Many video game genres are divided into simulation or arcade. Racing games, flying games, basketball games and football games all have versions where physics and realism are key and versions that take license and throw realism to the wind. Obviously there are fans of both types and you’d be hard pressed to convince one group that another’s game is better. A lot of times, it’s worse than a political debate. With that in mind, I offer the following disclaimer: I am not a fan of simulation hockey games. I do dig on simulation racing games, but because of the unlikelihood of my ever playing a pro sport be it basketball, football or hockey, I don’t put a lot of stock in excessively realistic (often excessively overcomplicated) sports games. 

That’s likely the primary reason why I wasn’t as turned off by Gretzky NHL ’06 as many of the diehard hockey sim fans were. Sony’s latest version of the Gretzky NHL series is a blend of arcade and simulation style that seems to fit my play preference better than some of the more complicated simulation titles.

That’s not to say the game is free from negative criticism. It does after all have its issues, but the bottom line for me is that I had fun playing it and felt like I was in control of the game. So before I pick at it, I’ll describe some things I liked about this particular game.

As I said before, Gretzky doesn’t play like a simulation game. Players move quickly and don’t slide around the ice. Admittedly this is not realistic, but I’ve personally had enough of not being able to keep up with the action because of all-too-realistic ice physics. In Gretzky 06, you move in straight lines not in circles. When your opponent gets the puck away from you, you don’t have to be a controller wizard to pick a defender and check the guy into the wall. You pick your man, aim the controller at the puck-bearer and move right at him. There’s no slipping or sliding around uncontrollably hoping you come in contact with your opponent. The alternative is very realistic, but in my opinion not as much fun.

The game lacks the arcade-y bells and whistles of arcade hockey games like NHL Hitz, but it does come with a turbo you can use for those extra bursts of speed. More like the simulation games, you can do a simple deke with the push of a button or a more complicated one with a flick of the right analog stick. You can perform all the same hockey techniques (one-timers, give-and-gos, wrist and slap shots) as the simulation games, but the execution doesn’t seem as difficult. There are manual and auto aim features, that are still not realistic per se, but I think enhance the game play. The manual aim puts a target reticule over the location of the net you’re aiming for. The visual cue confirms where you’re aiming and gives you instant feedback that you are affecting something. I hate games that imply concepts like aiming without providing some visual cue to let you know you’re doing the right thing. The auto aim has no reticule, but as it should be, the lack of feedback corresponds with a lack of action.

The game includes the new NHL rules and implements the regulation penalties, though not to a negative point. In some games, not necessarily hockey related, the logic for penalties is so loosely defined and unforgiving that a normal game can be completely broken. The addition of penalties to an arcade style hockey game may seem out of place to some, but to me it fits. I didn’t notice an excessive amount of penalties or any areas where it was frustratingly broken. What I did notice was my ability to score more points when my line went on a power play. This I enjoyed, not because the penalty was extremely accurately simulated, but because for those few precious minutes I dominated the ice.

The only other worth mention in terms of arcade style game play is the special mode of Gretzky versus Gretzky in this version of Sony’s hockey franchise. In this mode, you play what amounts to a pick up game with one major difference. As you play and perform moves that Wayne Gretzky himself would be proud of, you earn “99” points. Once you’ve earned at least 65 of these “99” points, you can activate “99” mode where Wayne Gretzky himself subs into the game and helps you open a can of whoop ass. Your whole team gets a benefit in both appearance and player skills. Each member of the team looks twice as large as those on the other and they play tougher too. Your “99” points dwindle away to nothing over time, and if the opposite team can defend against you until they run out then they get bonus points.

Other than the basic arcade/simulation style game play, there is a franchise mode where you can manage a team and simulate whole seasons, but as I said before I don’t get particularly exciting about simulation sports games so building a hockey franchise has little appeal to me. If you are the type who likes to simulate, you may have already gotten the hint that this isn’t your game. If you are the type that knows all the players and how the management of a hockey team is supposed to work you may take issue with the way this game is implemented. After all I’m not here to defend its franchise mode. But I’m also not here to bash its game play for not being strictly arcade or simulation. My honest assessment of Gretzky NHL 06’s game play is that it’s fun, pure and simple…with one glaring exception: passing. 

Passing in this game, while not exactly broken, can be tough to get used to. There is a simplistic pass mechanic (one I’ve seen before) where you pass the puck in the direction you are holding the controller. This seems like a dandy way to implement passing, but generally speaking you are rushing toward the goal and the guy you desperately need to pass to is on your right or left. The fact that you are moving towards the goal means your pass will go towards the goal, either into the hands of the goalie or some other lame direction that invariably puts it back into enemy hands. The alternative is difficult to use, but is much more specific. You hold down the L2 button and pick the button of the person you want to pass to. It’s two buttons instead of one, but at least you can pick someone who’s open.

The other irritant with respect to passing has to do with the computer opponent. Sometimes, not always but sometimes, the computer will go into a nut-so passing frenzy where the puck is flying back and forth so fast you barely have time to register who has it before it’s whizzing its way to one of the other two offensive players. This can go on for what seems like an eternity (though is actually only a few seconds) before finally you manage to intercept the puck or get heinously scored on. The fact that this didn’t happen all the time made the fact that it existed at all merely an irritant and not a show stopper, but it may be one reason you pass this game by. 

Other than that, the graphics and effects are halfway decent although nothing to really brag about. I’d consider them rather standard as sports games go. Player models look pretty realistic up close. Which doesn’t really matter because you only see them up close in the cut scenes. The crowd is polygonal, but only slightly. It looks better than single textures, but you still don’t get the impression that you’re really in a stadium. 

The sound is pretty standard fare also. The checks and hockey sound effects are boilerplate, not that I’d expect anything else. I mean, how many ways can you record a puck being hit. The announcer can be repetitive and somewhat annoying, but I don’t think I’ve played a sports game yet where I can honestly say I wasn’t annoyed at some ridiculous thing or other that flew out of their pie holes. Like I said, pretty standard fare.

And that’s how I’d have to characterize the game as a whole. I had a fun time playing it, but I have widely different tastes when it comes to a hockey game than what I imagine are those of diehard hockey fans. Gretzky NHL 06 is not at all what I would call a bad game. Still, it’s not what I would call a great game either. If you’re into the sim style of sports games, you’ll probably want to pass this one by. But if you just want a decent hockey game to play give this one a try. I’d do yourself a favor, though, and rent it first to find out if it’s a fit for you.