Pros: Innovative controls, good franchise mode, good online, very entertaining
Cons: Finding friends online is tough, not alot of extras like in madden (ring builder)
The bottom line: If any part of you enjoys the greatest game on earth this is a must have. The most innovative NHL ever gives you complete control.
If you have ever play or enjoyed hockey you will enjoy this game. It is almost impossible not to as this is the most innovative sports game I have seen on the Playstation 3. User friendly controls allow you to learn the game in minutes but also give room for perfecting the controls and eventually using certain features to their full capability. Dual analog conrol allows you to skate with the left analog stick and stickandle / shoot with the right stick. Holding L1 allows you to produce a one on one move to get past defenders. The one on one move feature is revolutionary and will change hockey games for ever. Once you are holding L1 pressing the left stick in a direction is where your body will move and the right stick controls where the puck will move. Even just standard stickhandling allow you to fly past defencemen and deke goalies directly out of their jock straps. Simple moves such as toe drags are easy to execute but tough to consistantly involve them in your gameplay strategy which allows you to perfect the game. Online gameplay is fun and there is always someone to play; updating rosters also keeps the teams to date. Over the years I have been disapointed by yearly NHL titles as there is little to no innovation year to year, with the exception of the annoying change of controls. NHL 08 delivers at a critical time to put the NHL back on the map with the most innovative sports game in years. Like I said, if there is any part of you the enjoys the greatest game on earth then you have to try NHL08.