The last time I bought a hockey game it was ESPN NHL 2K5, made by the same company but with the backing of ESPN. It was a great game even though it had certain flaws … like freezing up in the middle of a season. So I went out and picked up the 2007 version a few months ago since it’s nearing the end of hockey season (and because Joe Thornton’s on the cover), and … well, I’m a bit disappointed.

While I haven’t experienced the same disabling flaw as the 2005 game, there are some worse ones. First off, I find that the puck often manages to find its way into the net through the back, creating incredibly cheap glitch goals. Second, the computer gets away with way too many cheapshots even at lower difficulties, and other than spearing, nothing’s ever called. Oh, and then there’s the deking, which is broken compared to the older version.

The lack of ESPN licensing also makes the game feel incredibly cheap and unpolished. The commentators actually say the same lines as Gary Thorn and Bill Clement did in 2005, but coming from these no-names the lines sound repetitive and dumb.

It’s a disappointing game, even for the lower price of $20. I’m wondering if maybe I should’ve put in an extra $10 and picked up the EA version instead. Maybe next year.