NHL 2K10 (Sony PlayStation 2, 2009)

here's no doubt that there are better hockey titles currently on the market than what you'll find in NHL 2K10 on PlayStation 2. As with every single one of these last-gen efforts, developers are much more focused on their Xbox 360 and PS3 SKUs and this latest PS2 incarnation is no different. Thankfully that doesn't mean that there isn't a bit of fun to be found underneath the game's slightly dilapidated surface.

All the usual suspects are here in terms of game modes. You'll find Season, Tournament, Franchise, a Party Mode that houses a surprisingly fun assortment of mini-games, there's Pond Hockey as well as Mini-rink and there's even an online mode which is rare among PS2 releases these days. Nothing has been added to the core modes that have been in hockey games for years now, but that's not necessarily a bad thing if you like the way things are. The mini-games that are included make for a good time if you have three friends over. The list is impressively long and does a good job of changing the gameplay from one mini-game to the next.

The gameplay in NHL 2K10 sticks to the more arcade-like experience that the series is known for. Scoring goals is commonplace with one-timers still ruling the world of putting the puck in the net. Random slap shots and wristers will hit the back of the net every now and again, but your best bet is usually working the puck around for an opening. Sometimes the scoring can be laughably unrealistic with AI that could have used some more fine tuning before hitting the ice, but other times this version of NHL 2K10 resembles its current-gen counterparts fairly well.

Where the PS2 version takes its biggest hit isn't in its gameplay (though there are some comical moments), instead it's in its presentation. Penalties are called without any indication of who's being sent to the box or why, fights are one of the most comedic events I've seen in a videogame, and the new aerial camera perspective doesn't do much to reveal the finer points of the hockey or accentuate the visual fidelity of the players. Even despite the lacking level of detail, the game still manages to have a sluggish framerate that needlessly hampers things. There's also a very strange greenish hue that emanates from the ice every now and again. It happened on multiple TVs and didn't make a lick of sense.

The animations perform nicely on PS2. You'll see some bone crunching checks that send players hurdling into the opposition's (or your) bench, players skate along fluidly and interact realistically with each other for the most part. Occasionally you'll see a shot where the puck never makes contact with the stick, but that kind of inaccuracy isn't prevalent.

NHL 2K10 shouldn’t be compared to NHL 10 or even NHL 2K10 on Xbox 360 and PS3. On PS2 the game is much more its own entity, for better or worse. It is in no way a simulation of the sport despite a feature set that would indicate otherwise. The high-scoring games and arcade-like checks as well as the speed of the gameplay make for an entirely unrealistic experience, but at least it’s not without its moments of fun. You won’t mistake it for one of its vastly superior competitors, but if NHL 2K10 on PlayStation 2 is your only option for virtual hockey this year; you could do a lot worse.
At the end i would rate this game a 7.1/10
Thanks for reading - Rahil51

Compared to "MLB The Show" or "Madden" - "NHL2K10" is not up to par. Very basic look and game play. The preset POV is beyond weak. Graphics are a joke. It looks very 1990s, a total disappointment. There is no "NHL2K11" for PS3 or PS2, only iPhone and Wii - time to go back for the drawing board for Playstation I guess. It's a real let down for NHL fans. I don't recommend this game for anyone. NOT GOOD!

It is a good game for play station 2.I bought it because my son asked for it for christmas.He seems to like it although he dosn't play it as much as his other games.

The graphics are much better in this game than in the other versions. There are more control options and more realistic plays. Great buy.

it would not read a disc becuse it needs a new lazer and when i tried to use the disc'c in a different ps2 some were so scratched they did not work good at all. it wall all worn out stuff.