If This is Be a Pro, Send Me Back To Juniors

[RaychelSnr]

Be a Pro mode in NHL 09 has received a mixed reaction among NHL fans this season. Robert Kotsaka gives you his opinion on the mode in his article, If This is Be a Pro, Send Me Back to Juniors.

"I love the NHL 09. EASHL is a winner-winner chicken dinner for me. And I still love good old Dynasty mode. Is Dynasty mode perfect? No. But it allows for the Sabres to win the Cup when being controlled by yours truly. Being a hockey nut I still want to play with my team and compete for the Cup in the virtual world. So there. I love the game. It will be in my system for the next six months. I had to get that out of the way because after you read the following you will wonder if I do love this game. I do."

[baa7]

Re: If This is Be a Pro, Send Me Back to Juniors

I can't imagine playing a mode where I didn't have control over how the game on the ice/field unfolds. It seems pretty easy: if you don't want to be on the first line as a rookie, don't put yourself there.

The lack of goal-scoring issue is something else altogether, and sounds like poor programming that needs to be fixed.

[JoeMimic]

I can't say I've had the problems with my teammates scoring. Through 6 games we have won 5 of them including one game where we scored 5 goals and ended up losing.

[baa7]

Re: If This is Be a Pro, Send Me Back to Juniors

I can't say I've had the problems with my teammates scoring. Through 6 games we have won 5 of them including one game where we scored 5 goals and ended up losing.

Well there you go... I guess the only thing I would change would be to fast-forward the times when not on the ice. That's painfully boring, sitting on the bench and watching the game. I lasted all of one shift before I quit and started up a regular game.

[Pete1210]

I love the offline BAP. I don't have the problem mentioned with my AI team not scoring. And I don't mind the short breaks on the bench.

[nyr30]

Re: If This is Be a Pro, Send Me Back to Juniors

I am playing BAP with the Kings until the roster update and i think this article is spot on. but i do think BAP is a good base to work from if they can fix the stupid ai.

I just played a game there and lost 4-1 to the Sharks and honestly 2 off the Sharks goals came from my d-man carrying the puck into his own net, just terrible if they arent standing around doing nothing they are scoring goals for your opponents.

Then when i looked at my Position, Team and Scoring Stats i got a C overall, this is the first time since the begining of my BAP career i have gotten outside an A. So i go back to the menu and the coach tells me i am being dropped to the 2nd line because of my scoring stats i honestly pissed myself laughing, this is my stats for the Kings on all star using Mudtigers sliders.

GP G A PTS +/-
16 16 11 27 +19

So i have 1 bad game and i get bumped down, its just stupid really, like the stats in game where if you go offside when you have no control of your man it affects your stats or if a teammate passes to you when you are surrounded by 3 guys and you lose the puck that also gives a minus, it seems there is more emphasis put on the negatives in BAP than if you do the positives well. I remeber one game i had 3 assists and i only got an A- for team stats ?, they need to be improved.

[asu666]

It would have been nice to see EA work on board play instead of giving two incomplete modes. Not to mention that there can only be 12 players on the ice at a time, there is no big payoff for playing through to win it all, etc.

[mgoblue]

Re: If This is Be a Pro, Send Me Back to Juniors

I am playing BAP with the Kings until the roster update and i think this article is spot on. but i do think BAP is a good base to work from if they can fix the stupid ai.

I just played a game there and lost 4-1 to the Sharks and honestly 2 off the Sharks goals came from my d-man carrying the puck into his own net, just terrible if they arent standing around doing nothing they are scoring goals for your opponents.

Then when i looked at my Position, Team and Scoring Stats i got a C overall, this is the first time since the begining of my BAP career i have gotten outside an A. So i go back to the menu and the coach tells me i am being dropped to the 2nd line because of my scoring stats i honestly pissed myself laughing, this is my stats for the Kings on all atar using Mudtigers sliders.

