Next Gen Sports (NHL 2k9)

[tomanderson]

I have to say, the Wii controls for NHL 2k9 are definitely in the next gen of sports games. They have incorporated the wiimote's montion sensor into all kinds of moves that you'd make in real hockey, like fighting shooting and hitting. It really looks awesome and playing this with my friends is about as close as I'm going to get to playing the NHL haha!

Check out this video that showcases the controls:

http://www.gamespot.com/wii/sports/nhl2k9/video/6195432/nhl-2k9-video-preview-1

[magunwarrior]

If the NHL 2K* games were any good, I might think about getting it.

This is one of the few instances where EA is the lesser of two evils.

[joedubbs]

well said by magun.

[mmuise]

I couldn't believe just how awful NHL 2k9 demo on PS3 is. As a former supporter of the series, it hurts me to say EA has a huge advantage in the hockey department. There is just no comparison in quality.

With that said, kudos to 2k Sports for supporting the Wii.

Mike
Dropthemike.com

[rmazel]

Hockey used to be my favorite time waster but I can't remember one that I liked since 2005 on PS2. Is it just me or have they all been flawed? As they amp up the graphics, they seem to have lost the gameplay.

I feel the same way about the Tiger Woods series.

[endlessshadow79]

I think as they said on the show current games are just trying to hard to be the real deal. As for hockey games I have not had fun with one since Wayne Gretzky Hockey on the N64.

[dolson]

I have no doubt that NHL 2K9 could be great on the Wii. If they really did take time on the controls, it could be the best of the platforms, like Pro Evo 2008's Wii version.

However, I am not going to gamble on it. I haven't bought a hockey game since ESPN NHL 2K5, and the NHL 09 PS3 demo has convinced me that it's time to get over my annoyance of the yearly upgrade.

I suck at NHL 09 though - have yet to get a goal - but it's well done.

[tamtamg]

agree with every one else. NHL 09 is far superior to 2k9. I can't wait to play "Be a Pro" mode. As for the Wii version of 2k9, I'm interested in seeing how close the waggle control is to actually holding a stick.

[dolson]

tamtamg, don't get your hopes up for anything authentic... Heh. Though, I'd love to see a Wii hockey game next year where you had to stand on the Balance Board and shift your weight to move your player, and use the Wii MotionPlus and Nunchuk as your virtual stick. That'd be sick. But it will never happen - people are too lazy to buy a game like that... It's like a basketball game where you would have to dribble while you move your player. People would complain. :P

[jay_ray]

tamtamg, don't get your hopes up for anything authentic... Heh. Though, I'd love to see a Wii hockey game next year where you had to stand on the Balance Board and shift your weight to move your player, and use the Wii MotionPlus and Nunchuk as your virtual stick. That'd be sick. But it will never happen - people are too lazy to buy a game like that... It's like a basketball game where you would have to dribble while you move your player. People would complain. :P

Not only that, but if you go that far in making a game real, you might as well play the actual sport.

On topic, NHL 2K8 demo was far below the NHL 09 demo in terms of quality, I'll be picking up NHL 09 this week, we should make a TRS forum team.

[books]

You guys pretty much nailed it. I was pro-2K for as long as I could remember, but they stopped making vast improvements to their hockey game, and 07 was such a leap, i jumped ship.

I wasn't too impressed with the 2K9 demo and was still amazed by the stuff EA keeps adding (09) to their games.

Me and a friend are starting a team for 360 online, any peeps interested?

[dolson]

The first review scores are coming in for NHL 09, and they're 90%s so far. Not that review scores matter that much, but at least it's an indicator that EA didn't screw up something majorly in the full game that we didn't notice in the demo.

Not only that, but if you go that far in making a game real, you might as well play the actual sport.

On topic, NHL 2K8 demo was far below the NHL 09 demo in terms of quality, I'll be picking up NHL 09 this week, we should make a TRS forum team.

It's not convenient to just join a team and go play for 15 minutes to half hour whenever you feel like it. The rest of your team has to feel like it too...

[skin87]

Forget NHL 2k9, Blades of Steel is on the Virtual Console. Du nehnehneh nehnehneh...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHQ_y13ELok

[jay_ray]

It's not convenient to just join a team and go play for 15 minutes to half hour whenever you feel like it. The rest of your team has to feel like it too...

I know that, there would have to be a clan type mentality, and set up a schedule, ie. every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6:00 pm you play a game. You'd need a group of 4-6 guys who'd really want to play.

[dolson]

I know that, there would have to be a clan type mentality, and set up a schedule, ie. every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6:00 pm you play a game. You'd need a group of 4-6 guys who'd really want to play.

Well the guys I want to play hockey with are in different cities and different countries, so that schedule is not going to work out for us, as I don't think any of us have that kind of money or time to fly to one rink that many times a week.

Plus I can't skate very well.

[jay_ray]

Well the guys I want to play hockey with are in different cities and different countries, so that schedule is not going to work out for us, as I don't think any of us have that kind of money or time to fly to one rink that many times a week.

Plus I can't skate very well.

Dude, I was talking about in the game, NHL 09, not actually having a few dudes strap on some skates and hitting the rink.

[dolson]

I was replying to when you sad "Not only that, but if you go that far in making a game real, you might as well play the actual sport." :p

[tomanderson]

You guys pretty much nailed it. I was pro-2K for as long as I could remember, but they stopped making vast improvements to their hockey game, and 07 was such a leap, i jumped ship.

I wasn't too impressed with the 2K9 demo and was still amazed by the stuff EA keeps adding (09) to their games.

Me and a friend are starting a team for 360 online, any peeps interested?

It's also just a demo, it's only going to show a sliver of the actual game. I loved their past games, so I'm going to pick up the full version, which comes out today. Playing the full game is really the only way to have a concrete impression because that way you get to experience all the features.

[dolson]

It's also just a demo, it's only going to show a sliver of the actual game.

That is true, but have you played the 09 and 2K9 demos, both? One of them sucks, and the other is really good. You can't blame the suckage on the fact that it's just a "sliver of the actual game" since neither demo is the entire game.

But then, if you're talking about buying the Wii version, then OK, because EA can't be arsed to make a hockey game for Wii and you have no choice. Some hockey is better than no hockey.

[rmazel]

I didn't realize the demo for NHL 09 was out until I posted on here and now I have been playing this demo over and over again. I am really excited to see how well the play as a pro mode works online.

Hopefully this game restores my faith in hockey games.