8.8 /10 1 Votes
86% Metacritic Initial release date 30 August 2004 Developer Kush Games Platforms Xbox, PlayStation 2 | 9.2/10 IGN Distributor(s) ESPN Series NHL 2K Publisher Sega | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Release date(s) NA: 30 August 2004
EU: 4 February 2005 Genre(s) Traditional ice hockey simulation Similar NHL 2K games, Kush games, Sports games | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ESPN NHL 2K5 is an ice hockey simulation made by ESPN Videogames (now 2K Games) and published on the Xbox and PlayStation 2 consoles. ESPN's Gary Thorne on play-by-play commentary and Bill Clement on color commentary calls all the action. This is also the last NHL Game to be published by Sega.
Contents
Espn nhl 2k5 xbox gameplay part 1 of 4
Gameplay
The game includes an extensive franchise mode where you can perform many team management functions, including hiring staff, managing player contracts, scouting new players and sending players back to minor teams for training. It also includes more traditional game modes like season, playoffs, exhibition and shootout. The game manual is also built into the software.
The 2004's edition of the game also introduces an advanced control setting which allows much more flexible control of your player, using the entire control pad rather than only a few buttons.
The Canadian release of the game features a number of specific game additions, including the ability to play the Heritage Classic, the first time an official outdoor hockey game was represented in a video game.
The cover of ESPN NHL 2K5, features Tampa Bay Lightning's Martin St. Louis. The cover of the Canadian edition surrounds the "NHL 2K5" lettering with a maple leaf.
Controls
The controls in the game allow you to have full stick control on both offense and defense. On the offensive side you can control your dekes by moving the right analog stick. This does a deke in the direction the analog stick was pushed. Also on offense when you want to deke out a goalie you hold the preset button(ex: for Advance hold L1+O)and move the stick with the left analog stick and then release to shoot. This provides for exciting dekes, but also on offense you can protect the puck from poke-checking defensemen by hold circle and choosing where you want to protect it with the analog stick. On the other side the defensive stick control allows you to skate backwards and also swing your stick across the ice to hit the puck away from the opposing player.
Reception
The game received "generally favorable reviews" on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.