Smooth game play, good control, and fast and furious action make EA Sports' first NHL title on the PSP a fantastic mobile gaming experience. With good graphics—although don't expect it to rival the new consoles—and easy controls, even a beginner can pick up the gist quickly and enjoy a solid game.

You can kick off a game with just a few clicks, or dig into a season or Dynasty mode, which allows you to be the General Manager of a team (and exceed or fail to meet the expectations of the team's owner). You can also play an exhibit match, a full season, a couple of different tournament styles, or a multiplayer game over WiFi (very cool!).

As usual, you have a selection of viewing angles for the on-ice gameplay. But be sure to select the angle you want before you start the match, otherwise, you're stuck.

If you're a fan of the NHL series, you'll quickly notice that one-timers are very difficult to score on, unlike previous console editions. However, breakaway wrist shots and near-to-goal slapshots, especially if preceded by a quick deke or two, are much easier to get in the net. If you're a real die-hard fan and you remember the glory days of NHL 95, you'll be disappointed to discover that fights are darn near impossible to start—but then again, maybe that's a good thing.

However, I do have a few complaints. First, the audio stinks. The music played while navigating menus is horrendous (imagine rock tunes composed for long elevator rides). And often, the play-by-play commentary, during a game, is a few seconds behind the action, which is laughable. Second, the menus take way too long time to load, especially in Dynasty mode, but long load times aren't uncommon on the PSP.

Even with these complaints in mind, I still love playing hockey on the train to work. Now I just wish my commute was longer, so I could get more ice time in the morning.