The thing with sports games, whether it's EA Games or 2K Sports, is that they keep bringing the same games out year after year. It's a toss-up whether or not this year's game will be an improvement on, or even significantly different from, last year's. At least with the advent of next-gen consoles, you can be pretty sure that the new run is going to have some significant differences from the last.

NHL 2K7 is a solid game from a company who know what they're doing with hockey games. Graphics are sharper for both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 versions, with neither having an obvious graphical advantage over the other. The ice in particular looks stunning, and while there's maybe a bit less detail in skin and jersey textures on players than in some other sports games for those consoles, they don't look bad.

The most noticeable difference about NHL 2K7 from its predecessors is the use of 'cinemotion', which uses an angled camera view instead of the old top-down one. This gives you a better view of the players during play, while still giving you an unobstructed view up the ice. The camera is nicely responsive, swinging around when you need it to without being distracting.

To accompany this, you can also switch off the Bob Cole/Harry Neale commentary and replace it with a sweeping orchestral score which reacts to changes in your team's fortunes. This is about as corny as it sounds, but if you find the commentary can get annoying, it makes a nice change.

2K Sports did this game for the Xbox 360 first, but they've noticed that the Playstation 3 has the Sixaxis controller, and they've integrated it. You can deliver a check to an opponent by getting him lined up, timing it just right, and then shoving the controller towards him. Or you can just push the check button. This is always going to be a problem with PS3 versions of multi-platform games: by definition, any use of the Sixaxis has to be tacked on rather than fully integrated, because there always has to be another way to do whatever you're doing.

The crease controls do use the Sixaxis to turn controlling your goalie into a minigame on defence. You control the goalie by tilting and turning the controller, from a behind-the-back camera view. This time, the control is responsive and easy to use, but it's still debatable whether it makes any real difference from just using the analog stick.

You do have a new drop pass button, which lets you pass the puck back through your legs, but you may find you don't use it much. There's a nice pressure system, though, where taps on the L1 button will make your team-mates pressure a particular opponent.

Other than that, gameplay is largely the same as in 2K's previous hockey games. Nothing wrong with that, it's hockey after all. There's a good rival team system that adds a bit of interest, player trading, minor league contests, and an 'opportunity knocks' system that lets you receive phone calls from the team owner, with good or bad news that affects your players' standings.

On-line play supports up to two teams of four, and you can play the same fun little mini-games that are available for local multiplayer too. There's league play for tournaments, and a good matching system based on ranking and feedback.

Like all sports games, there's a certain addictive quality to trying to push your team up the league table, crushing your rival teams on the way. Being hockey, you also get to watch some great fights, and the visceral thrill of sending an opposition player sliding across the ice with a well-placed check. Followed by his helmet, and maybe next year, his limbs.