NHL 08 is a video game released on September 11, 2007 in North America; the Xbox 360 version was supposed to be released on the same date as the Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 versions,[1] but was postponed for a day due to shipping issues.[citation needed] This was the first installment to be released on the PlayStation 3.

NHL 08
Eric Staal on the cover of NHL 08
Developer(s)EA Canada (PS3, Xbox 360)
HB Studios (PS2, PC)
Publisher(s)EA Sports
SeriesNHL series
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 2
PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Release
  • NA: September 11, 2007 (PC, PS2, PS3)
  • NA: September 12, 2007 (X360)
  • AU: September 20, 2007 (PC, X360)
  • EU: September 21, 2007 (PC, X360)
  • AU: September 21, 2007 (PS3)
  • EU: September 27, 2007 (PS3)
  • AU: October 11, 2007 (PS2)
  • EU: October 12, 2007 (PS2)
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

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NHL 08 features a new and improved "Skill Stick System," which EA says will allow gamers to more easily control the puck.[2] NHL 08 also includes "Goalie Mode," where users can control their team's goalie with a new third-person camera. Another new feature is the ability to create custom plays, where you can take part in creating custom plays in practice mode.

Game modes

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'Dynasty Mode' allows users to create a dream team and play through to the Stanley Cup, however, there is no fantasy draft on the seventh generation version of the game (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3), only on the PC and PlayStation 2 versions.

The game features the-then 29 teams of the American Hockey League (AHL).[3] Players can develop talent through the AHL, and then call up their prospects to play in the NHL. Every AHL team is fully playable.[4] Sweden's Elitserien and Finland's SM-liiga are also included on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. However, the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) and Czech Extraliga are only to be found on the PC and PlayStation 2 versions.

Reception

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The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions received "favorable" reviews, while the PlayStation 2 and PC versions received "mixed or average reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[5][6][7][8]

Games for Windows: The Official Magazine gave it a score of five out of ten.[9] The game won GameSpot's "Best Sports Game of 2007" award.[citation needed]

During the 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, NHL 08 received a nomination for "Sports Game of the Year" by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.[10]

Legacy

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NHL 08 was included in EA Sports 08 Collection in 2008 along with Madden NFL 08, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08, FIFA 08 and NBA Live 08.[29]

References

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  1. ^ "Shippin' Out September 10–14: Heavenly Sword, NHL, Skate". GameSpot. September 10, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  2. ^ Ekberg, Brian (June 11, 2007). "NHL 08 First Look". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  3. ^ "AHL featured in EA's NHL 08". American Hockey League. June 12, 2007. Archived from the original on June 5, 2008. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
  4. ^ "EA SPORTS NHL 08 Features Page". Archived from the original on July 2, 2008. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
  5. ^ a b "NHL 08 for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "NHL 08 for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "NHL 08 for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "NHL 08 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  9. ^ Goble, Gord (October 2007). "NHL 08: Skill-Stick, Same Old Shtick". Games for Windows: The Official Magazine (11). Ziff Davis Media: 69.
  10. ^ "2008 Awards Category Details Sports Game of the Year". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  11. ^ a b EGM staff (October 2007). "NHL 08 (PS3, X360)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. p. 87.
  12. ^ Lahti, Evan (October 14, 2007). "NHL 08 (X360)". Eurogamer. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  13. ^ a b Reiner, Andrew (October 2007). "NHL 08 (PS3, X360)". Game Informer. No. 174. Archived from the original on January 25, 2008. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  14. ^ Dagley, Andrew (October 16, 2007). "Review: NHL 08 vs. NHL 2K8 (X360)". GamePro. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  15. ^ a b Damiano, Greg (October 22, 2007). "NHL 08 Review (PS3, X360)". Game Revolution. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  16. ^ Navarro, Alex (September 18, 2007). "NHL 08 Review (PC)". GameSpot. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  17. ^ Navarro, Alex (September 18, 2007). "NHL 08 Review (PS2)". GameSpot. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  18. ^ a b Navarro, Alex (September 13, 2007). "NHL 08 Review (PS3, X360)". GameSpot. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  19. ^ a b Vasconcellos, Eduardo (September 18, 2007). "GameSpy: NHL 08 (PS3, X360)". GameSpy. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  20. ^ Bedigian, Louis (September 11, 2007). "NHL 08 - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 4, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  21. ^ Lafferty, Michael (September 10, 2007). "NHL 08 - PS3 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  22. ^ Hopper, Steven (September 16, 2007). "NHL 08 - 360 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  23. ^ Goldstein, Hilary (September 10, 2007). "NHL 08 Review (PS3)". IGN. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  24. ^ Goldstein, Hilary (September 10, 2007). "NHL 08 Review (X360)". IGN. Archived from the original on September 13, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  25. ^ "NHL 08". Official Xbox Magazine. October 2007. p. 73.
  26. ^ "NHL 08". PC Gamer: 83. December 25, 2007.
  27. ^ "Review: NHL 08 (PS3)". PSM. December 2007. p. 82.
  28. ^ Zuniga, Todd (September 24, 2007). "NHL 08 (X360)". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  29. ^ "EA Sports 08 Collection". GameSpot. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
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