One-Shot (28/10/09)

NHL 10, based on the demo, is highly playable. It's slick, rich, and as gorgeous as you'd expect from the EA Sports stable. However, the control system is... less than accessible. Instead of an obvious, traditional, and highly practical "x is pass, o is tackle, square is shoot" type deal, the player is treated - no, subjected - to an interface that makes Resident Evil 5's online shenanigans look well designed. It's like someone's been fiddling around with the option screen, assigning commands to obtuse buttons. The potential ease of rectification, of course, is the most grating thing. File under: debacle.