NHL 07

NHL 07
Alexander Ovechkin on the cover of NHL 07
Developer(s)	EA Canada (Xbox 360 and PSP) EA Montreal (PS2, Xbox, PC)
Publisher(s)	EA Sports
Series	NHL series
Platform(s)	Xbox 360 Xbox PS2 PC PSP
Release date(s)	NA September 12, 2006 AUS September 21, 2006 EU September 22, 2006 AUS October 20, 2006 (PSP)
Genre(s)	Sports - Ice Hockey Sim
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer, multiplayer online
Distribution	DVD

NHL 07 is an ice hockey video game. It was released on September 12, 2006,^[1] the successor to NHL 06. The game improved the series' gameplay with more realistic features, such as stickhandling and a wider variety of controller schemes. The Xbox 360 version features a completely revamped game and graphics engine from the predecessor, while the other versions are left behind with the old engine. It is the only game in the series to have a PSP version.

Features

• Tagline: "Win Every Battle"
• Covers: Alexander Ovechkin (main)

• Teemu Selänne (Finland)
• Henrik Lundqvist (Sweden)

Improvements

The game features a newly designed control setup in some versions, eliminating the need to use the face buttons. The new Skill Stick Revolution feature produces different types of shots and dekes. This was a major selling point of the game and one of the biggest redesigns of the series. Unlike previous entries, NHL 07 allowed the player to use the analog stick to stickhandle and deke by moving the stick side to side. Special movements of the stick can make the player do a creative deke. The use of the stick and triggers on the console versions eliminated the need to use the face buttons; however a classic setup can be used so that the player can still use the face buttons and skill stick at the same time if so preferred. The convenience of this allows the player to play the classic controls before becoming comfortable using the skill stick.

Gameplay features

NHL 07 features 4 European leagues - Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Sweden's Elitserien, Finland's SM-liiga, and the Czech Republic's Tipsport Extraliga.

Commentary is provided by Gary Thorne and Bill Clement for the Xbox 360 version of the game, however, Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson return for the current generation and PSP versions. NHL 07 for the Xbox 360 features analog stick control and a brand new physics system which eliminates the magnetic type possession of the puck which have been used in past NHL games.

Demo

The Xbox 360 Demo was released through the Xbox Live Marketplace on September 7, 2006. The demo features a shootout between the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes. The settings allow the NHL shootout rules to be turned off, to allow the player the ability to easily learn the new control scheme. Washington Capitals' forward and 2006 Calder Trophy winner Alexander Ovechkin is featured on the cover.

Soundtrack

Stratton Whitaker

EA, in conjunction with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, honored the wishes of a young 16 year-old man named Stratton Whitaker who was suffering from muscular dystrophy by placing a character based on him in the game. Stratton is available to players as a free agent center who has a starting overall rating of 81, with his potential graded at 99. Outside of user created players, Stratton is one of only two players in the game with such a rating; the other is Raphael Couture.

Stratton was born on August 18th, 1990, and was a resident of Vancouver, British Columbia. He was also known to play Powerchair Football. He passed away from his condition on February 12th, 2013 at the age of 22.

References

External links

• NHL 07 at IGN.com
• Free EA NHL addon site