Bush Hockey League (Nintendo Switch) – The Test

The game was developed and published by V7 Entertainment Inc and they are known to have only made this game at present.

Story

You’ll find a story mode, but there isn’t really a story to speak of. The game remakes legendary hockey games by adding victory conditions to replicate the highlights of those games without the spectacular part, since the games are quite boring.

Gameplay

Bush Hockey League has 2 ways to play either with advanced controls or “retro” controls as they say. The advanced controls make each button useful while the “retro” controls are simpler and clearer to use since several actions are possible for a button (such as B which allows you to shoot, but also to hit the opponent ).

The training mode does not exist however for the advanced controls, it would be useful since they are extremely confusing and it will only be after many defeats against the AI ​​that we will understand how to use them correctly.

The controls are ultra basic for a hockey game, i.e. shoot, kick, pass, dribble the ball and run. The rules are simple, we start with the kick-off where each team tries to recover the ball then we advance until shooting in the opposing goals. You may occasionally find yourself doing 1 V 1 against an opposing player where you will have to hit the opponent with his hockey stick to hurt him, but 1 single shot and it’s over.

The matches are very boring, you will rarely have fights between your players and the loading times are 1 minutes with each new match.

Unfortunately or fortunately for some, you will not have an online multiplayer mode.

Music & graphics

The music is almost inaudible, we vaguely hear music in the background of popular music in order to give an aspect of “real match”. The sound design is poor with old cartoon noises when we hit or fall, the audience is almost empty, and even when he is there, we almost hear them coughing, everyone is pissed off. Even the commentator you constantly hear won’t let you smile and he will be the only source of soundscape. The graphics are filthy, it looks like a PS2 game, almost PS1, the colors are poor and you won’t recognize any player by his face even if you’re a hockey fan.

Lifetime

The story is technically long, especially with the one-minute loading times between each match, whether before or after the end of the match. You will be able to relive lots of titanic matches with a dead rat atmosphere, you will have finished a match that you will be at the end of your life.

Summary

Bush Hockey League is a very bad sports game, even the PS4 version has nothing to envy since the graphics are identical so was not going to think it was the fault of the switch. The gameplay is primary, where we could have seen bloody fights between the players it becomes who strikes first, no satisfaction with the shots, the technical side is banal and the general atmosphere of the game is the breath of the commentator accompanied by light background music. The lifespan is not short, but the game is an ordeal to bear and the majority of players will want to be reimbursed. Finally, it’s a very bad simulation game of a sport much more interesting to watch or practice than to play on your console, especially with Bush Hockey League.