Gaming and the 2010 Winter Olympics

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee're baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Here we are again, your intrepid philosophers of the gaming-verse, here to show you the way once again to gaming nirvana. This week, Yasar and I want to share our picks for the perfect games to put you in that Olympic spirit. If you're as caught up as we are in the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver (Go USA Hockey!), then you are no doubt thinking, "How can I extend my love of the games beyond the measly glimpses NBC gives me?" Fear not, for we have the perfect games to help you simulate your own quest for gaming gold. Or silver or bronze if you play games as badly as Yasar does.

Here now, the best games to go along with the 2010 Winter Olympics:

NHL 2010 - (Guy) This EA sports title takes the innovation of last year's game and ups the ante even more. EASHL (EA Sports Hockey League) is back, allowing you to build a team and join a league with friends both online and off to take part in.  Other upgrades, to name just a few, include: more realistic computer AI, passing innovation in the form of the new 360-degree passing engine, more intuitive goalie movements when controlling the net-minder, great commentary, more accurate arenas, and a tweaked crowd engine complete with dynamic chants and reactions. The game also has a ton of modes, both online and off, to entertain you. "Be A Pro" mode returns, where you control one player, at one position for a career that spans as long as you want it to. In this mode you start off in the AHL and through great play (not the lame "can't score to save his life" style that Yasar plays) work your way up to the big leagues.

But your stay in the NHL could be short if you start to scrub it up. Two offline season/franchise modes exist: Be A GM and regular Season. Battle for The Cup is a cool playoff/tournament mode that has been added this year. Online, the aforementioned EASHL returns as well as versus play and a version of Be A Pro. For the Olympic minded fan, there are a slew of international teams in the game as well as country specific all-star squads. Create a tourney and simulate the Olympics EA-style. All in all, a great game that I have a hard time stepping away from.

Vancouver 2010 - (Yasar) I don't know how many of you have played the Beijing 2008 Olympics game from a couple of years ago, but I'm sorry for those of you who have.  It was terrible by all measures.  Sega created one of the worst sports games ever created.  That alone should be enough to make you reluctant to check out Vancouver 2010.  Turns out it's not as bad as you would think.  The challenge mode is entertaining and the game includes my favorite Winter Olympic Sport, ski jumping.That said, the game is a bit repetitive and is missing several other sports that would clearly make the game more appealing (figure skating, hockey, curling).  There aren't any announcers but I hate video game sports announcers (and real life sports announcers) anyway.  Guy says this doesn't bother him either because, "I just blast Dancing Queen by ABBA on repeat in the background whenever I play video games anyway." 

I thought that was weird, too...