NHL 09

[Marshy]

Let the talk commence about who is going to be what position for the online GMF team.

[Mr. Brown]

Is it officially that it's better than 2k?
I had played the 1st year they introduced the shot stick and it was great, but the rest of the game wasn't all that to me. Any updates to the franchise mode?

[Marshy]

NHL 08 >>>>>>>>>>>> NHL 2k8.

NHL 08 + EA Sports World + Madden's Superstar Mode = NHL 09.

[Mr. Brown]

aight

but I did like that Cinemotion that 2k had.

[Marshy]

I rented NHL 2k8 last week and I couldnt even get through one game. I was unimpressed with everything in that game.

I rented it for the achievements and almost returned it and claimed that it was broken because it was that bad.

[OTiS]

I don't really like the 2K series. I can't wait until this one comes out, however, I kind of have to since I need to buy a PS3...

[Mr. Brown]

price drop on the 80Gb in sept.

[mcnastasty]

i'm in for this team. Give me kane and toews and i'll do the rest.

[Marshy]

you do realize that you create a player and then we make a team right?

Its Be A Pro online.

[mcnastasty]

no i didn't, but whatever. I'm in

[Marshy]

demo is out and IGN gave it a 9.0

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/908/908166p1.html

September 5, 2008 - A championship season is both a blessing and a curse. Obviously, everyone always wants to come out on top, but doing so raises expectations considerably for the next year. Such is the case with NHL 09 (http://ps3.ign.com/objects/142/14230951.html) whose predecessor is widely regarded as one of the best sports games in memory. Luckily, this year's hockey offering from EA Sports not only doesn't disappoint, it raises the bar set by NHL 08 in nearly every way, from awesome new modes to slight refinements, to the already stellar controls.

The first feature that hockey nuts are going to want to dive into is Be A Pro. As soon as NHL 09 begins, you're prompted to create your virtual likeness, complete with all the customization options that you'd expect from today's crop of sports games. You'll find more licensed products than you can shake a stick at, plenty of hairstyles and lots of other little nuances to toy around with.



From there you're given a brief tutorial on the right analog stick controls and then it's time to jump into your fledging career. You'll begin in the AHL unless you elect to control an already established NHL player (aka the weak sauce route). Before heading into your career, be warned, Be A Pro is a mode that is built to last quite some time.

Each attribute for your player needs to be advanced individually and with experience points being handed out in increments as low as 16 (it takes over 200 points to advance some attributes a single point) there's little question that you could spend dozens of hours with the mode. You'll slowly work your way from the third line of your minor league squad and, if your talents impress the coaches enough, you'll get bumped up to the big time.

On the ice, Be A Pro is very similar to what we've seen from other EA Sports franchises. The camera angle drops down behind your player for a more intimate perspective on things. The game allows you to call for the puck and direct your players to shoot when you feel it's appropriate, but for the most part you are controlling your player and your player alone.

Of course, you can't be on the ice all the time. That just wouldn't be realistic. Instead, you'll have to also manage when to come off and back on to the ice. It adds a big strategy element that is usually missing from a standard game where line changes are set to be handled by the AI by default. If you call for a line change to come off the ice when your opponent is attacking you're leaving your defense wide open for a goal. You'll need to dump the puck deep into their zone and then make the swap, and the same goes for coming back on to the ice.



It's that kind of realism that really drives NHL 09. If you play your position properly, chances are you'll find success, both in the eyes of your coach who breaks down your performance throughout the game, as well as on the ice. Your coach's advice does get a tired in a hurry, but it's usually quite accurate.

Another nod to the realism of the gameplay in NHL 09 is the discrepancy that you'll see when making the jump from AHL to NHL. As you'd expect, the minors feel like the minors. Long passes go astray, shots are less accurate and the skating isn't as precise. Get the bump to the show and you'll see the difference. Just as you should.

But for as awesome as Be A Pro is, it does bring its fair share of issues to the table. The camera, for one, can be a bit squirrely, sometimes rotating a full 360 degrees, which can make tracking the puck a bit of an issue. There are also framerate issues that, while they are present in every mode, are more prevalent in Be A Pro for whatever reason. The stuttering typically only happens during close up camera pans and replays, but it's still a slight annoyance.

