPHICS: |
Brilliant |
I
thought the graphics looked great but the game was spoilt by play constantly
stopping and starting. It flowed a lot better when the rules were switched off.
I also found it hard to score, even against the easier teams. (Adam: aged 9) |
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SOUND: |
Good |
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PLAYABILITY: |
Average |
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VALUE: |
Good |
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OVERALL
7/10 |
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