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Finding a decent Ice Hockey title isn't always easy and while the 2K series certainly has
its charms it's not always the most complete in its representation of the sport. Hockey
Nations 2011 Pro by Distinctive Developments attempts to pack in a whole lot of features
while still looking and feeling great, but a few rough edges keep it from really leading
the pack.
For those not already embedded in the sport, attempting to fathom how to approach the game
can be challenging as there's no handy system for teaching the finer aspects of the gameplay
or Hockey Nation's unique tactical features. For the most-part those familiar with sports
titles should be able to find themselves at ease with the basic virtual stick and three-button
setup consisting of a pass/shoot/sprint combination that changes accordingly when on the defensive.
Overall tactics for your team can be quickly modified by using a drop-down menu and attempting
to use it mid-game can be cumbersome, but it also grants access to being able to initiate
brawls that are controlled via a simple swipe setup.
Fans of the sport will be spoiled for choices when presented with the multitude of game
modes including local multiplayer via Wifi or Bluetooth, though the AI may not present
much of a challenge at times as it's prone to making poor decisions or simply not acting
at all.
The graphics aren't much to write home about either, with the crowd being simply filled
in with one-dimensional textures while the players themselves remain mostly indistinct
from each other.
It's hard to accuse Hockey Nations 2011 Pro of trying to short-change those who fit within
its niche scope, but the value does come with a price of being too unrefined for casual
sports fans to really enjoy; still, worth checking out if you're an Ice Hockey fan.