Game review: NHL 2K9 hits the ice
Glendale Calmerin
Issue date: 4/20/09 Section: Technology
Hockey's regular season has ended and a new Stanley Cup Champion is going to be crowned soon; however that doesn't mean you can't continue the celebration with Electronic Art's newest sports release. The NHL (National Hockey League) 09 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
It has been awarded the best sports game of 2008 by several media outlets, and has become increasingly popular even with non-hockey fans who just enjoy playing the multiplayer mode with friends.
This video game is perfect for game night because everyone can share the glory playing a game with up to 8 players. However the online mode can invite as much as 12 players to a game so that the friends who are missing the party can still join in on the fun in the comfort of their own living room.
When you begin playing, you can notice right away the awkwardness of skating on the ice and controlling the puck which are just some of the challenges of playing hockey. Throwing the puck in any direction in hopes of making it past the goaltender may not be the best strategy to use because scoring a goal is a lot harder than you think even at beginner's mode.
You must work as a team passing the puck and, as a player, know where the puck is going to be while skating quickly into the opponent's side. If you continue playing, you may even develop strategies from the many offensive and defensive plays the game offers that can advance you higher up the standings.
All this may bewilder someone who may be new to the game or hockey itself, but don't worry. The basic tutorial will help anyone get started and help users become more familiar with the controls.
The video game has improved immensely from last years' edition adding on features such as defensive stick skills and precise maneuvering on the ice. However, not everything about the game is new. It has stayed faithful to the previous NHL vesions using the same control modes and has even brought back the choice of alternative jerseys.
NHL 09 expands its precision down to the teams,updating each team's roster when it needs to be updated. For instance, when there is a trade in real life, it is accounted for in the game.
Another major addition is the Be-a-Pro Mode.
In this mode you start off in the AHL, the minor league under the major league NHL. You work your created player, brandishing your last name and number, up the organization of your choosing such as the Sharks organization, which spans from the minor league counterpart in Worchester to the major league in San Jose.
NHL 09 can be a great party hit, but it has also been crafted to realistic perfection, mimicking real life techniques and team strengths, making it a bit difficult at first to master if you are a video game virgin.
Overall, the game is definitely worth its $60 price, even after the hockey season ends with the San Jose Sharks winning the Stanley Cup.
It has been awarded the best sports game of 2008 by several media outlets, and has become increasingly popular even with non-hockey fans who just enjoy playing the multiplayer mode with friends.
This video game is perfect for game night because everyone can share the glory playing a game with up to 8 players. However the online mode can invite as much as 12 players to a game so that the friends who are missing the party can still join in on the fun in the comfort of their own living room.
When you begin playing, you can notice right away the awkwardness of skating on the ice and controlling the puck which are just some of the challenges of playing hockey. Throwing the puck in any direction in hopes of making it past the goaltender may not be the best strategy to use because scoring a goal is a lot harder than you think even at beginner's mode.
You must work as a team passing the puck and, as a player, know where the puck is going to be while skating quickly into the opponent's side. If you continue playing, you may even develop strategies from the many offensive and defensive plays the game offers that can advance you higher up the standings.
All this may bewilder someone who may be new to the game or hockey itself, but don't worry. The basic tutorial will help anyone get started and help users become more familiar with the controls.
The video game has improved immensely from last years' edition adding on features such as defensive stick skills and precise maneuvering on the ice. However, not everything about the game is new. It has stayed faithful to the previous NHL vesions using the same control modes and has even brought back the choice of alternative jerseys.
NHL 09 expands its precision down to the teams,updating each team's roster when it needs to be updated. For instance, when there is a trade in real life, it is accounted for in the game.
Another major addition is the Be-a-Pro Mode.
In this mode you start off in the AHL, the minor league under the major league NHL. You work your created player, brandishing your last name and number, up the organization of your choosing such as the Sharks organization, which spans from the minor league counterpart in Worchester to the major league in San Jose.
NHL 09 can be a great party hit, but it has also been crafted to realistic perfection, mimicking real life techniques and team strengths, making it a bit difficult at first to master if you are a video game virgin.
Overall, the game is definitely worth its $60 price, even after the hockey season ends with the San Jose Sharks winning the Stanley Cup.
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