NHL 09 Preview

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 09 Preview

Roles seem to have reversed for the last couple of years. from 2000 to 2006, including 2007 to some extent with the useless defensive control, EA was bringing out garbage except for maybe NHL 2004, while VC/Sega was listening to the community and bringing out a more realistic sim type game culminating with ESPN 2k5.

Since 2007, VC/Kush has been bringing some useless things such as cinemotion and not fixing presentation (although they did make great strides I thought in 2k8 with the goalies and I really like the pro control) while EA made great improvements since 2007 in making their game more sim and improving presentation as well as bringing inovative controls (even though I'm not paticularily fond of the skill stick).

Hopefully, taking Kush out of equation will bring some improvement and a new perspective to 2k hockey.

Totally man, and I hope you're right, it sure would end some of the debates I tend to get myself into lately hehe :wink:

[Cardot]

Re: NHL 09 Preview

I doubt EA will allow us to customize the game like that though, for some reason EA wants you to play the game one way and only one way.

I agree with this. One thing that has frustrated me about some EA titles inclucing this one (as well as the MVP '05), is that they don't offer options for shorter seasons any more. I know most of you guys are die hard and have no problem playing 82 games, but that is too much for me....not to mention that I like to dabble with the AHL and international tournaments.

As for sliders, a simple goalie slider would have really helped my enjoyment of the game. A few options with the clock would have been nice too...I didn't really like the way it sped up and slowed down at certain points of the game (I know that I am in the minority on this one).

I have my fingers crossed on a few of these things for '09.

[kerosene31]

Re: NHL 09 Preview

Yes, I think a goalie slider would have been a simple way to get rid of a lot of people's problems. I'd love to turn shooting accuracy down to zero, but with good goalies, they are hard to beat if you turn it down too low.

[JimmyDeicide]

Re: NHL 09 Preview

The shot accuracy slider in general needs fixing , hitting a slapshot into the crowd like a sandwedge is not very realistic and frankly a cheap way of implementing less shots on goal.
I dont think ive ever seen someone shoot a puck over the glass on a shot in the NHL.

[tgalv]

Re: NHL 09 Preview

can't you play 2 on 2 or 3 on 1 in practice mode of 08? i only have 2 controllers so i'm not sure. granted it isn't nearly as good as a real mode for it, since you can only play one side at a time and can't really battle for loose pucks.

[tgalv]

Re: NHL 09 Preview

i wish they'd improve the AI neutral zone play as well. the mechanics are there to make it pretty realistic, the cpu just does a poor job (none at all really) of taking away passing lanes. if you play online teamplay and get 4 people who know what they're doing, you can make it really difficult for the other team to enter the zone without dumping it, like it is in real life.

[Taku]

Re: NHL 09 Preview

I wonder am I forced to use this 3rd person camera when playing this "Be-a-Pro" -mode or can I play with regular cameras also, I really hope its optional.

Also I hope that there is an option to control other players while i'm sitting on the bench...

[Pierzynski 12]

Re: NHL 09 Preview

I'm excited for this game.