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Sony and Page 44 Studios team up for another shot at Gretzky. This is the second Gretzky NHL game to grave the PSP despite the short lifespan of the portable console. This is a much more full-fledged port, though, based on a much better version of the game.
Gretzky NHL 06 is fully licensed by the NHL and AHL. You’ll find all the NHL teams, all the AHL teams, and every NHL coach. All of the arenas have been licensed and replicated in the game as well. If this isn’t enough for you though you can always create a player or create a team.
Gretzky NHL 06 features number of gameplay modes. The game’s Wayne v. Wayne mode is pretty fun, forcing players to get enough points to achieve “99 Time” and gain the ability to call Wayne Gretzky to play. If you achieve “99 Time” five times in a game, all five players will be replaced by Gretzky. In the Gretzky Challenge, you earn points by breaking NHL records. You can use these points to unlock teams, jerseys and younger versions of Gretzky. Other modes include Exhibition, Practice, and Tournament, all of which are pretty self explanatory. Unlike the PS2 version the game does not include a franchise mode. Instead, a full season mode is included.
The actual gameplay isn’t quite as simulation heavy. The game is very responsive, something required due to the new arcade nature. The shooting has been simplified as well since you now see a reticule that lets you know where you’re aiming the puck. The passing is also pretty intuitive though sometimes you’ll pass to someone you didn’t mean to. Thankfully, these two people are usually nearby, meaning that it isn’t a total disaster. The arcadey feel is undoubtedly intensified by the CPU who doesn’t waste a second to pass and can make some insane goals.
Gretzky NHL 06 for the PSP includes a head to head online multiplayer mode. It works pretty well though sometimes the game gives you difficulty to connect. Once you do connect, sometimes you’ll find that the game has some lag. The online tournaments and downloadable roster upgrades of the PS2 version have been done away with though. Aside from online, the game also includes an offline multiplayer mode via local wireless.
The game’s visuals are respectable. The game lost very little from the PS2 version of the game which is pretty impressive. The player models are decent with fairly detailed player faces. The players animate well, though they are quite sporadic at times. You’ll notice the players moving around with great speed and hectic movements. The game aims for an arcadey feel, though it doesn’t capture it quite as well as Midway’s of old. The crowd looks good thanks to it being largely polygonal, though the ice lacks reflections and proper shadows. The game’s presentation is actually good with plenty replay angles bringing the game to life.
The audio is equally adequate. The music could be better but doesn’t really distract from the game at large. The sound effects definitely help the audio package since they are in tact and quite forceful.
Gretzky NHL 06 walks along a fine line. As an arcade version of hockey, it doesn’t really succeed in going all out. Nonetheless, despite a longing for more responsive gameplay, I enjoyed Gretzky NHL 06. If you’re a hockey fan, it is a pretty worthwhile purchase especially since it doesn’t really have competition on the PSP other than Sony’s own Gretzky NHL. -- Jake Wilson, PGNx Media
---- Oct 27, 2005
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