It's hard to believe how far hockey has come, both as a sport and as a video game. Look at its eight-bit roots – Ice Hockey didn't incorporate half of the innovations we have today. Yet no matter how far games advance, they always come back to a more traditional, arcade style of gameplay.

Gretzky NHL 2006 is one of the games trying to capture the magic of the past. Its Wayne Vs. Wayne mode is surprising at first, perhaps even a little jolting. Its hyper gameplay moves at a pace far beyond the typical hockey game. The players skate so fast you'll swear they were on steroids. No need to report them to the NHL, it's just the game's unusual way of presenting hockey.

Once the initial feelings (most commonly including "Where'd the puck go!?" and "Didn't he just score a minute ago!?") have left, the need for a frame-by-frame replay passes. Slowly Gretzky's world begins to surround you, taking you deep into the land of speed skating, and even deeper to a world of over-the-top mechanics you thought died with arcades.

 
Out of my way! Coming through!

The Wayne Brothers...uh...Twins?

Gretzky 06 is all about The Great One. He's not the only star player, but he is the only one with a special mode where he gets to face himself. In this mode, which is appropriately titled Wayne Vs. Wayne, players must be the best they've ever been. Score more goals, pass more effectively, and prevent fewer goals from getting in. It couldn't hurt to steal more, nor could it hurt to improve your puck-hogging skills. Do all that, and more, and you'll earn what the game refers to as 99 Time. Whoever reaches this point, you or the opposing team is granted with a sixth player: The Great One himself. It's temporary, but in that brief timeframe you could easily take the lead and turn the tide in a game that wasn't going your way.

Playing as Gretzky makes you want to act like a tough guy – the impervious bully that all the kids hate. (Or the evil government agents that lurk around every corner. I've been watching too much Prison Break.) Gretzky is obviously faster and stronger than every player on the ice, and even if another player could get the better of him, it wouldn't happen in this game. His scoring ability is what makes him a great game character, because you just can't shoot the puck and lose. Unless your opponent is really good, or if you really suck. Then you might miss, but it wouldn't be Gretzky's fault.

If you're a master at hockey, have impeccable luck or some other unexplained gift, you might be good enough to achieve 99 Time five times in one game. Do that and you can have five Gretzkys on the ice at the same time! They're fully playable and under you're control. But keep in mind: your opponent can do the same thing.

 
I'm rubber and you're glue. Your slapshots bounce off me and stick to you.

 I'd Like to Buy a Franchise

Just because Gretzky 06 was inspired by one hockey figure doesn't mean it can't have all the features you desire from a hockey game. The Wayne Vs. Wayne mode is its best feature, but the Franchise mode is a close second. It's very close to NHL 06's Dynasty mode. Hire coaches, set contract negotiations, draft players, etc. If a general manager can do it in the real game, you can too. The best part is the games themselves, and how you work your way through the season, up to the point where you can compete for the Stanley Cup.

Interestingly, it also takes advantage of a newfangled thing called team chemistry. It's old news for anything but video games, which seemed to have ignored it until this point. By assisting your teammates whenever possible, players will notice that the chemistry between those players is rising. You can also increase your chemistry by sharing the puck and by putting on a strong defense, though that last one is a bit harder to gauge. By doing this continuously you will discover that your team play has increased and that your player attributes have improved.

Other modes and features, like Gretzky Challenge (beat Gretzky's real NHL records to earn points – use 'em to unlock playable versions of Gretzky and other goodies) and EyeToy compatibility (take a picture of your face and make YOU the next great hockey star) make the game even better.

 
Uhh...does anyone have a fire extinguisher I could borrow?

Choosing between Gretzky NHL 2006 and NHL 06 is not easy. They both have unique strengths that create must-play experiences. Gretzky fans already know where to turn – the one with The Great One. What if you just want a great hockey game and you don't care who the star is? Gretzky's Franchise mode is more of a simulation hockey experience, but on the whole this is an arcade-style game. It's a cross between NHL 06 and NHL Hitz. I love it, and if you give both Gretzky and NHL 06 a shot I'm betting you'll have just as a hard a time choosing between them.

Gameplay: 8.0
One word can describe the Wayne Vs. Wayne experience: hyper. Make that very hyper. Whereas EA and 2K Sports go for the simulation win, Gretzky is sort of a niche game as the only new arcade-style hockey title on the market. The target shooting system is the best in the league. I can’t say that every control feature absolutely had to be included, but having the ability to do more just while skating – it’s those tiny touches that make this game stand out in a crowd of fierce competitors.

Graphics: 8.2
Gretzky 06 is another sign that we’re not that far away from achieving photo-realistic visuals. The crowd, the ice, the arena – all those tiny, less significant items have been given a facelift, while the players are looking better and more like their real-life counterparts than ever before. Not a huge leap over last year’s addition, which is hard not to notice with the next generation right around the corner.

Sound: 8.5
A pumpin’ soundtrack with above-average rock music from bands we’re all familiar with. The sound guys did a great job of increasing the intensity by using key sounds (intense music, loud fans, etc.) during key moments. The commentary’s decent but suffers from the same problems that face other sports games (pre-recorded voices cannot perfectly announce a game as you play it). Overall one of the better-sounding sports games on the market.

Difficulty: Medium
It’s harder to keep track of the puck than you’d think! At least it is when it’s moving at a million miles per hour. Gretzky NHL 06’s exaggerated speed takes some getting used to. Once you get past the learning curve it’s no more difficult than its competitors.

Concept: 7.5
The gameplay is not going to blow you away with some new, unfamiliar mechanic, but the team chemistry is a solid improvement. And you gotta give ‘em some credit for the Wayne Vs. Wayne mode – forget innovation, it’s fun!

Multiplayer: 8.0
Nothing like crushing a friend with The Great One! There isn’t much of anything that compares to getting crushed by The Great One either. A memorable experience either way you slice it.

Overall: 8.0
A worthy hockey game to add to your collection. Great simulation gameplay; even better arcade-style gameplay; an excellent soundtrack; updated graphics; and a number of tweaks and additional game modes that would make the guy this game is based on (what’s his name again?) proud.