What’s new with NHL 2K11

There are three things in life that are certain — death, taxes and annual sports game releases. NHL 2K11 is out exclusively for the Wii this September, and with it come some of the best controls I’ve ever used for a Wii hockey game.

This year’s entry offers true 1:1 support through Wii MotionPlus. By pressing down on the D-pad, your character will match the movement and speed of your actions with the Wiimote when it comes to moving on the ice or taking a shot at the goal. You’ll even be able to juggle the puck with the Z button because why not?

As good as the MotionPlus controls were, I was most comfortable with just using the standard Wii controls in my demo. There will be multiple controller options — even one that matches EA’s control setup — so it’ll be easy to pick up for anyone.

Along with the main game, I got to check out the Road to the Cup feature, which lets four players use their Miis. Players will compete in various mini-game challenges and answer trivia questions in order to win more fans than the other player. It’s a nice feature for kids, but will likely be neglected by the hardcore audience.

Out of all the simulation sports games, hockey games are the only ones I can actually enjoy, and NHL 2K11 is simple, easy to get into and plenty of fun. I also got to check out the game on the NHL 2K11 tour bus that will be driving around the US and Canada later this month. Other than discovering that I get motion sickness from RVs, the setup is really nice. You’ll be able to play the game before it’s released, snag a demo disc and meet hockey players at the various stops. Check out what the inside of the RV looks like after the break.