• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 11; suggested age 10.

• Is it any good?

  5.0

• Common Sense says

  Excellent, authentic pro hockey sim includes brawls.

Why We Rated This for Ages 10–11

The good stuff

• Ease of play:

  The game is built to accomodate any type of play style.  Players can opt for a more arcade feel through the casual game setting and the use of classic, three-button controls. The more complex layout requires players to control and shoot the puck using the right analog stick, while the right trigger delivers passes.  Learning these controls is tricky at first, but there is enough flexibility in difficulty to make the process rewarding. There's also a tutorial that pops up when you first start the game to learn the basics.
• Educational value:

  The game is a good way to learn the rules and strategies associated with pro hockey.

What to watch out for

• Online interaction:

  Players are able to chat with each other online during games. These interactions can contain language that parents would prefer their kids not hear. Players can also create their own player for use in online hockey leagues.
• Messages:

  Players can engage in brawls that give your team an emotional boost. But this combative behavior often come at a hefty price.  Players fighting are assessed big penalties, and can even leave their team shorthanded, putting them at greater risk of giving up goals and losing the game.
• Role models:

  As in real hockey, players can start fights or attempt to rough up opponents whenever they choose. But again, the penalties for doing so can be stiff.
• Violence:

  Players can initiate brawls with opponents at any point in the game. If the opponent chooses to fight, the camera shifts to a first-person perspective as players throw punches at each other. However, no blood is shown during these fights.
• Sex:

  Not an issue.
• Language:

  Not an issue.
• Consumerism:

  Players can see various logos throughout arenas from either hockey-related companies (Bauer) or general sports firms (Upper Deck, Reebok).
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of NHL 10 was written by Brett Molina

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