Despite its few flaws, Be A Pro is still where most will spend the bulk of their time. For others, EA Sports Hockey League brings the Be A Pro gameplay style online for the first time. It's a persistent online league. Every player on the ice is human-controlled (including the goalie, which is surprisingly fun) and it makes for some of the best hockey seen in video games.

Providing you can get a group of players who know what they're doing and how to take advantage of their player's specialties and positions, the Hockey League can be a real blast. The same deep stat tracking and attribute progression that is seen in the offline mode is available online, but since your personas are separate, there's no persistence between the two. Attributes need to be built separately, thus doubling the length of the game's two biggest modes.



The dynasty mode is just as large and expansive as ever, but doesn't really deviate from what was seen in last year's game. There's still awesome attention to detail, like being able to check a free agent's team preference and scout guys for recruiting purposes throughout the season. You can also send guys up and down from your AHL and NHL rosters should their performance warrant a change. The only thing that's really missing is the ability to do things like set ticket and concession prices and make modifications to your team's stadium. The on-ice action is also largely unchanged except for one new addition.

The flip dump pass is something that has been added to NHL 09 (http://ps3.ign.com/objects/142/14230951.html) and its presence is also felt in the Create Play mode. You'll now be able to sculpt breakout players where, should you nail the timing, you can dump the puck into your opponent's zone while your teammates streak up the ice to retrieve your pass. It's tough, but once you score a goal from one of your created breakout plays, the reward is worth the effort.

The core hockey action that drives the standard five-on-five play is very similar to what was seen in NHL 08. A few tweaks have been made to the artificial intelligence so that the CPU's defense is a bit tougher and more aggressive than it was last year, but most everything else is the same.

Collisions have been retooled and now feel much more natural. You'll need to preload your hits a bit more than in the past, but the reward is great. Players can quite literally have their skates wind up above their head after some of the pops delivered on the rink.

Graphically NHL 09 is reminiscent of what was seen last year which is both good and bad. On the up side the player models feature nice details, like facial animations, on close ups and doing the "Gretzky Tuck" with their jersey. Animations are also very intricate, especially on the massive collisions that are in the game. Crowd detail has also been stepped up a notch as there are now more varied models that react to the on-ice action better than they have in the past.



Of course those details do come at a price. The framerate is fairly unstable during replays and close ups, but thankfully it doesn't hurt the core gameplay. There are also rare moments of collision detection issues.

The audio side brings back the classic duo of Gary Thorne and Bill Clement to deliver their solid as ever commentary. They've been some of the best in the video game sports business for some time now and this year is no different. Their quips are insightful, accurate and sound as authentic as any other game out there. The soundtrack itself is solid, but songs are repeated for intros and goals. Luckily all of that stuff is customizable. Hits, slapshots and the goal horn all sound as realistic as you would expect.

Closing Comments
NHL 09 isn’t just a great hockey game, it’s one of the best sports games to be released in the last decade. It takes the right analog stick controls first pioneered in last year’s game and pushes them forward ever so slightly while pouring on features that everyone from newbies to diehards will appreciate. The only question remaining is how they’ll follow this sports game of the year contender once next season rolls around.

[Le Goat]

I agree with the article. I played it most of the night tonight and after a few games of getting used to the new controls it's fucking sic. The shots feel more 'tuned if you will. Meaning I dont have to just 'down, up' on the joystick to get a hard shot off on goal. If I do that now, te damn puck might go 5ft wide or just fling over there with litle power. I love it. The hitting is a bit different but the defensive controls feel very, very smooth this time around. Also I fucking LOVE the Pro stuff. I had no clue it'd be like that and it wsa great just watching myself smack the shit out of everyone. Def. a buy.

[Yammer]

The BAP feature isn't like Tiger Woods where you can import your face (only reason I'd still play the PC version) so your options are pretty much the same as 08 but with more sticks, gloves and helmets and skates

[Marshy]

the animations on the demo have been pretty sweet.

do you have the full game goat?

[Le Goat]

the animations on the demo have been pretty sweet.

do you have the full game goat?

No. I'm saving up for Star Wars and BiA:HH... I'll prob get it soon.

[Marshy]

Star Wars got terrible reviews and the demo just wasnt in it for me. I am going to rent that and go with NHL 09.

That Pure game looks pretty good too. Too bad its from fucking Disney.

[Le Goat]

Star Wars got terrible reviews and the demo just wasnt in it for me. I am going to rent that and go with NHL 09.

