Thursday, September 9, 2010

NHL Slaphsot for the Nintendo Wii...


So, for the first time in quite a while, I bought a Wii game.

It's "NHL Slaphsot." It's the Wii's version of "NHL 11" by Electronic Arts. I used to really enjoy the NHL series on consoles, but with the newest generation of consoles, it seems that they have lost the "fun" and gotten a bit too complicated. They lost their charm, in my opinion.

The problem?? The games that weren't so complicated were WAY too arade like. They were like 2 on 2 affairs with a goalie for each team.

Enter "NHL Slaphsot" for the Wii. It's a hockey game that seems like the ones that I used to enjoy. Five on five with all the regular rules of the game, but none of the added simulation stuff to get in the way like salary caps and contracts.

To make it even better, it's controlled with an actual hockey stick. Yup, the Wii Remote and Nunchuck fit into a plastic hockey stick and you control the entire game with the stick.

To move you just use the analog stick on the nunchuck. Passing is handled with the "A" button, speed burst with the "Z" button, "C" drops your player to the ice to block a shot, and the "B" button is basically a modifier.

That's where the buttons end, though, and the fun begins. To shoot the puck, flick your stick forward for a wrist shot, just like you would do with an actual hockey stick. For a slap shot, bring the stick back and rip it forward. To check, push the whole stick forward like you are cross checking someone. Holding down the "B" button and moving the stick back and forth dekes with the puck, and holding the "B" button down and jabbing the puck forward performs a poke check. You can even hold "B" and flick the stick up to pop your opponents stick up in the air and swipe the puck.

I played for a couple of hours tonight...and I have to admit, I haven't had this much fun playing a sports game in AGES. I can really see myself playing this game quite a bit. It's just a ton of fun.

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