Ask me about the state of affairs in hockey video games last year and I would have had a clear-cut choice. I was given the daunting task of reviewing both ESPN NHL 2K5 from 2K Sports and NHL 2005 from EA Sports, and after extensive hours on each (which I had time for, since the real-life sport was shelved due to contract disagreements), I found ESPN to be the breakaway winner, thanks to a bevy of modes and a number of improvements that made it unbeatable. EA still had some juice, mind you, but they seemed to be running into the status as a victim of "overkill" in too many departments- growing a bit long in the tooth, if you will. So last year, I gave ESPN NHL 2K5 a coveted 4.5 out of 5, while NHL 2005 had to deal with 3.5 out of 5.

Ask me THIS year, however, and you'll see how the playing field is way different. The real sport returns next month, and I'm primed and ready for it, with numerous tickets being purchased for me and some friends and my Joe Sakic jersey getting cleaned up for wear (since I can't wear my Forsberg one anymore...sigh). And with that, EA Sports has performed some kind of miraculous turnaround (thus far) with their NHL 06 game. This leaves 2K Games' latest effort, NHL 2K6, having to compete with more of a monster this time around. And it certainly does, but there's a few things that keep it from being so easily deemed as king of the ice.

First, let's note one real missing item from this year's product- the ESPN license. This was a crucial addition to the 2K Sports title last year, as it allowed for an exquisite TV-like presentation and some of the best announcing in the business. Then EA came down last year and swooped the ESPN license exclusively for their own products, leaving 2K Sports to revitalize their plans and come up with some new ideas. You'll probably notice a few of these in this year's presentation, which has some great high points but some noted faults.

One of these faults has to be the announcing. Taking over the reigns this year for talking duties are Bob Cole and Harry Neale, fresh from the Hockey Night In Canada programs, and while some people may find it a joy to listen to them banter, I found it sort of dull. It's like they're into the sport but not really, like a spectator who finds front-row seats at an Avalanche game but cheers on a team that isn't even present. I found them to be lacking when they should have been enthused, kind of like EA's NHL team, which went from strict to wacky and then straight-out precise.

It's also hard to fathom some of the TV-style additions to the game without ESPN hosting them. Granted, Visual Concepts still knows their stuff when it comes to producing some great graphics, but you can't help but notice that the lack of recognizable faces or namesakes may feel a little disjointed. Still, at least some parts work, thanks to Visual Concepts' tried-and-true efforts to make the best hockey engine in the business.

They've captured a lot of the details on the ice, like the lighting, the wobbling of the Plexi-glass, some adamant fans (even though some still look stoic), numerous camera modes, and detailed player animation. The goalie probably sees the most improvements here, probably because of the participation of Dallas Stars goalie and NHL 2K6 cover star Marty Turco. Everything still looks top-of-the-line, as far as this generation is concerned. The menus are also pretty stylish, and getting places is a breeze. But, still, I dunno, take away the ESPN license and it loses a slight bit credibility.

As far as sound, I've already conveyed my feelings for the lacking commentary, but let's talk about everything else. The soundtrack provided isn't anything memorable, but Xbox fans will be able to add their own custom soundtrack to the action, personalizing the game to their liking. This is a nice touch. There's also some terrific sound effects, especially completing a thunderous check to an opponent or the "clang" of the puck as it strikes a goal post following a fast break.

If anything really sees improvement in NHL 2K6, it's the gameplay. The first thing you'll notice is the new ProControl system, which allows you better access to passing to your teammates thanks to an icon system that's easy to get into and comes in handy in setting up one-timers and other incredible shots for the quick score. There's also improved goalie control that comes in handy for stopping most of these shots, and if it's not your speed, you can let the computer do the work, in which it does quite handily. On-the-Fly Coaching is also a new feature, allowing you to convert offensive and defensive plays "on the fly" so that you have better coverage on the ice and can set up some great maneuvers. There's also the added ability of being able to skate backwards and keep tabs on players (which comes in handy for an important steal or check). All of these things make NHL 2K6 a better game, topping last year's effort, which already contained enough memorable gameplay elements to make it unstoppable. The AI may not be everyone's cup of joe (some may find it easy, others incredibly hard), but at least it's manageable.

There's also LOTS to do in single and multiplayer. With the single-player mode, you can tackle Franchise Mode and go for the Stanley Cup, building your team to greatness and allowing yourself the ability to make roster changes, run drills, and so on. It's not heavily changed from last year, but it's nice to have. There's also the return of Party Mode, where you and some friends can take part in contests of all sorts and see who's the best when it comes to completing the craziest of drills. I like both of these, really. But it's the online stuff that's the game's bread and butter. Supported for both PS2 through its servers and for Xbox through Xbox Live, online allows you to take part in tournaments, track stats, update rosters, and even get involved in some Party Mode action. It's really quite expansive, and no one can do online stuff like Visual Concepts and 2K Games, it seems.

There is one other flaw to note, though. The game comes through in terms of updated play with all the new NHL rules, including the two-line passing and goalie limitations, which is nice. But it's a real disappointment to see that the final release doesn't have the full roster updates. I mean, really, this is a setback for those who want to experience the new season right off hand. This means that you'll have to download it offline through Xbox Live or the PS2 services, and if you have neither, you are simply out of luck. Bah!

So, to cap it off, NHL 2K6 is a considerable purchase for hockey fans everywhere, especially at the $20 price tag that the series is once again sitting at. But you can't help but notice the flaws that hold it back from being a "must-have" title like last year's, especially with the lack of roster update and the presentation flaws. There's still time to fix the mistakes, though. After all, if the real sport of NHL can recover, so can the digital one.