Definitely improving
posted by HockeyFan5 (SOUTHGATE, MI) Jul 19, 2009
Member since Jul 2009
Around 2002, EA seemed to lack something and 2K was hitting it out of the park, or scoring a hat trick with their games. Adding the small touches like arched jersey lettering and Stanley Cup patches made it the better option. The gameplay was pretty smooth for its time, creating plays seemed to be the focus. It wasn't chasing the puck and running around wildly. The graphics were comparable, in the polygon era nothing looked amazing, but 2K seemed to have a slight edge there as well.
A few years later however, things weren't changing much for 2K. They billed themselves as the top selling NHL franchise and seemed to stand pat. The Trophy Room and the overall 2K/ESPN presentation seemed lazy and repeated year after year with the same unlockables. The gameplay was still ok, but was quickly being passed by the realism of EA.
2K9 is not a bad game by itself. The controls are nice, although a bit strange to get used to (pressing the right analog stick out of habit will keep bringing up a menu). The presentation is revamped with a clean looking display for achievements and trophies. The game has some details I've not noticed in a hockey game before, such as all four officials on ice at all times and players celebrating goals immediately with team hugs, more realistically than most cutscenes, where players skate off by themselves and pump their fists repeatedly.
The graphics, surprisingly, have taken the worst stumble. Gone is arched lettering on teams like Detroit and New York. The Cup Final patches are barely visible. The Playoff logo on the ice is a nice touch, and looks to be copied by EA now in NHL 10. Players look nothing like their real life counterpart. While the graphics have been improved overall with the console's ability, players still look overly tall and thin. Improved visuals would really make this game contend.
Mini rink and pond hockey are back though don't really add much to the overall package. Franchise Mode is done pretty well.
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