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IGN Review of NHL 2K9
It must feel like Freaky Friday in the 2K Sports office. For years, 2K's brand of hockey was known for its realism, while EA's NHL series was more of an arcade game. One forced you to play "true" hockey while the other was about one-timers and crashing the net. But over the past two years, the roles have been reversed. EA is the current king of NHL realism and 2K seems to be going a bit more in the opposite direction. NHL 2K9 is, as 2K puts it, about "bringing back the fun." That doesn't mean 2K has abandoned attempting to create a sim hockey title, but it does mean there have been some sacrifices to make NHL 2K9 more accessible.
Some of these changes are very welcome. The previously convoluted controls have been streamlined. No more using buttons to modify other buttons. There are three control sets, Basic (for the simple-minded), Pro Stick Evolution (similar to NHL 09's controls), and Hybrid, which merges the two. The controls are easy to pick up and master -- no need to repeatedly consult the manual. 2K has done an excellent job of giving players greater control while lessening the burden of controller inputs.
The Hybrid seems to work best and doesn't restrict you from the total stick control offered on both offense and defense. As is the norm now for hockey games, the left stick controls your skater, with the right handling your stick. Push forward for a wrist shot or pull back and then shoot the stick forward for a slap shot. You can also move the puck left and right, which helps to protect the puck or create a simple deke on the goalie. Move the stick to the right and the goalie will likely lean that way, then shoot to the opposite side of the goal. It works well. Too well, actually, as goalies are so easily fooled, any moderately talented player can rack up some serious goals. Even on the hardest difficulty.
With the tap of a button you can initiate more intricate dekes meant to get you past defenders in one-on-one situations. The left stick determines where you're taking your skates, the right informs what you want to do with the stick. There's a ton of combinations, leading to a surprising variety of dekes. Some aren't very effective, but it's nice to have so many options. Especially if you want to show off to the groupies in the crowd.
NHL 2K9 plays fast, faster than a real NHL game. That may actually please some, but for those looking for as authentic an experience as possible, this isn't quite it. The speed of the game is only increased with the overly generous turbo for each player. Breakaways are far too easy (especially once you master dekes) and in open ice, it's not that hard to get the goalie leaning the wrong way. Of course it's fun to score, but the speed alone shifts 2K9 away from being the true sim of the past. The aggressive AI often negates the need to pull back and set up a play. Too often a game of NHL 2K9 becomes about crashing the net and smoking one-timers.
While the AI is 2K's weakest area, it doesn't ruin the overall experience. No, it's not at the level of NHL 2Ks from just a few years ago and it's certainly not up to snuff with NHL 09 (or even 08), but it's still enjoyable hockey. It has enough sim elements to make it feel like it's legitimate hockey, even though it is leaning towards the other end of the spectrum. Many people who play 2K9 won't even notice the tweaks that make this more arcadey than in the past. And in that regard, 2K has done the job of making its game more accessible, while still giving the impression of a true-to-life simulation. I just don't find it appealing to straddle the line. Either be a sim or embrace the arcade elements. Blending the two mutes the effectiveness of both.
One thing 2K does have over its rival this year is its presentation. There are some excellent touches that bring the franchise mode to life. In the playoffs, players will slowly grow beards. There's a user-controlled Stanley Cup celebration as well as a cool team photo to cap off a successful season. The commentating by Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda is solid, with a few seasonal- and playoff-specific lines thrown in for spice. I encountered almost no instances during gameplay where their comments were incorrect and though never insightful, there was enough variety that most lines perfectly fit the action on-ice.
While the level of detail on player unis and faces could be greater, this is a good-looking hockey game, overall. The crowds have a nice variety of models, with only some of the attendees wearing team jerseys and colors. So it isn't like you are seeing rubber-stamped clones of four different people every time the crowd is given a close-up. Most importantly, the game runs very smoothly. The 360 version has no notable slowdown and the PS3 only has issues during some cut-scenes. When things are happening on-ice, everything runs smoothly. And that's a credit to 2K's tech.
For those who can't get enough of quick play games and franchise mode (which is very run-of-the-mill), there are some extra distractions. Take a shot at pond hockey, drive a Zamboni between periods, or go three-on-three in the mini-rink. None of these are particularly groundbreaking or noteworthy, but they are decent distractions if you want a break from regular arena hockey.
The meatier stuff comes online. As soon as you sign in online, you'll create an avatar and be given the chance to jump into Team 2K, a series of weekly tournaments. The winner of each week earns prizes and will be put in NHL2K10. There are online leagues that allow up to 30 players to compete in a full or abbreviated season. But perhaps the most intriguing is the new Team-Up mode.
