bit-tech Shopping: Sony Gretzky NHL (PSP)

Rating: 6

Time with product: 1

Strengths: Game is pretty fun overall. Only hockey game on the PSP.

Weaknesses: Dated Graphics, Wonky framerate

Summary: You won?t find many hockey games on the PSP and can?t really go wrong with Gretzky NHL. The framerate chugs sometimes, but overall it?s a fun, barebones hockey game. Developed by 989 studios, you won?t get any of the flash of an EA sports game and the controls sometimes don?t respond. Sometimes the analog control won?t work very well and the passing game leaves something to be desired. If you can overlook these issues, you?ve got yourself a new game?.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 6 Months

Strengths: Good handheld version of console hockey

Weaknesses: Framerate issues, less options than console games

Summary: Gretzky NHL for the PSP is basically a port of Gretzky NHL 2005 for the PS2. It holds up well compared to its console cousin. It lacks some of the options and, of course, the graphics are not quite as good, but that is to be expected. There are some framerate issues during parts of the game and this might be a big issue for some people (others won't care a bit). For a PSP launch title this is an excellent game. There is a newer version out now, but if you can find this one cheap, it is well worth it. Online play is supported too - something that more PSP titles should employ.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 2 Days

Strengths: Portable 3d hockey, decent game if unspectacular, good arena graphics. Inexpensive now that it's over a year old.

Weaknesses: Low framerate, POOR audio, obviously a rushed port of a merely adequate PS2 hockey game

Summary: I am a bit of a hockey fan (Not a diehard, but I've been to many games and buy a lot of hockey games) and picked this up recently. It's an older game, so it's starting to get fairly inexpensive to pick up. I knew it had less than stellar reviews going in, so I tempered my expectations. I'm glad I didn't pay full price on PSP launch day (As I was debating!) but a year later, it's still fun. Basically, it's a decent hockey game. Does it compare to its PS2/Xbox "big brothers"? No. But it's portable hockey, done fairly well, but needs some polishing. It was obviously rushed -- there's very little audio and what's there is horrible (it sounds nothing like a hockey game). The framerate is bad (jerky character movements; makes it harder to find and get the puck when you can't see its progress smoothly). But it's hockey on the PSP. If you go into buying the game expecting the polish and professionalism of one of the EA or 2K NHL games, you're going to be horribly let down. But if you're just expecting a decent "pick up and play" hockey game, it fits the bill. It's great for a portable game of hockey on the go. If I want a full on games, with all bells and whistles, I'll play one of the consoles. But if I'm travelling and just need a quick hockey fix it isn't that bad. Basically, it does nothing spectacularly well, has some bad weak points, but if you can find it cheap and you like hockey, it's really not the worst thing you could buy for your PSP. It's good enough to be fun-- as long as you're not expecting the deepest game of hockey on the market.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 30 Days

Strengths: Good value for the price, fun franchise mode

Weaknesses: Controls can be sluggish

Summary: This is a decent hockey game for the PSP but I would only buy it on sale. I am new to the PSP but found the title pretty easy to play although I too found that the controls could be sluggish at times. I enjoyed the franchise mode the most although it is not as deep as console games.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 1

Strengths: GraphicsFranchise Mode

Weaknesses: ControlsAlmost a year old nowAI is average

Summary: The game is starting to show its age. I bought it recently, and I can say that it would be a good purchase if you can find it for cheap. The graphics are okay, but the controls are pretty sluggish. I really like the franchise mode (which I spend most of my time with the game). Still, there are newer, better options available now, so if you're a diehard hockey fan, go for them instead.