GP G A PTS +/-
16 16 11 27 +19

So i have 1 bad game and i get bumped down, its just stupid really, like the stats in game where if you go offside when you have no control of your man it affects your stats or if a teammate passes to you when you are surrounded by 3 guys and you lose the puck that also gives a minus, it seems there is more emphasis put on the negatives in BAP than if you do the positives well. I remeber one game i had 3 assists and i only got an A- for team stats ?, they need to be improved.

I haven't seen these issues....

I enjoy the BAP mode, though I wish it was more like Road to the Show on MLB09 for PS3 where it took longer to get to the pros (in my first year I'm now a top line defenseman).

It's definitely flawed, but I have fun playing just one position, trying to play D, score, etc. I'm waiting for opening day rosters so I can start a offline franchise, I'd like the NHL to be somewhat realistic.

[6194life]

Re: If This is Be a Pro, Send Me Back to Juniors

I play realistic minutes in my dynasty, when I started on my third line, I was averaging 11-14 minutes a game, since I apparently had PP and PK time.

I love the mode, but I don't like the idea of being handed the key to the organization off the bat. I'm rated highest on my team, even higher that T.J Hensick, Chris Stewart, Davey Jones and a few others.

Next year, they should have you rated properly, and have a "depth chart" in terms of callups. Any of those listed above should be called before me, unless I'm tearing it up.

[copecowboy]

Re: If This is Be a Pro, Send Me Back To Juniors

Its like maddens superstar mode, only without all the features and depth.

[dave731]

I've had a lot of fun with the offline BAP mode. I find myself playing it more than I do any other game right now. I'd probably play EASHL online if I could convince several friends to buy NHL 09 but that's hard to do when they are all over other games right now. My teammates are all pretty smart most of the time. There is the occasional "what the heck are you doing" moments but for the most part it's passable as hockey. I disagree with 3 of the 4 points in the article.

1. I don't call for line changes at all so I'm not the ones with the reigns. Just because you can do it doesn't mean you should. I get a better sense of being part of a team this way as opposed to being the coach barking out line changes.

2. My teammates have bailed me out in several games so I can't say they are useless. They are good for hitting me with passes at opportune times as well.

3. I like watching my teammates from the bench and will find myself yelling at the TV for my teammates to clear the zone or to make the center pass. It's fun and gives me a break from the action to grab another beer while action is still going on.

[morieeel]

Love BAP. There is an option to play as another player while your sitting on the bench. I rather like the cool down period, and yea I see my teammates score quite often.

[original6]

Re: If This is Be a Pro, Send Me Back To Juniors

I haven't had problems with teammate scoring until lately. We've had 3 shutout losses in a row. WTF? Talk about a slump!! I'm hoping this is truly just a mini-slump and not a trend in the gameplay.

My biggest pet peeve with BAP is how stupid your teammates are with passing the puck to you when you are surrounded by opponents. It seems whenever I pass the puck to the point, they immediately pass it back to me, which too often results in a turnover and a criticism by my coach. In contrast, it seems as though you do get rewarded for breaking up passes, poking pucks away, and blocking shots, which is great.

Overall, it's been a pretty positive experience, in comparison to dynasty play. I haven't experienced the unexplained "one bad game and you're demoted" situation yet. I did recently get bumped down to the 2nd line, but I haven't scored any points for 3 consecutive games. As I am the team's "best" offensive player, it stands to reason that I get demoted if I'm not pulling my weight.

[baa7]

Re: If This is Be a Pro, Send Me Back To Juniors

which too often results in a turnover and a criticism by my coach.

And rightly so. Wayne Gretzky never had a problem -- he just turned on the jets and skated circles around everyone. What's your excuse?

[tgalv]

Re: If This is Be a Pro, Send Me Back To Juniors

i think it's a fun alternative, but i'd rather just play dynasty. it's kind of tough to play every game with 11 other cpu players (or 12 if you're on the bench) and not get bored eventually. the online BAP is really fun though and takes up 90% of my time .