NHL
5-on-5 is the latest hockey title to hit the ice from THQ Wireless. The mobile
hockey game boasts 30 teams from the NHL, each with its own stats and rankings,
and allows you to play through exhibition games as well as a season mode to let
you become the best of the best. For the most part, NHL 5-on-5 2007 is a solid
iteration of a beloved sport, albeit one that is a little light on features.
Hockey fans should be able to look past its flaws and should find it to be one
of the most competent hockey games available for the mobile platform.
NHL
5-on-5 lets you play as one of the NHL’s 30 teams, each generally scored in
terms of offense, defense, your goalie and so on. The feel of each team changes
in subtle ways depending on their stats, but most of the teams feel generally
the same.
The
Season mode allows you to play through a season against several teams to be the
top dog in the NHL. This mode has some rudimentary coaching functions where you
can improve your teams stats a bit by coaching them on offense or defense and so
on, depending on where you feel that they need the most work.
Aside
from the standard exhibition games and season mode, there really isn’t much to
NHL 5-on-5. The gameplay is standard shoot-and-pass, so the game is pretty light
on deep elements. The overall mechanics do feel a bit sluggish as well, with
players moving along the ice very slowly. The controls are pretty responsive
though, which is a good thing for a sports game There is a shot meter when you
line up the puck and shoot, which is a nice touch.
Visually, the game’s look is good and quite detailed compared to most mobile
games out there. Unfortunately, this poses a bit of a problem as the on-screen
sprites can get pretty hard to see. Oftentimes, when the on-screen action gets
hairy and the players are all massed onto the puck, it can be pretty tough (near
impossible) to tell who you are currently controlling, let alone who has the
puck.
NHL
5-on-5 2007 is a pretty solid hockey experience for the mobile phone, and
arguably one of the best that you’ll find on the platform. While a little light
on features, it’s still worth a look if you’re a die-hard hockey fan looking for
a fix on your phone.
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Gameplay: 7.0
NHL 5-on-5 is a
good game of hockey, with some easy-to-get-into hockey elements and responsive
controls. However, the gameplay can feel a bit sluggish at times, and the game
doesn’t offer a whole lot of extras outside of the Season mode.
Graphics: 7.5
Graphically, NHL
5-on-5 has a lot of detail and looks good when compared to most mobile games out
there, but the small sprites make things a little difficult to make out.
Sound: 7.0
NHL 5-on-5 has
some basic hockey sound effects, with blowing whistles and MIDI music.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 7.0
Aside from the
Season mode and exhibition play, there’s not a whole lot here.
Overall: 7.0
NHL 5-on-5 is a
solid hockey game that die-hard fans should check out if they need a mobile
hockey fix.
