NHL Slapshot was playable on the show floor, and I picked up the hockey stick peripheral and joined in on the mayhem.

The stick isn't too big, fitting the Wii Remote and Nunchuk snugly. The Wii Remote is placed point downwards at the bottom of the stick, and the Nunchuk is up at the top. It was comfortable to grip the two controllers while they were placed in the hockey stick peripheral.

The controls were based heavily on motion controls, and worked very well. The only buttons used are the analog stick for movement, and the A button for passing. Shooting is controlled by making the motion with the stick. You can rear back and let loose a slapshot, or make smaller movements. You could also check your opponents by shaking the stick.

While this could be chalked up to my left-handedness, I found it difficult to start a shot sometimes. Once I got more comfortable with the stick, though, it worked better. It worked best when I played like a righty, though it was uncomfortable because I'm a lefty. I really hope there is a lefty flip setting.

The peripheral aside, the game looks great. The graphics are good, the presentation is nice, and the gameplay is a great, simple hockey game. In my eyes, it has the potential to bring back old NHL fans, as it is more in line with the '90s hockey games than recent hockey outings.