November 27, 2009 - It’s that time of year again.

Like clockwork for the last two decades or so, EA has put out an improved version of last year’s hockey title. Unlike in years past, with minor enhancements and upgrades from edition to edition, EA has put out a hockey title that plays so well, offers so many options, and is so incredibly deep, you may never buy another hockey video game again. Well, until NHL 11 comes out anyway.

The other day I was playing some NHL 97 on the Sega Genesis in preparation for this review, and it’s simply jarring to think how far this franchise and video game hockey in general has come in 13 years. NHL 10 packs in everything a hockey fan could ever want into one little disc, and it all begins with the gameplay.

For the hardcore hockey fan, there’s no simulation of the sport quite like the one that EA has concocted for this season. NHL 10 returns with the use of skill stick, which essentially means that the left analog stick controls your player’s feet, while the right stick controls his hands. Move the right stick right, and you’ll deke right. Move it up and you’ll shoot. Move it down and you’ll wind up for the big slapper. The control system has been refined to a razor edge since its introduction in NHL 07. Controlling your players, setting up plays, and putting your shots exactly where you want them is a total breeze. The only complaint I have on the controls is that very occasionally while trying to cycle the puck, the game will blatantly pass to the wrong player in the zone. I wanted to pass the puck back to the defence, not to my centre who has three guys surrounding him… oh well, there’s always NHL 11.

If that sounds too complicated to you, you can always just play the game with the classic NHL 94 controls. This is a nice bone to toss to the newbies, but beyond the controls, a real understanding of the game of hockey is required to succeed even at the medium difficulties.

The on ice product has been enhanced this year with a few tweaks that add another layer of realism to the game. The first is board play. With a push of the triangle or Y button (depending on your console of choice), you can now pin a player against the boards to stop up rushes. The player being pinned can either protect the puck or kick it up or down the boards. The system works seamlessly with the timeless design of the game.

The other new additions are the scrums after the whistle and the first person fighting. In past games, you could body check and slash your opponents after the whistle and have them stand there dumbstruck while you proceeded to perforate their pancreas with your stick. Now, the CPU will take exception to those sorts of extra curricular activities. They’ll shove you back, facewash your players, and take extreme exception to any sort of traffic around the goalie’s crease. If things get really hairy, players will drop the gloves.

The new fighting engine is a lot of fun, and controls similarly to EA’s Fight Night. The left analog stick controls where you’re going to tug the jersey, and the right stick controls your fist. Hit up to do a quick jab, and pull down to wind up for the big haymaker. There are strategies here too. For example, you can pull the opponent’s jersey down while punching to do a devastating uppercut. It’s a shame the fights don’t last too long, but it’s easy to get into another one. Overall, it’s a fantastic addition to the game.

Player injuries are also handled very in depth this year. When a player gets hurt, you have the option of sitting them out, benching them for a period, or putting them right back into the fray. Do you risk injuring them further for that tying goal, or do you protect your superstar? It’s all up to you. In a nice touch, I had Daniel Alfredsson break his jaw on a play, and when I put him back on the ice he was wearing a jaw guard. Its little touches like this that really makes NHL 10 such a complete hockey experience.