Is 2K the way to go this year?

[DGuinta1]

I haven't played Hockey in a few years but interested in maybe getting 2k10 this year. In times past I played 2K hockey though I have seen EA' hockey get great reviews for last years games. Been tough getting stocked for hockey being a Rangers fan.
Suggestions and thoughts please?

Oh that celebration where the goal scorer lays the stick on the ice and rubs his hands together to feel the heat from the stick, does that happen now? Unique celebrations?

[baa7]

Re: Is 2K the way to go this year?

Depends on your gaming preference. 2K has tons of tweaking options to adjust to your level and style of play: ratings, sliders and User/CPU team strategy. EA's game is basically devoid of depth and tweaking options, and the CPU plays the same way regardless of which team you play against. EA's game has the more intuitive controls, so if you're looking for something to easily pick up and play and to just have some mindless fun, it's the better game for that. And it's easy on the eyes.

As for this year, EA's game looks more or less unchanged while 2K appears to have put a bunch of work into overhauling the controls and AI (which it needed). The biggest issue I have is EA's game has absolutely no player momentum. Players have too much agility and can spin on a dime. And the CPU programming takes full advantage of that shortcoming which leads to a very frustrating offline experience. I'd sum things up by saying EA is directing their game towards the online crowd, and 2K towards offline gamers who are looking for User-CPU gameplay depth. Which explains in part why EA's game has been getting a lot of attention -- online is where the majority of gamers and site reviews focus their attention.

[DGuinta1]

Re: Is 2K the way to go this year?

Depends on your gaming preference. 2K has tons of tweaking options to adjust to your level and style of play: ratings, sliders and User/CPU team strategy. EA's game is basically devoid of depth in the form of tweaking options, and the CPU plays the same way regardless of which team you play against. EA's game has the more intuitive controls, so if you're looking for something to easily pick up and play and to just have some fun, it's the better game for that.

As for this year, EA's game looks more or less unchanged while 2K appears to have put a bunch of work into overhauling the controls and AI (which it needed). I'll be renting 2K10 to check it out. And I doubt at this point I'll be renting EA's game, and I certainly won't be buying it this year from the looks of it. I bought NHL 09 last year, and it was barely more than a roster update of NHL 08.

Ty for your thoughts. Guess renting is the way to go at first. I see there is an EA demo out but not one yet for 2K. I was surprised that EA' game was better the last year or so since I am normally a 2K fan, from 2k5 football(best game until I played the show) to 2k bball and hockey.
I think the overhaul of the controls is a good thing if it add better gameplay to the game and hopefully I won't have too much of a problem since I haven't played hock in a few years. Back in the day my friends and I had hockey tourneys with 2K Hockey and they where so much fun. I miss those days. (38 years old):wink:

[baa7]

Re: Is 2K the way to go this year?

I was surprised that EA' game was better the last year or so since I am normally a 2K fan, from 2k5 football(best game until I played the show) to 2k bball and hockey.

I rent first always, so definitely, that's the way to go.

A lot of us NFL 2K5-era gamers are still waiting for 2K to start churning out games that rival their games of the past. Me, I'm not sure it's going to happen. I personally think 2K will fold before too long. Maybe 2K10 will change that, but I'm not hopeful.

EA's game has been better for 3 years now. But it's important of qualify what "better" means, especially these days. EA's game is nice to look at and fun online. That's its big draw. Offline against the CPU is another story. It's an arcade game at best, and a frustrating, cheaply programmed game that's barely representative of the sport. Though 2K9 had it's own programming issues -- it was basically broken. So again, renting either is the smart thing to do for sure.

[DGuinta1]

Re: Is 2K the way to go this year?

I rent first always, so definitely, that's the way to go.

A lot of us NFL 2K5-era gamers are still waiting for 2K to start churning out games that rival their games of the past. Me, I'm not sure it's going to happen. I personally think 2K will fold before too long. Maybe 2K10 will change that, but I'm not hopeful.

EA's game has been better for 3 years now. But it's important of qualify what "better" means, especially these days. EA's game is nice to look at and fun online. That's its big draw. Offline against the CPU is another story. It's an arcade game at best, and a frustrating, cheaply programmed game that's barely representative of the sport. Though 2K9 had it's own programming issues -- it was basically broken. So again, renting either is the smart thing to do for sure.

Neooooooooo!!! 2K can't fold! Geez the thought just saddens me!

Ahh good to know since I mainly play against friends or offline.

[baa7]

Re: Is 2K the way to go this year?

Neooooooooo!!! 2K can't fold! Geez the thought just saddens me!

If 2K keeps releasing broken games, they'll fold.

EA's games, even their crap games like Madden, at least work for the most part. So they're "better games" in that regard, definitely.

[baa7]

Re: Is 2K the way to go this year?

Ahh good to know since I mainly play against friends

Then I would recommend NHL 09 over NHL 2K9. As for the games coming out, who knows yet?

[DGuinta1]

Re: Is 2K the way to go this year?

If 2K keeps releasing broken games, they'll fold.

EA's games, even their crap games like Madden, at least work for the most part. So they're "better games" in that regard, definitely.

EA has been making crap games for years and their still here.

Yea I know the big boys on the block.

Oh well hopefully Visual Concepts and 2K will be around for a long time!

[baa7]

Re: Is 2K the way to go this year?

EA has been making crap games for years and their still here.

Which tells you what the NFL license and a ton of marketing money will do for you. Look, their NHL series is not crap. It's a solid game, and it's fun, whereas 2K's last few efforts have been so broken they're just annoying. But EA is, as always, designing their games for the unthinking masses who are okay with no option depth. If you want to fire up a game with friends and have a blast, it's a great game for that. But if you want an offline game with serious depth, and with features and options ala NFL 2K5 or The Show, it's a laughable effort at best.

