If you've ever seen the OXM five-a-side footie team play, you'll know we love a bit of a scrap with our sport. That's why ice hockey is possibly the greatest game ever invented. The refs don't even break up two brawling players until someone's brains are defrosting the ice.

Fighting is the best thing about hockey, and ESPN NHL 2K5 knows it. A totally redesigned fighting engine gives you total freedom to skate around your opponent, then smack his chin with an uppercut. It's not Mortal Kombat but it's more fun than the usual button-bashing hockey scraps.

Okay, it's not all punch-ups. You have to rough your opponents up before you start chucking fists. Luckily NHL 2K5 has also introduced the brilliant Full Stick Control, which lets you sneakily wallop your opponent by tweaking the Right analogue stick in his direction.

If you prefer to concentrate on actually playing, NHL 2K5 won't disappoint. While the action remains faster and more arcadey than EA's yearly offering, 2K5's defensive controls have been buffed up. The Full Stick system gives you more options against an oncoming attacker, and you can hold the Left trigger to skate backwards. Spine-shattering checks are easy to pull off and it's a lot easier to score than in most hockey games. Purists might get sniffy but NHL 2K5's face-breaking hockey definitely makes for a more enjoyable experience.

Like the other ESPN games there's a stack of additional features to enjoy. The Franchise mode offers plenty of long-term appeal but, as with NBA 2K5 and NFL 2K5, the online options have been dropped. But considering how much hard-hitting hockey action you're getting for 20 notes, NHL 2K5 isn't just cool, it's ice cold.

Not as realistic as its NBA and NFL brothers, but slapshots you in the face with fun to make up for it.