Hockey season is almost here, so getting ready for the long haul of the 82 game regular season is a big deal for fans.  I myself am a fan of the sport of hockey first, THEN I am a fan of the Dallas Stars (my local NHL hockey team).  I might celebrate a great highlight goal or sick move, but I’ll hate the team that player plays for with a passion.  I ultimately just want to spread the gospel of hockey so it can have a larger following, as well as a bigger showing on ESPN not ESPN 8 – The Ocho.  This led me to dabble in rooting for the Chicago Blackhawks last year for their exciting and talented young hockey team.  I started this when I needed a team to get behind and cheer for since that club actually made it to the playoffs (*cough* My Stars didn’t! *cough*).  So which one of the two hockey games being released this year are going to tickle my jock strap and get me in the mood for the hockey season? Find out after the jump as I review 2K Sports NHL 2K10.

The first thing you’ll notice about the game is the clean shine and polish that 2K Sports put into NHL 2K10.  The improvements over last year’s iteration are noticeable, with the game now allowing you to shoot from your knees, or even on your belly or flopping around on your back.  The presentation of each hockey game is excellent, with custom camera angles and shots only found on broadcast television.  It really makes for an exciting viewing experience for those not wanting to pick up the controller.  Choose your favorite arena for a home game, and you’ll see that 2K did a great job of scoping out each nook and cranny of the venue to recreate it in NHL 2K10.  The American Airlines Center (home of the Dallas Stars) looks almost identical to the one found in the game.  Pre-game introductions for the home team have been revamped and improved over last year’s game, with the lighting of your team’s logo looking great on the crowd and the ice.

The player’s faces (most of them anyway) look great and are really detailed in replays and segments in-between face-offs.  You really do get a sense that each player has their own style and special deke moves.  On the downside to all of this are the lesser known players, or those without pictures in the game.  These just look cookie cutter.  They look like 2K Sports didn’t use the same amount of effort and just used a randomizer to get them all done.  White dude with brown hair! GO!

The biggest downfall for NHL 2K10 are the controls. Oh the controls.  There are a few bugs and jitters on the ice with sticks magically going through the glass boards during hits, or players having their sticks pass through another player before a face-off.  These are very minor in comparison to the complex control schemes used in NHL 2K10.  The “supposed” simple default controls are a bear to use, and it’s very frustrating to get used to and perfect.  I personally thought the controls were way too busy for me and I didn’t care for having to hold down a button to skate backwards, and another button for a skating power boost, and another if you want to do anything on ice (poke check, stick lift, or body check).

Even with NHL2K10 being $10 cheaper than NHL 10, I still can’t recommend the 2K Sports game over EA’s NHL 10.  The overall presentation of the hockey in game is absolutely gorgeous (minus the somewhat lackluster commentary), but the amount of button presses and combos needed to do anything on the ice is cumbersome.  The controls should feel fluid and intuitive for you, which even with the improved stick controls for better puck handling and defensive moves in NHL 2K10, the controls here are frustrating.  It’s still a step in the right direction for this franchise, and I really do think that NHL2K11 could be a redemption for the 2K hockey series, but right now it’s just one skate blade behind. I played the 360 version of the game, but NHL2K10 is out on store shelves now for Xbox360, PS3, Wii, and PS2.