[DGuinta1]

Re: Is 2K the way to go this year?

Which tells you what the NFL license and a ton of marketing money will do for you. Look, their NHL series is not crap. It's a solid game, and it's fun, whereas 2K's last few efforts have been so broken they're just annoying. But EA is, as always, designing their games for the unthinking masses who are okay with no option depth. If you want to fire up a game with friends and have a blast, it's a great game for that. But if you want an offline game with serious depth, and with features and options ala NFL 2K5 or The Show, it's a laughable effort at best.

Well thanks again for your insight. Nothing like good competition. For myself and others, let's hope both games are quality!

[Ridgeberg]

Re: Is 2K the way to go this year?

Depends on your gaming preference. 2K has tons of tweaking options to adjust to your level and style of play: ratings, sliders and User/CPU team strategy. EA's game is basically devoid of depth and tweaking options, and the CPU plays the same way regardless of which team you play against. EA's game has the more intuitive controls, so if you're looking for something to easily pick up and play and to just have some mindless fun, it's the better game for that. And it's easy on the eyes.

As for this year, EA's game looks more or less unchanged while 2K appears to have put a bunch of work into overhauling the controls and AI (which it needed). The biggest issue I have is EA's game has absolutely no player momentum. Players have too much agility and can spin on a dime. And the CPU programming takes full advantage of that shortcoming which leads to a very frustrating offline experience. I'd sum things up by saying EA is directing their game towards the online crowd, and 2K towards offline gamers who are looking for User-CPU gameplay depth. Which explains in part why EA's game has been getting a lot of attention -- online is where the majority of gamers and site reviews focus their attention.

I agree, that if you are on the fence, you should definitely rent before you buy, or at least play both demos first. We can't really speak to the NHL2K10 game much at this point. The only information we have is a couple of developer blogs, some PR screen shots and videos.

NHL10, on the other hand has been very forthcoming with their information and, as you noted, has already released the demo.

I disagree with Baa when he says that NHL10 remains largely unchanged. Visually, I will agree with, no earth shattering changes have been made to player models (but if it ain't broke...). Plus, if you didn't play NHL09, then the presentation shouldn't bother you too much because you will not be familiar with it. What NHL10 has done, though, is tweak the gameplay even further towards real hockey. They have created four different game settings (Casual, Default, Normal, Hardcore) that change the way the game plays (seems to focus on player ability and the type of passing, from assisted to manual). They have also revamped the sliders for the game, creating about five times more and giving us the ability to adjust CPU sliders as well. This has been present in the 2K series since inception, I believe, but Baa is wrong when he says that NHL10 will not have depth and tweaking options. EA has also created a Be a GM mode, which, although noone has really explored it, seems like a revamped Franchise mode, which should be a welcomed addition. From my understanding, the 2K dynasty mode has been severely broken.

Bottom line, do you own research and form your own opinions. It would be foolhardy to go with 2K because you liked NFL 2K5 just as it would be to go with EA because you liked NCAA 04. Read people's opinions, but remember that they are opinions, not fact (no matter how much they want them to be). Play both demos, rent both games if you are still on the fence. Bottom line: have fun!

[wlawrence67]

Re: Is 2K the way to go this year?

I was always a huge 2k fan for hockey and for the longest time could not stand ea. Then 2k7 - 2k9 just really soured me to the game and I slowly became a ea supporter. I played 2k9 it was OK but I am really hoping all of the hype for 2k10 is true. I am still looking forward to ea but would really like to see a good 2k game especially since their online leagues are so much better.

[DGuinta1]

Re: Is 2K the way to go this year?

Bottom line, do you own research and form your own opinions. It would be foolhardy to go with 2K because you liked NFL 2K5 just as it would be to go with EA because you liked NCAA 04. Read people's opinions, but remember that they are opinions, not fact (no matter how much they want them to be). Play both demos, rent both games if you are still on the fence. Bottom line: have fun!

Words of wisdom for all games and well said!

[baa7]

Re: Is 2K the way to go this year?

but Baa is wrong when he says that NHL10 will not have depth and tweaking options.

No, I'm quite correct, and you're giving a false impression of EA's NHL series. EA's NHL series has a few basic sliders to adjust gameplay and that's it. 2K's game on the other hand has in-depth sliders, in-depth player ratings, and the ability to adjust and set cpu game strategy. As for franchise, EA's game last year allows you to control one team only, and without any way to either control CPU team options, or edit CPU players or your own. 2K's game offers a ton of franchise tweaking options including the ability to control all teams.

There's simply no comparison here. EA's game is pretty much deviod of tweaking options, and is designed for gamers who spend their time playing head-to-head with friends and online. 2K, as always, caters to offline gamers who want the ability to customize every aspect of the gameplay and game setup.

[Flyermania]

Re: Is 2K the way to go this year?

No, I'm quite correct, and you're giving a false impression of EA's NHL series. EA's NHL series has a few basic sliders to adjust gameplay and that's it. 2K's game on the other hand has in-depth sliders, in-depth player ratings, and the ability to adjust and set cpu game strategy. As for franchise, EA's game last year allows you to control one team only, and without any way to either control CPU team options, or edit CPU players or your own. 2K's game offers a ton of franchise tweaking options including the ability to control all teams.

There's simply no comparison here. EA's game is pretty much deviod of tweaking options, and is designed for gamers who spend their time playing head-to-head with friends and online. 2K, as always, caters to offline gamers who want the ability to customize every aspect of the gameplay and game setup.

EA has added a lot more sliders this year, and season mode will allow you to control all 30 teams if you choose to do so.

2k does offer more sliders, but many of them have been broken and had no effect on the gameplay in prior games (at the developers own admission). We'll see if that has changed for 2k10.