By Stephen Cooney
There were a few things missing from all other previous hockey games that NHL ’08 tried to rectify in last year’s games. Sewing together the gaping holes in most hockey games and creating a game that truly reflects the feel of on ice action would be difficult but EA managed to patch together a winner.
This year they seem to just be icing the cake on the current engine. The game is smoother, faster and all the more realistic. NHL ’09 has expanded on the old features that created all the buzz around NHL ’08.
When EA introduced the Offensive Skill Stick it was revolutionary but left you wondering why the same skills weren’t adopted on the defensive end of the ice. This year they have been giving humans more control over their digital defense man. You can now control your stick without controlling the puck and truly establish a defensive presence in the game that is actually entertaining.
This creates the feel of an actual hockey game instead of players flailing around the ice with nothing to do but try to level opponents. For those of you who refuse to believe the only way to play defense is to check, the game has also expanded its version of the madden “hit-stick.” With more graphics and physically engineered hits the play becomes even more realistic .
Even more impressive, NHL ’09 did not forget those of us out there who still love the action of Blades of Steel. That’s right, a sophisticated in-game fighting system and the ability to initiate a fight. Blades of Steel relied on three checks and fight then the game erupted into an on ice melee. In NHL ’09 one can chose to instigate fights and then take advantage of an expansive fighting format. This format actually allows players to skate and throw blows or go to the ever-famous hockey grab and swing wildly while whipping your opponent across the ice. The fights actually sway the moment of the game and can affect in-game momentum and eventually the outcome of the game.
This feature becomes even more impressive in the all new Be A Pro Mode, the same mode that has failed in the rest of EA’s sports games because it leaves the human controller bored when their superstar is on the bench is actually effective in NHL ’09. Hockey lends itself to the be a pro mode because of line changes and quick shifts. The player never finds themselves on the sideline for too long and can also control their full actions on the ice-including when they go to the bench.
The features that were added to the games allow both offensive and defensive play within the game to be free willing and realistic. As a player you can control your virtual superstar’s every action and truly affect the game, unlike in many other superstar modes in the rest of the games. This feature leaves you actually feeling like a real player if you decide to spend your time developing a virtual superstar. If not, the old modes are still available for play and there is always online gaming.
However you chose to play the game, one thing is for certain, if you understand hockey you will understand how close to the real game EA has made these latest features. The movement is realistic as is the flow of the game.
Of course some are exaggerated but it is far more impressive than any other hockey video game to slide onto the shelves.