What You Need to Know About Video Game Hockey This Season

[RaychelSnr]

Next week marks the launch of the new video game hockey season and Patrick Williams is here to give you the lowdown on both NHL 09 and NHL 2K9. Get the inside scoop on what to expect and what each game is featuring this year in Williams' article: What You Need to Know About Video Game Hockey This Season.

"If you are anything like me, you spend the summer months outside enjoying the weather, yet you can't help but think about the fall sports that lay ahead. So a day after the NHL 09 demo has been released on the Xbox Live Marketplace, we take a look forward to see what's in store for the two hockey games being released next week."

[asu666]

I'm glad to see VC getting NHL 2K back on the right track. I bought 2K8 last year and it just felt like 2K7 repackaged when I put it up against the huge jump NHL 08 made. I still think NHL 09 will be the best experience, but I could see from the demo that 2K is closing the gap again.

[kerosene31]

Can't wait until next week. Hopefully we get two great games!

Nice to see the efforts put out when there is strong competition in a sport. With two great games, everyone wins.

[Smokez4DAyz]

actually, I liked the 2k demo alot more than the NHL 09, it felt more weighted, and to me, sharper graphics are on the 2k, Atmosphere goes to 2K also, NHL 09 looks dark.

[jahbacca]

A great example of how competition breeds better quality games. If this oppurtunity was still allowed to football games, just think where they would be now.

[ManiacMatt1782]

A great example of how competition breeds better quality games. If this oppurtunity was still allowed to football games, just think where they would be now.

I cant help but to agree. EA makes an absolutely fantastic hockey game now.

[tabulaRasa]

True EAs hockey games sucked 2002-2006 (2004 was pretty good), and only 2ks success with NHL2k (2k3-2k6) made EA improve.

About the NFL games; don´t bother anymore, Madden is stale nowadays.

[bigwill33]

So a good question to pose is this; If EA were to acquire Take 2 and then their only be one hockey game do you think the game would immediately suffer or get better as a result of them perhaps combining the efforts? I am not asking for a which game is better debate as what you think would happen right away. I assume that down the line the ideas and innovation would get stale and come to a slow down, is that also the general thinking of the community?

For the record I agree that competition drives better games for us. I wonder if a another developer would come in and try to make a hockey game if EA buys 2k.

[MC Fatigue]

Re: What You Need to Know About Video Game Hockey This Season

I'm glad to see VC getting NHL 2K back on the right track. I bought 2K8 last year and it just felt like 2K7 repackaged when I put it up against the huge jump NHL 08 made. I still think NHL 09 will be the best experience, but I could see from the demo that 2K is closing the gap again.

I feel the exact opposite.

NHL 2k9 is feeling like a step forward, and two steps back from NHL 2k8. We've lost some of our control, and they've made the game more "fun".

2008 on the other hand was NHL 2007 with a slightly harder AI. 2009, however, feels a ton different to me.

2k9 isn't closing the gap, they're giving it away. 2k8 was far, far better than 2008. However, it seems like the roles are switching and 2k9 is giving way to 2009 now. I hope 2k gets back on track. Just when Kush gets it right with 2k8, they fire them... They need some consistency already.

[SDwinder]

I feel the exact opposite.

NHL 2k9 is feeling like a step forward, and two steps back from NHL 2k8. We've lost some of our control, and they've made the game more "fun".

2008 on the other hand was NHL 2007 with a slightly harder AI. 2009, however, feels a ton different to me.

2k9 isn't closing the gap, they're giving it away. 2k8 was far, far better than 2008. However, it seems like the roles are switching and 2k9 is giving way to 2009 now. I hope 2k gets back on track. Just when Kush gets it right with 2k8, they fire them... They need some consistency already.

2k8 was crap. Easy on the coolaid buddy. It was a complete checkfest and a big step back from the gameplay of 2K7, which I really liked.

NHL 08 was a revelation as most people in the know stated throughout the year. I didnt like 07 because other than the new stick gameplay, the AI was like chickens running around with their heads cut off. But EA got it right for 08 and 09 looks like more of the same.

I tried both of the the new 2k9 demos on the PS3 and 360. 360 was better but gameplay and camera view were lacking on both. They need more zoom at the far end to see what's going on. Game felt very early in development to me, but the presentation aspects were great. Too bad they didnt spend more time on the gameplay.

[MC Fatigue]

Re: What You Need to Know About Video Game Hockey This Season

2k8 was crap. Easy on the coolaid buddy. It was a complete checkfest and a big step back from the gameplay of 2K7, which I really liked.

Turn the checking down and lay off the button. The CPU doesn't go check crazy, so the only reason it's a check fest is if you decide to abuse it.

2k7 was freaking horrible. 2k8 was the only good hockey game Kush made.

[Dondadda]

For online, there is no other option than 2K sports. The leagues destroy, rip up, and humiliate EA's "effort."

[Russ Tundra]

For online, there is no other option than 2K sports. The leagues destroy, rip up, and humiliate EA's "effort."

How it that??? EASHL??? Does that ring a bell? EA has upped their game the last three years and they are the best hockey game to buy. Truthfully there are no arguments. Skill Stick = best thing to ever happen to any sport video game franchise.

[SDwinder]

Turn the checking down and lay off the button. The CPU doesn't go check crazy, so the only reason it's a check fest is if you decide to abuse it.

2k7 was freaking horrible. 2k8 was the only good hockey game Kush made.

You are about the only one who thinks that. 2K screwed up the controls last year in 2k8, as most reviews will remind you. There was a serious lack of rhythm and flow to 2k8 with all the checking going on. It just didnt work, unless you were too stubborn to admit you paid $60 for a substandard game and forced yourself to like it. I tried but once I got into NHL 08, it was a no-brainer.

Ignorance is not bliss. There is a reason 2k got a new studio to do hockey and baseball this year. They both were weak efforts compared to the competition. Make the mental adjustment and move forward,

[savoie2006]

Re: What You Need to Know About Video Game Hockey This Season

2K8 wasn't that bad with the checking with the right sliders. I could get less checks actually on 10 minute periods on 2K8 than 08. The problem was in the way it was done. First of all there were 2-3 guys charging a guy and they always lowered their shoulders, like they were trying to make a tackle. So it was just a matter of move to the side, make the pass to a wide open player and shoot.

Even though EA's magnetic hip checks were out of control as well, at least the cpu maintained some sort of positioning on D.