3 on 3 NHL Arcade is a downloadable hockey title from EA Sports. Courtesy of the publisher’s casual sports label, Freestyle, 3 on 3 NHL Arcade is a simple hockey title that forgoes the deep customization features and gameplay elements found in EA’s NHL franchise, instead opting for an easier-to-learn control scheme and fast-paced arcade-style gameplay, including some Mario Kart-inspired weapons and special items. While the game certainly has a short learning curve, the simplistic nature of the game does tend to wear thin before too long, and hardcore hockey fans will want something with a little more substance to it.

Despite supposedly having an NHL license attached to it, 3 on 3 NHL Arcade doesn’t allow you to choose from actual teams within professional hockey (although real players have lend their appearance to the game). In fact, you’ll have only two teams to choose from, literally “Red” or “Blue”. Neither team has any specific strength or weakness, meaning that their on-ice performance hinges directly on your skill with the game.

Although this is a hockey title from EA, don’t expect it to have any semblance of a “Be A Pro” mode, or even a season or a tournament. The only mode to be found in 3 on 3 NHL Arcade is a Play Now mode in which up to four players can participate, as well as ranked and non-ranked online play. Before getting into your match, you’re able to select your starting lineup, but the only real rankings that any of them have are pretty basic (essentially “Fast”, “Strong”, or “All Around”).

On the ice, 3 on 3 NHL Arcade performs well enough. The game moves along at a smooth clip, and the controls are very easy to grasp, meaning anyone regardless of their knowledge of hockey can play a match against somebody. As you play the game, you can pick up special items to use on your own players or the opposing team, with perks like Super Shots and banana peels that will trip up your opponents. Additionally, there are special items that will make your players bigger or your opponents smaller, to give you an upper hand.

Graphically, the aforementioned clip is very smooth, running at 60 frames per second with no slowdown. The bobble-headed character models lack the overall polish and superb animation featured in NHL 09 and the rinks are devoid of much detail, but it looks decent enough and performs very well.

The sound is a different story altogether. The game doesn’t have any music outside of the occasional menu music, and the gibberish voice work that goes all over the place from on-ice banter to a cappella sound effects when switching through menus is very annoying and will have many players reaching for the mute button.

And that’s really all there is to 3 on 3 NHL Arcade. From a design standpoint, the game is meant to be a casual hockey title, which most gamers know to be both a blessing and a curse; a blessing in that just about anyone can play it and have some fun, but a curse in that it is overly simplistic and not much fun for anyone hoping for a little depth.

Gameplay: 6.0
The gameplay is fast-paced and the controls are very easy to learn, but there is next-to-nil depth to the game modes.

Graphics: 7.0
Not a lot of detail to be found in the characters or animation, but the framerate stays smooth.

Sound: 4.0
The music is pretty generic, and the voice effects are downright annoying.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium

Concept: 5.0
While easy enough to play, 3 on 3 NHL Arcade is severely lacking in any depth whatsoever.

Multiplayer: 6.0
Four players per game offline, and ranked and unranked matches online.

Overall: 6.0
3 on 3 NHL Arcade can be fun in the right hands, albeit in very short bursts, but hardcore hockey fanatics aren’t likely to enjoy this simplistic title very much.