Game Overview
The EA equvalent is the originally named NHL series, ESPN NHL 2K5 has an awful lot to live up to if it is going to come anywhere near the first and probably the best ice hockey game in the world.

As with it's counterparts ESPN NFL 2K5 and ESPN NBA 2K5 it does follow the same kind of plot. You get excellent commentry before, during and after the game, all the camera shots are shots you would expect to see on ESPN whilst actually watching a game! It gives you a real sense of reality and could fool you as to whether you are watching a game or playing the game!

Unforutnately ESPN NHL's gameplay is not quite as good as its sister games, it just doesnt manage to grab you and involve you in the game, we found ourselves hitting the same button over and over again, as everytime we hit "O" it seemed to do something different, would it trip them, deke them, pinch the puck, shoot, tackle, duck, pass.............we werent sure!

That aside everything else seemed to be in place and worked extremely well, there is a great selection of teams and legendry teams, as well as having a detailed roster in each team, a good choice of different strips to play in, and a stadium for each team, it really gives you a front row seat into what NHL hockey is all about. Before long you will be able to name all the teams, what colour jersey's they play in, the full roster line-up and what arena they play at! You will be a NHL boffin!! Everyone has to be a boffin at something, might as well be something half decent!

Ice Hockey along with American Football and Basketball has some complicated and seemlessly pointless rules, but they are the rules so stick to them, they all serve a purpose and once you get to grips with how to play the game and get your head around the rules none of it will bother you and you will be scoring slapshots left right and centre! If not, then you could always beat the crap out of them, one by one!

Our Conclusions
Its all about the rules, as soon as you get the hang of playing something a little different and quicker and you get your head around the rules then you are away. Once you get into NHL you will never look back, ESPN NHL really ropes you in, involves you and keeps you on your toes, not quite as good as it's EA opponent but not that far behind it!

Overall Score: 7.5/10

Thanks to BlokesOnly's King of Games Chris Swanson and Adrian Lawton from Take Two, without them this review would not be possible.