It does takes time to get used to the new controls, but after a few hours I picked them up and bam! This is the most realistic hockey game I have ever played.

The new face-offs are awesome, neutral zone play is incredible, there are some really cool dekes, one-timers are harder to pull off so there isn't a lot of cheap goals, the goalies are tough and have a new animation engine and they look cool and the computer AI will punish you if you try to play all arcade hockey style.

You may be tempted to go back to classic controls, don't. Stick to the new controls , there is just so much more you can do. Play with the sim settings though, it tones down the hits and the speed and it is so much more realistic.

After playing the NHL 08 demo, I was really impressed with EA Sports. It's a lot of fun and a great game, but if I could use an analogy: NHL 08 is good, its like DOA or Mortal Kombat, its a good pick up and play game. NHL 2k8 is like Virtua Fighter, it just has more depth and is a much more rewarding experience if you take the time.

Don't pay any attention to that joke of a review at 1up. That guy is just a noob who couldn't figure out the controls. Buy it, rent it, download the demo (if 2K ever puts it up on the marketplace, sometime this year guys) every hockey fan should at least try this game. I'm pointing at you Canadians!

Do you know how many seasons is the dynasty mode or whatever it is where you make your own team? During this mode can you change the difficulty level at any time or do you need to make another team for the other levels?

It's no surprise. 2K games have always been superior to their EA counterparts in my opinion.

2K NBA is the best. I'd be surprised if their wasn't an infinite number of seasons in Dynasty mode... I think that's how it is for the other 2K games. Then again I haven't played it for infinity seasons so i can't say for sure.

Makes me want to start up a knew college hoops 2k6 franchise where i play a couple teams in the same division.

I'm not sure how many seasons franchise lasts for, I've always never played more that 5 or 6 seasons before. There are a lot of new features though, like player growth, CBA features such as waivers, two-way contracts, restricted and unrestricted free agents, and salary cap management.

is the 2k franchise available on the pc?