This review was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content. It was written by Aaron Thomas.

With the NHL season officially canceled, the only way for hockey fans to get their fix is from videogames, and the only way for hockey fans to get their fix on the PSP is with Gretzky NHL. A scaled down version of Gretzky NHL 2005 for the PS2, the game features a robust number of options, impressive player models, and local and internet play via WiFi. Unfortunately, the game’s abysmal controls and framerate keep the game from being enjoyable.

Right off the bat you’ll notice that Gretzky has an impressive number of options, including exhibition play, WiFi, and a fairly deep season mode (for a handheld). There are also a number of ways you can tweak the gameplay, so if you’re one of those people that likes to play with offsides off, you can easily do so. The speed of the game can be altered, as well as the frequency of fights and penalties. It’s nice to be able to get things just how you want them, and Gretzky does a nice job of giving you control.

The season mode still isn’t as deep as what you’d find on a console, but it’s far more detailed than what NBA (also for the PSP) brought to the table. You can play with the pre-set rosters, or you can participate in a full fantasy draft if you’re a Blackhawks fan like myself and want a team that doesn’t stink. Should you get tired of picking players, the computer will finish up the draft for you, saving you from the tedious part of filling out your roster with lousy players. The ability to make trades is present, and the computer will accept or reject trades based on their merit, though it seems pretty liberal in what it will accept sometimes. You can set your lines how you choose, and even send players down to the minors if they’re not getting the job done. The players’ salaries are all listed, but there is no cap, and this has no affect on any aspect of season play. All in all, it’s plenty adequate and adds some nice depth to the game.

Similar to the Madden Challenge, NHL has the Gretzky challenge. This gives you points for accomplishing things like getting ten hits in a game, winning a certain percentage of faceoffs, and scoring goals. You can unlock retro jerseys (or sweaters, as you wacky Canadians call them), some cheats, and several different versions of “The Great One” himself. Its inclusion doesn’t add much to the game, but for people that love unlocking stuff, it’s cool.

The online mode is easy to access, especially if you have configured your PSP for wireless play for another game. Once you log on, you can play a buddy in the same room, or you can connect to the internet and take someone on from across the country. There’s minimal stat-tracking for online play, and there’s no chat, but it’s certainly a welcome addition.

Gretzky’s gameplay is fast, and the controls are quite simple. With the exception of icon passing, everything is mapped to a single button, including dekes. There aren’t a whole lot of intricate controls to learn, but you can change your offense on the fly and try a new tact if the current plan isn’t working. The game’s got an arcade feel to it, so you’ll find yourself using the turbo button frequently, and one-timers are a way of life if you want to be successful.

A feature unique to the series is that you have total control over where your shot goes. As you wind up your shot, a target will appear in the goal area, and you can quickly move it by pressing the analog stick. Obviously you’ll want to aim where the goalie isn’t to improve your chances of scoring. This takes some getting used to, and there are going to be plenty of times where you mess it up, but it’s very satisfying when you sneak the puck past the goalie.

Gretzky’s presentation is very impressive and is very close to what was done on the PS2. From close ups of fights, coaches congratulating players after a goal, to the players walking out of the locker room and standing for the national anthem, the game features a lot of little touches that you’ve never seen before in a handheld. After a goal, there’s an auto-replay that shows the action from a few different angles, and at any time during the game you are free to pause and replay as well. The replays and cut-scenes really show off the game’s detailed player models, accurate jerseys and even painted goalie masks.

The game’s soundtrack features a few rock songs that are hit or miss, depending on your tastes. The crowds are raucous, cheering wildly after a goal and even chanting “Let’s go Blackhawks” in an effort to get your team fired up. One of the most rewarding sounds in all of sports, the horn that blares after a goal is present as well, but of course only plays after the home team scores; a visiting team’s goal is met with the sweet, indifferent sound of silence. There are plenty of classic organ tunes played throughout the game, including the classic “What would you do with a drunken sailor?” that should be included in every hockey game – that is not open to debate.

Gretzky 2005 on the PS2 was usually a high-scoring affair, but on the PSP it’s a totally different story. Even on rookie mode, the computer rarely turns the puck over, leaving you to rely heavily on your goalie. For whatever reason, the computer’s players seem to make their way intelligently down the ice, but your players always seem to be lagging behind when you need them. Your goalie is no slouch, but the sneaking a puck past the wall that is the computer’s net minder is near impossible, as he’ll block most any shot that comes his way, regardless of how good your aim.

Another reason why the game is more difficult this time around is because of the unresponsive controls. It’s nearly impossible to line up a good check on your opponent, because by the time you select a player, change his direction and hit the check button, he’s long gone. It takes a long time for players’ momentum to change, and even when you think you’ve got a handle on things, you’ll skate past a loose puck three times before picking it up. Since the goalies are so tough, it’s crucial to get a shot off quickly, but the unresponsive controls just don’t allow that to happen.

While the visuals are impressive, one thing that is not is the framerate. It’s slow, erratic, and combined with the unresponsive controls, renders the game darn near impossible to play. You’ll often never see the puck as the computer whips it down the ice because the puck is so tiny, and the framerate so poor. You’ll find out where it is when the light above your goals lights up indicating a goal has been scored, but that’s just a bit too late.

One way to lessen the impact of the framerate and controls is to go into the options menu and slow the game down to the slowest speed. This makes the game playable, and gives you a little bit of time to react to the computer’s super passing skills. The default camera is lousy, but the other two options are worse, and aren’t going to help you out, so don’t bother.

The load times here are abysmal, taking over 35 seconds to start a game. Times like that are one of the few negatives people can point out about the system, and while many developers seem to have gotten a handle on making them reasonable, obviously 989 hasn’t.

The audio here is certainly a step up from NBA, but it’s still disappointing to not have any sort of commentary. There is a PA announcer that does keep up with some of the action on the ice, but it’s noticeable after a goal is scored that his dialog is cut in half, not mentioning the player that scored the goal, or even his number.

Not to harp on the comparisons to NBA, but like that game, the groundwork for a decent series has been laid. Unfortunately, a good game a year or two from now doesn’t do anything for someone that wants a good hockey game now. Yes, Gretzky NHL is your only choice for hockey on the PSP, but unless you think unlocking four different versions of #99 cancels out terribly frustrating gameplay, you’re going to want to take a pass on this one.

If the controls were tighter, this score would be higher.

Awful framerate, great cut-scenes and nice player models.

The crowd and arena sounds are good. No Announcer is bad.

Slow down the gameplay, master the controls, and you might have some fun.

Decent season mode, and WiFi + Internet play give it some value.