Release: Feb 9 2009
Developer: EA SPORTS Freestyle
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Genre: Sports
If you’re looking for an ultra realistic simulation, then stop right here and go back to NHL 09.
From the second you hit the menu on 3 on 3 NHL Arcade, you know this ain’t your granddaddy’s hockey. The rock pulsing through your speakers isn’t just some cheap commodity, it’s there to get you pumped for the action inside, and there is plenty of action for both casual and hardcore hockey fans.
As the name implies, 3 on 3 NHL Arcade is for the fans out there who want over-the-top action, super power-ups and a crazy metal head announcer with an arcade-like feel. There are no holds barred, as players zoom around the ice knocking each other over while fighting for the next power-up and a chance to get their stick on the puck. While there’s an option to shut off power-ups, they help keep the action flowing and make the game much more interesting. So while you’re vying for first place, expect to see these items on the ice:
- Super Shot clears a path straight to the goal
- Big Player makes your star HUGE
- Freeze stops one of your opponents dead in their tracks
- Bananas cause players to fall to the ice
- Super Speed gives your player rocket skates
- Double Score allows a shot to be worth 2 pts.
- Small Goalie makes your goal keeper shrink to the size of an ant
- Big Goalie allows for towering protection over your goal
Some of these power-ups may seem like they give you an unfair advantage, but there are so many that grace your screen throughout a match that it levels out the playing field. Knock an adversary off their skates and a power-up will drop to the ice (most of the time), and the same goes for your AI team mates who even on easy seem more than capable of helping you out across the rink.
Rounding Up The Gang
With 36 playable characters to choose from and 4 goalies, possible team mates are broken up into three classes; All Around, Fast and Strong. While the list of familiar faces is nice, you’re essentially choosing from the three main character types as having your preferred star player wont affect how a certain class plays. Some sort of player stats to differentiate each hockey star while placing him in one of the three categories would have added some much needed depth to team selection. In all reality you could have three characters simply named Worthless, Speedy and Kicks The Crap Out of Everyone on The Ice, ’cause that’s exactly what you get.
I found that the All Around players seemed to skate at a decent speed, but were weak against other players, especially if your competition had Strong players, which makes for a long game if you’re getting knocked down to your hands and knees every ten seconds. Fast players haul some major butt around the rink and are nearly untouchable. But one major problem with them is the fact that they have no power whatsoever causing them to be man-handled by anyone who can catch them. While Strong players on the other hand seemed by far the best team mates on the ice. Though these guys are slow, they can take out anyone and get you a straight shot at the goal. While there aren’t very many combinations you can make with three character types, if you’re a hockey fan you’ll enjoy the 40 stars that grace your screen.
He Shoots! He.. Misses
One aspect of NHL Arcade that I was anxiously awaiting was online play, but I wanted to make sure I was good enough to hang with the rest of the PlayStation community before I jumped on and got my you-know-what handed to me in a to-go box. Which is where I ran into some problems with the difficulty. Even on Easy the AI was handing it to me with a smile, sending me to the brink of making a controller shaped hole in my living room wall. About ten games in I was 0-10 and had decided that something needed to change quick. I had tried all of the different characters, multiple combinations and even threw a prayer in there at one point. Then I remembered reading the option to lock your control down to one player, allowing your team mates to be ran by the all-star AI, which I highly recommend for anyone who is new to NHL Arcade even if you think you’re a hockey pro. After getting the hang of things I regained control of my team and began my arcade pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
Though I had only tackled Easy against the computer, seeing how difficult it was I thought I could put up a decent fight online. With a handful of online games under my belt I quickly realized that this wasn’t for the faint of heart. Players were getting knocked to the ground before the puck had even dropped. This problem is most prevalent right after a goal. Seconds after the puck hit the ice, I was on my ass and the other team was rejoicing in another goal. So as aforementioned, this is no-holds-barred, and you better be ready for it or you simply wont make it. Once you get used to hitting first and asking questions later you’ll hang in there just fine.
Skating on Thin Ice
The announcer fits the tone of the game perfectly, from his sarcastic remarks to his death metal GOAL! Though some people may get tired of hearing him over and over, his sayings aren’t limited to three or four catch phrases and actually throw in some much needed character. That said it’s a shame we couldn’t see more from the players themselves. One of the great things about arcade sports is the personality that shines through with each contender, you’ll have trouble if you’re looking for that here.
The menus are filled with dozens of options that allow you to tweak your experience to your liking, allowing as little as 5 goals for a win, all the way up to 20 for those who would like something a little more substantial out of each game, speeding up the game timer or slowing it down, camera angles (though limited) that allow for preferred viewing and other standard options, but none of these will keep you coming back for more.
The bottom line unfortunately is that 3 on 3 NHL Arcade is the type of game that you either love or hate from the moment you turn it on. If you’re new to the arcade-sports genre then you might want to try the demo, but if you’re into arcade-style, laid-back sports games and you like hockey, then there is no doubt in my mind that you should pick this one up.
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