NHL 08 is not without its flaws, but the overall feel of the game is much improved. Like I said before, the graphics are updated, and they look pretty good. This isn't exactly a showcase title for your new flat screen, but it certainly looks good. It far outpaces 2K Sports in this department.

I fooled around with the new play creation tool, which at first seemed useless. After playing for a bit, I developed a new appreciation of it, having been a hockey player myself. I remember endless practices when Coach would develop plays with us. Sometimes, they worked. The same goes for this addition to the game. It is sorta cool.

I have always argued that the EA hockey series reached its pinnacle with the '94 campaign. For its time, it got everything right. I hesitate to say that 08 has achieved this status, but it is the first game in years that has me going back for more. Online play and more attention to the dynamics of the game really pay off here.

Ambient sounds are great this time around, as you hear the players calling out to their teammates, something that was absent for so many years. There is a realistic feeling on the ice, where there used to be dead quiet. The announcers are a major improvement as well, as they offer a wide array of commentary and avoid the fanaticism of previous announcers.