Ballistics Report

NHL 07 Pros

Graphics
The graphics are generally nice, but with a few glaring flaws.

On-ice gameplay
The hockey on the ice is far better than any other game. AI and the goaltenders are especially improved.

Shot stick
It’s not perfect, but it’s a new way to play the game and enough people like it. If you don’t, just go back to buttons.

NHL 07 Cons

Interface
Bar none the worst sports interface ever. Similar to Madden and other EA Sports titles of this generation. It’s not just the worst of this generation, it’s actually worse than it was before. Adjusting rosters and lines is aggravating at the best of times.

Missing features
NHL 07 doesn’t even have a fantasy draft. Come ON.

Herky-Jerky animations
NHL 07 really looks like it was hand-animated, rather than motion-captured. Maybe it’s a poor framerate, but something about it doesn’t feel right.

Control issues
Not terribly major but annoying enough to mention. Skater response to shots and maneuvers seems unreliable.

NHL 2K7 Pros

Interface
It’s effectively unchanged from NHL 2K6, and normally this would be a bad thing, but considering the God-awful alternative EA forced on us, NHL 2K7’s interface is a dream.

Skating
The on-ice gameplay isn’t as good as NHL 07, but the skating is more fluid and natural. Perhaps too much so.

NHL 2K7 Cons

Graphics
It’s still a weird hybrid of Xbox and Xbox 360 art. Not attractive.

NHL 2K6+1
If you’re expecting a noticeable improvement, never mind a leap forward, you’re in for disappointment. NHL 2K7 barely changes the formula.

Gameplay
I preferred it to older versions of EA’s series, but the new NHL 07 is clearly better on the ice than NHL 2K7. The AI and the way players interact with each other and the puck are clearly behind EA’s game now.