Gamers who played last year's title will recognize more than a few lines from the commentary duo this year mixed in with occasional team and player references and a few zingers here and there. The sound effects vary from weak to just above average. Slapshots and other on-ice effects sound muffled or just plain weak, but other ambient effects like the wail of the siren or the roar of the crowd sound quite good. The PA announcer finally sounds like he's on a PA system, but sounds muddy and unclear at times. Gameplay is also virtually unchanged from last year's version, which also isn't a bad thing either.
Controls are responsive and tight, and the game moves at a quick pace.
Passing is also very good, and the icon passing option can be a big help if you know how to use it. The computer opponent is considerably better this year, and the difficulty curve is excellent between different difficulty levels. The computer plays smartly, drawing fewer penalties while making better plays on the puck. The computer-controlled goalies also do quite well, making some truly spectacular saves on some tough shots. 989 has added some new game options this year, including Practice, Shootout, and Tournament modes, which the FaceOff series has been lacking.