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First Impressions: NHL 2K9
Now You Can Play Hockey on Molasses
by 00.19
The demo for NHL 2K9 hit the Playstation Store last night, and I was really looking forward to it. Last year, 2K really dropped the ball with their hockey game, and I was hoping they’d have a return to form. It’d be really hard to top what EA did with NHL 08, but maybe, just maybe, they could come close. After playing the demo, it looks like EA will once again reign supreme on the ice.
The game’s presentation is nice enough. Playing in Detroit, the opening treats you to what I can only assume is the actual pre-game at Joe Louis Arena. Then the skate around starts, and it all starts to go downhill. One of the factors that hampered last year’s version was the new control scheme meant to ape what EA was doing. Instead of being fun to play, the use of the analog stick miming the actual hockey stick failed miserably. In EA’s game, the controls were tight, and the regular button mapping was perfect. 2K made their button mapping a little overcomplicated, and this year they made virtually no change. Once the action starts, players move about as fast as a kid who just got his first pair of skates. Movement is sluggish, and players are slow to respond to just about every command. Switching control schemes did little to help the situation, and actually just made me want the NHL 09 demo instead to show me how to do next-gen hockey right. Graphically, you’ve seen better. Splashing the net with ice shouldn’t look like I splashed him with 8-bit water.
It’s frustrating to see one of my favorite franchises take such a nosedive over the last two years. Though EA has a great game on its hands with their NHL franchise, it’s still sad to see 2K, which I’ve been playing for seven years, fall to this new low. There’s always next year.
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Comments
this game is looking from the demo as bad as last year's and with NHL 09 having an MMO type online experience with its game, there is no way this game will outshine NHL 09.. Like you said, there is always next year.
Rick Nash will be a household name in the year of our Lord 2K9.
JK JK.
@ mellow, yes you will, buy NHL 2009
Voyou...Dallas Stars fan?
I think the bigger question is who isn't?
I have all the respect in the world for Mike Modano. But Brett Hull's an asshole.
Hull is a smart guy and I think is a good Co-GM for Dallas. I think his attitude and arrogance rubs a lot of people the wrong way
They've done a really awesome job building a contender in Dallas. They'll definitely be one of my favorites next year. Gotta say though, in the west I'm really looking at Chicago to make a splash this year...so I'm kind of pulling for them as my out-of-league team (with Flyers obviously being my boys).
Oh i think Chicago def. made some good moves this off season and I hope they pick it up this year, I also think Tampa Bay is looking solid.
You know, back to the game, what happened with the 2k series? It used to be pretty dang good, and I remember liking it more than the NHL series, but the last round or two have gone against 2K and these 09 games look to be the same trend..
Such a shame. The 2K series used to be vastly superior to the EA series in every way. In my opinion, anyway.
Guess I'll have to suck it up and get the EA version this year. I've gone too long (about a year or two) without an NHL game!