That Pure game looks pretty good too. Too bad its from fucking Disney.

Yeah ST:TFU was a rent at first, but if good was going to be a buy. BIA is the def buy no matte what, Like I said, I'll prob get it soon either way. I can barely put 08 down.

[Marshy]

the online should be good. i know that once things get going, I am probably going to make a GSM team for online if we get enough people.

[Marshy]

good game so far.

the engine is a bit different than 08. Harder to score. Harder to hit. Easier to get penalties.

I have only played Be A Pro so far with a C and a G. Goalies are a lot easier to control than 08. The Be A Pro mode has a LOT of depth to it and its hard to advance. So far I have been named the captain of my AHL team and I am only on the third line. Farthest Ive gotten is the 2nd and then I simmed and they sent me back down because the coach said I was "on auto pilot and not motivated."

Fighting is different. I prefer the 08 to this 09 crap. Two hits and you are down.

Overall so far: I give it a 8.75/10.

[Superhuman]

The one thing I hate about 09 is the stick lift. It's RIDICULOUSLY overpowered. It's fucking gay.

And you can't even do it if you use classic controls. How is that fair?

[Marshy]

i will say that the emotional tie to this game is a lot heavier as it actually feels good when you score a goal or get a shut out.

[Le Goat]

i will say that the emotional tie to this game is a lot heavier as it actually feels good when you score a goal or get a shut out.

I noticed that in the Demo too. I love working for a goal

[Marshy]

i am playing on rookie now just to get this new engine understood. so far so good. might have to bump to pro soon.

[Hodge]

I just picked this game up today. I'm quite happy with it; even after only playing it for an hour I would say it's the best hockey game that I have played (I never play 08). After having joysticks for so long why did it take so long to develop these methods of use.
Sitting on the bench waiting to be put in is just like real life...10 minute misdemeanors are a real bitch to sit through as well...

[Pollo]

Marshy, how do 'em Ducks play in this game? hopefully you can manage to score alright after our disastrous season offensively.

[Marshy]

right now in my Be A Pro mode, they are the number one team. I was in the AHL most of the team and thought the Iowa Chops would be horrible but they arent.

The rosters for the Ducks do have Selanne on them still which I found to be odd but cool. The gear for goalies is all the same from 08 which was disappointing since they still have the mock up of Bryz's mask for the secondary goalie.

[Marshy]

oh and the ducks got jewed on the jerseys. almost every other team has their old style jerseys from the 90s but the Ducks didnt get them. Dallas has them all the way back to the Cleveland Barons era of the 40s-50s.

[mcnastasty]

do i need to buy this game? i'm trying to steal a copy off of ebay and it's not working very well

[mcnastasty]

you guys play? my xbox live is staind2837

[Hodge]

No, never.

[Marshy]

people never got into the whole NHL 09 team just like the Halo 3 tournament thing died.

[Hodge]

I don't have the xbox live. Getting a whole teams worth of people who don't really know each other to log on at the same time is a pretty tough order.

[Marshy]

the third jersey code was released if anyone cares...

xe6377uyrwm48frf

[mcnastasty]

i have an OTP league team if anyone gives 2 shits. my gamertag is mcnastastyness

[Hodge]

A couple things that I've noticed that I thought I'd get some feedback on to see if anybody notices:
1) Players freezing when you pass the puck for a one timer. This happens in 1 and 2 player mode on rookie and not on seldom pro.
2) CPU teams scoring ridiculously cheap goals. Once again, mostly in rookie, my guys will just stop moving. I'll go in for a huge hit, have it lines up perfectly, and I will pretty much bounce off of the other guy. My goalie will start flopping around before the shot is even attempted and I get scored on.
In fairness the flopping part has happened with the oppositions goalie as well.
3) The screen flickering during big plays. Seriously. I'm starting to sound paranoid now, I know, but this actually happens when I start dominating and I'm skating up ice.
4) Not zooming in when I'm skating up ice for a breakaway, 2 on 1, etc...when the camera is set to action. I have a fairly large tv but you feel taken out of the game when your guy is at the opponents net and the camera is still zoomed out behind your goalie.

Thought/opinions. It seems like these are ways that EA developed to compensate for the AI not being that good. At times it can really piss me off (player is frozen, puck goes by, and he just glides along) and I feel it really takes away from an otherwise stellar game.

[Pete t]

anyone one want to start and xbox live league?