Sega’s relationship with ESPN, the undisputed industry leader in sports coverage and coverage of live events, has resulted in the creation of a new hockey video game called ESPN NHL 2K5.
You get the basic game modes, just like you would with any other sports video game. The Franchise mode in 2K5 is a significant step forward from the previous year’s competition. You now have the opportunity to hire many coaches in addition to the new email system just implemented. You can select a head coach, an offensive coach, a defensive coach, a scouting coach, a goaltending coach, and several other coaches. Instead of using points to negotiate contracts with players, real money is used when hiring and firing personnel.
There are also a few unique game modes to choose from. You will also have access to the skills mode, which was present in the game from the previous year. You have a few options: quickest skater, hardest shot, most accurate shooter, and puck handling. There is also something called Party Mode, which puts you against each other in high-speed action games and can accommodate anywhere from one to four players (you, your pals, or you and the computer). One example would be a free-for-all in which players attempt to obtain the puck and score it in the net, but a cinder wall continually shifting in front of the net prevents them from doing so.
Similar to the game released the year before, 2K5 has a multiplayer hockey mode that can be played on Xbox Live (Xbox) or the network connection offered by PlayStation 2. You can jump right into a game, form or join a league with other players, or both.
The Skybox has been brought back, and some minor improvements have been made. You gain points in the same way as you do in ESPN NFL 2K5 by accomplishing tasks. Some examples of these activities include scoring five goals in a single period or winning ten faceoffs. After that, you may use these points to buy unlockables that will decorate your Skybox or give you access to play as different special teams. In addition, you can unlock throwback jerseys. The Stanley Cup will always take center stage in your Skybox, but any other trophies you win will be displayed alongside it. You can play air hockey, shuffleboard, and a trivia machine from your Skybox. These are the three minigames that are available to you.
Those who own an Xbox can soon import the music stored on their hard drive and program-specific songs or portions of themes to play at specific times or events. You can play something uplifting when you score, something insulting when you get cut on, or anything like Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” as the introduction to the stadium. You can even set different events depending on the stadium, so if you want “Crazy Train” to play in Anaheim for the stadium opener but want “Dragula” in Detroit, you can do that. If you prefer making a lot of effort, you can even set different events based on the stadium.
