'NHL 06'

'NHL 06'
Platforms: GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC.
Genre: Sports.
Publisher: EA Sports.
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone.
Grade: sss (out of 5)
EA Sports enters the fray on the defensive. "NHL 06" fans are not going to find much difference between last year's title and this year's, thus making it a hard purchase for some to justify. The game is more arcade-like, with higher scoring games and it will certainly be appealing since it is available on all platforms.
Some specific things worth mentioning is the lack of updates to the franchise mode. This is most noticeable in dealing with player salaries, as it seems the new league rules don't always apply.
The gameplay is stellar, with some nifty new moves the players can make on the ice, almost as if EA took a page from Midway's Street sports series and tailored it toward its hockey franchise. The "NHL 06" features strong graphics and equally good audio.
"NHL 06" is a solid effort, tentative as it may be. It seems obvious that EA Sports wanted to maintain its place in the market but may be waiting to gauge reaction from fans before giving this franchise its fullest effort.
--Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard
'NHL 2K6'
Platforms: Xbox, PlayStation 2.
Genre: Sports.
Publisher: 2K Games.
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone.
Grade: sss 1/2 (out of 5)
Besides the fact that it is a steal of a game at its $20 price tag, "NHL 2K6" also can boast to being the most well-rounded of the two hockey games this season, if not the most up-to-date. For fans looking for the purest hockey experience in gaming, all trains stop here.
The biggest reason to invest the money in this game is its improved gameplay and control scheme. The passing controls are top-notch, and combined with an already easy shooting and scoring system; 2K6 presents the most fluid hockey game on the market.
There still exists the enjoyable mini-games, which are as solid as ever and with some new ones thrown in for good measure. It seems 2K Games decided to go all-out and see what happens with its NHL game and just let the chips fall where they may.
One enormous drawback is that since ESPN dropped its licensing from 2K6, the voice commentary of Gary Thorne and Bill Clement are gone and this certainly hurts the finer qualities of the game.
--Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard
'REBELSTAR: TACTICAL COMMAND'
Platform: Game Boy Advance.
Genre: Strategy.
Publisher: Namco.
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone.
Grade: sss (out of 5)
Let's not kid ourselves here; anyone who loves his Game Boy Advance has always wondered when a decent turn-based, role-playing game would come along. The hand-held unit has the potential to provide plenty of hours for gaming on the go, especially in this genre, and no earlier titles have ever seemed to go the distance.
There has been a recent rush to fill this void, and Namco's "Rebelstar: Tactical Command" is a solid effort that delivers satisfying gameplay as you battle aliens for control of planet Earth.
Arellians (our evil alien enemies) have taken control and playing as Jorel, leader of a human rebel group, your job is to defeat the Arellians (as well as some sub-alien groups like the Fraylars and Zorn). Some of the names sound all-too-close to Superman characters, but we'll let that slide.
Using your standard turn-based format utilizing action points, you control several squads of soldiers throughout different areas of the map and get into rollicking gun battles against alien foes. There's some nice strategy built in -- characters are not given lots of points to move around early on, so you have to choose your moves wisely. As you gain experience points for your squad members they are given more latitude and can move longer distances while still being able to fire a weapon or enter a searchable area.
"Rebelstar's" greatest asset is its gameplay and length. With 24 in-depth missions it will certainly keep you busy, and you will definitely not get bored. The turn-based gameplay is simple to learn, with the help of some early tutorials setting the pace, so no matter what their experience is with strategy games anyone can dive right in without feeling overwhelmed.
The visual style is nice, with crisp edges and bright colors that stand out on the GBA's small screen. There are some disappointments in the audio. It is far too quiet when it could have created more enthusiasm given the action.
If you are a turn-based strategy buff or someone looking for a fresh new game to challenge your skills, "Rebelstar: Tactical Command" is a worthwhile investment.
--Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard