3 on 3 NHL Arcade Critic Reviews

Varying levels of seriousness in the users that gather to play 3 on 3 NHL Arcade in ranked or unranked online matches creates a fresh, party-style atmosphere that works within the confines of XBLA.

It’s goofy fun and for $10, it’s what every arcade sports fan has been waiting for.

Even with the issues, 3 on 3 NHL Arcade's a must-play for fans of arcade sports, and I want to commend the makers for mercifully extracting the pointless bloat of pre-game intros and a circling zamboni between periods.

All in all 3 on 3 NHL Arcade is a great quick fun action packed ice hockey game for the Xbox LIVE Arcade. Yes you won't play the game too much on your own, but if your like me and enjoy playing with real humans the game is great!

3 on 3 NHL Arcade doesn’t have a comprehensive slate of gameplay modes and options, and it’s easy to write it off for that reason. But what’s there is enough to keep gamers coming back again and again: tremendously enjoyable core gameplay, superb sound design, impressive visuals, and a wonderfully old-school-oriented multiplayer experience.

If you're looking for something a little bit different from Live Arcade, 3 on 3 NHL Arcade is an addictive and seriously fun title that definitely deserves some attention.

This tongue-in-cheek offshoot of EA's core NHL sim is a smooth zamboni ride that mixes goofy gameplay with razor-sharp control, just as "NBA Jam" did when it pioneered this genre over 15 years ago.

Hardcore hockey fans might find NHL Arcade too simple, with its lack of official teams, arenas or any kind of tournament mode. However, it's loads of fun against friends, online or off.

The gameplay is solid and the online mode works fairly well, but a severe lack of features really dampens the experience for those expecting more from EA’s latest.

But judging the game on what’s included, there’s just not enough here to entice gamers that aren’t hardcore NHL fans.

NHL 3 on 3 Arcade can be fun in the right hands, albeit in very short bursts, but hardcore hockey fanatics aren’t likely to enjoy this simplistic title very much.

3 on 3 NHL Arcade is a game that should not be a 10 dollar purchase, rather a bonus mode available in the regular NHL release. If EA plans on releasing a similar game in the future, it would be better suited to either bring back the under-appreciated NHL Rock the Rink from the original PlayStation or putting in some sort of ladder option or tournament mode similar to arcade sports titles from the 90s.

Your CPU teammates will never assist you in easing the pressure of a three-on-one attack, so I can only recommend Live play for people who have at least three controllers (only two Xboxs are allowed, per game).

Decent, but no especially visually appealing

The over-the-top gameplay is a good fit, but it is a bit unimaginative. Shrinking goalies and massive body checks aren't exactly stretching the boundaries for an arcade game.

The game would have been better suited as an Easter egg in the next NHL franchise title, as its enjoyable enough gameplay would have provided great relief for a long season or playoff campaign.

Think of it as the cheap seats at a game. If you know what you are getting into and have plenty of friends who wanna throw down with you online, then yes, the game does play a fun addictive game of arcade NHL action. If you are looking for a single player experience or will only play online sporadically, then the answer is an emphatic no.

NHL Arcade falls short in too many areas to be highly recommended. Unless you're a diehard hockey fanatic you can pass up this title. It's a shame too, we needed a good hockey arcade title for PSN/XBLA, but we haven't gotten it yet.

3 on 3 NHL Arcade doesn't offer you enough to call itself a complete game. EA should add this game to a real NHL game, so you can spend your money on better titles.

3 on 3 NHL Arcade is not a very bad game, but lacks some fundamental gameplay elements. The controls are, in combination with the specific type of gameplay, far from practical. On top of that, the idea of being a funny game never quite makes it with the decent look. What remains is the question: What did EA Canada had in mind when they made this game? Whatever the answer may be, it won't be enough to salvage this title.