Video games are often accused of being too macho, of concentrating too much on violence, carnage, big guns and broken bones. Some consider it a sign of an immature medium, as yet unable to deal with more grown up themes without resorting to spurts of claret and the swinging of fists. Take NHL 10 for example, the back of the box proudly boasts that this, the latest edition to EA Sport's canon of Ice Hockey games, has new and improved fighting mechanics. If you were to take such claims at face value, then you'd probably write NHL 10 off as a game for dullards, lacking any subtlety of finesse. Thankfully though, you'd be mistaken in your estimations; NHL 10 is one of the best sports sims on the market.

I'll admit from the start that my understanding of Ice Hockey is somewhat limited; I've seen the Mighty Ducks, but none of its sequels, for example. So I approached NHL 10 with the trepidation of a rookie taking to the ice for his first game. From the get go, EA skilfully introduces new players into the experience, starting proceedings with a run down of the controls, guiding you through player creation and the basics of the game rather than just chucking you in at the deep end. The controls are effective, the left stick controlling your movement and the right stick controlling your stick. It's a nice change from the B pass, A shoot dichotomy that you find in most sports games. You push the stick in your preferred to direction to slide the puck that way, a Skate style flick will add a bit more power. You can change back to a more traditional control scheme in the menu, but once you've got used to the flick, it plays like a dream.

All the play modes that you'd expect are present and correct; quick play, cup ties, manager mode and full season are all included. The gameplay is fast and frantic, as it should be in an Ice Hockey game, with attack turning to defence in the blink of an eye. Movement is slick and smooth, your players glide over the ice, twisting and turning responsively, the only real problem being that sometimes the AI messes up and your passes go awry. There are gallons of options to change the way that the game plays, sliding up from arcadey fun to hardcore realism. The utmost attention has been paid to making sure this is a game that anyone can pick up and play, and it really shows; after only a few minutes play, you'll have a smile on your face a mile wide, ploughing into opponents and scoring many a goal.

Alongside the full team games are the Be A Pro modes, where rather than taking control of a whole side, you're given sole control over your created player. You can choose what position to play and as each game passes you gain more stats and experience. The RPG style elements extend to the equipment you can buy as well; the more expensive stuff has slots that you can add boosts to, which adds another layer of tactics to those already inherent in the sport. Unlike FIFA 09, where you can often feel lost and adrift in a Be A Pro match, here you're always in the action, and on the simpler difficulty levels, an arrow points you in the direction you should be heading.

The graphics are wonderful, solid character models and shining white ice. The facial animations are less cumbersome than in other sports games, with players actually looking alive, rather than like reanimated, grey corpses. There's no stutter or slowdown, which is essential when the action flies by at break neck speed. The music and sound effects are just as polished as the rest of the package, lots of heavy crunching guitars and heavy crunching collisions. The piece de resistance though has to be the commentary, which puts the stilted delivery and repeated phrases of most games to shame. If anything, the excitement levels are boosted by the rapid fire chat between the two commentators, making you feel like you're in a real contest.

There are hundreds of teams to pick from, ranging from the current NHL roster to classic teams made up of hockey legends, and if you're not in the mood for taking your own character through a season, you can guide a real life pro instead. The multiplayer is just as enjoyable as the single player content, with a wide range of modes, including a 7v7 pro battle for the truly 'core. The number of stats screens and options can be a little confusing for the uninitiated, but the sheer joy the rest of the game exudes more than makes up for them.

NHL 10 is a triumph, a game that sets the bar for any sports game that follows. It's flow and speed are a wonder to behold, the way it can accommodate the newbie and the veteran alike, a lesson that any number of games could do to learn. And the fighting? Well, surprisingly enough, it's just as good as the rest of the game, although it's best not to do it too much, it tends to annoy the coach. I really can't oversell this game, and I urge each and every one of you to get out there and buy it now. It may parade itself as a blunt object, but it's anything but, this is an exercise in delicacy; NHL 10 is as refined a sports game as you're likely to find.

Reviewed by Harry Slater for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).