The 2005 season of EA Sports’ long-running hockey franchise continues. This year’s version improves on last year’s features while adding new enhancements to the game engine.
The graphics have improved even more since last year. The ‘cyber players’ now look so similar to their real-life counterparts that it’s difficult to tell them apart. Player models have been enhanced with more realistic skin, hair, and features. More facial animations and emotions are included, and the coaches are redone in this fashion. Meanwhile, the in-game update includes many new animations, cutscenes, goalie animations, and fighting engine improvements.
NHL 2005 introduced a new control feature called Open-Ice control. This feature allows you to potentially control players without the puck and set up for picks, double teams, and other actions. Wrist and slap shots are now mapped to separate buttons for greater versatility.
Players’ personalities are introduced as a new feature in the gameplay. As a result, Tie Domi will be more of an enforcer, whereas Markus Naslund will rely more on finesse and skill. You will be expected to balance the personalities on each team line to create chemistry. The dynasty mode has been completely redesigned with a new interface and tweaks. Free agency and trading have been tweaked, as has team management. The new system updates you on weekly injury/streak reports, letters from your owner, players, etc.
The World Cup tournament and Free-for-All modes are new this year. Players compete for 2 on 2 in Free-For-All, attempting to score on the other while also defending. Along with the methods, minor tweaks include no-touch icing, delayed offsides, and shootout options for tied games. The create a team feature is still available this year, but the create a player feature has been removed. Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson are back to provide commentary.