With Team-Up, up to 12 players can play a game online, each can choose to be locked to a specific position. As teams, you'll need to work together to not only to win, but to score a high grade. Your online grade changes dynamically throughout the game as each team member earns and loses points with goals specific to their position. You can play this mode with fewer people, but if you do, I don't recommend locking yourself to a specific position. When playing with two or three players, you are stuck with AI teammates that act like total dunderheads. You can't tell them to pass or shoot and (if locked to a position), you can't assume control of them. They become a liability.
©2008-09-09, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Some of these changes are very welcome. The previously convoluted controls have been streamlined. No more using buttons to modify other buttons. There are three control sets, Basic (for the simple-minded), Pro Stick Evolution (similar to NHL 09's controls), and Hybrid, which merges the two. The controls are easy to pick up and master -- no need to repeatedly consult the manual. 2K has done an excellent job of giving players greater control while lessening the burden of controller inputs.
The Hybrid seems to work best and doesn't restrict you from the total stick control offered on both offense and defense. As is the norm now for hockey games, the left stick controls your skater, with the right handling your stick. Push forward for a wrist shot or pull back and then shoot the stick forward for a slap shot. You can also move the puck left and right, which helps to protect the puck or create a simple deke on the goalie. Move the stick to the right and the goalie will likely lean that way, then shoot to the opposite side of the goal. It works well. Too well, actually, as goalies are so easily fooled, any moderately talented player can rack up some serious goals. Even on the hardest difficulty.
With the tap of a button you can initiate more intricate dekes meant to get you past defenders in one-on-one situations. The left stick determines where you're taking your skates, the right informs what you want to do with the stick. There's a ton of combinations, leading to a surprising variety of dekes. Some aren't very effective, but it's nice to have so many options. Especially if you want to show off to the groupies in the crowd.
NHL 2K9 plays fast, faster than a real NHL game. That may actually please some, but for those looking for as authentic an experience as possible, this isn't quite it. The speed of the game is only increased with the overly generous turbo for each player. Breakaways are far too easy (especially once you master dekes) and in open ice, it's not that hard to get the goalie leaning the wrong way. Of course it's fun to score, but the speed alone shifts 2K9 away from being the true sim of the past. The aggressive AI often negates the need to pull back and set up a play. Too often a game of NHL 2K9 becomes about crashing the net and smoking one-timers.
While the AI is 2K's weakest area, it doesn't ruin the overall experience. No, it's not at the level of NHL 2Ks from just a few years ago and it's certainly not up to snuff with NHL 09 (or even 08), but it's still enjoyable hockey. It has enough sim elements to make it feel like it's legitimate hockey, even though it is leaning towards the other end of the spectrum. Many people who play 2K9 won't even notice the tweaks that make this more arcadey than in the past. And in that regard, 2K has done the job of making its game more accessible, while still giving the impression of a true-to-life simulation. I just don't find it appealing to straddle the line. Either be a sim or embrace the arcade elements. Blending the two mutes the effectiveness of both.
One thing 2K does have over its rival this year is its presentation. There are some excellent touches that bring the franchise mode to life. In the playoffs, players will slowly grow beards. There's a user-controlled Stanley Cup celebration as well as a cool team photo to cap off a successful season. The commentating by Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda is solid, with a few seasonal- and playoff-specific lines thrown in for spice. I encountered almost no instances during gameplay where their comments were incorrect and though never insightful, there was enough variety that most lines perfectly fit the action on-ice.
While the level of detail on player unis and faces could be greater, this is a good-looking hockey game, overall. The crowds have a nice variety of models, with only some of the attendees wearing team jerseys and colors. So it isn't like you are seeing rubber-stamped clones of four different people every time the crowd is given a close-up. Most importantly, the game runs very smoothly. The 360 version has no notable slowdown and the PS3 only has issues during some cut-scenes. When things are happening on-ice, everything runs smoothly. And that's a credit to 2K's tech.
For those who can't get enough of quick play games and franchise mode (which is very run-of-the-mill), there are some extra distractions. Take a shot at pond hockey, drive a Zamboni between periods, or go three-on-three in the mini-rink. None of these are particularly groundbreaking or noteworthy, but they are decent distractions if you want a break from regular arena hockey.
The meatier stuff comes online. As soon as you sign in online, you'll create an avatar and be given the chance to jump into Team 2K, a series of weekly tournaments. The winner of each week earns prizes and will be put in NHL2K10. There are online leagues that allow up to 30 players to compete in a full or abbreviated season. But perhaps the most intriguing is the new Team-Up mode.
With Team-Up, up to 12 players can play a game online, each can choose to be locked to a specific position. As teams, you'll need to work together to not only to win, but to score a high grade. Your online grade changes dynamically throughout the game as each team member earns and loses points with goals specific to their position. You can play this mode with fewer people, but if you do, I don't recommend locking yourself to a specific position. When playing with two or three players, you are stuck with AI teammates that act like total dunderheads. You can't tell them to pass or shoot and (if locked to a position), you can't assume control of them. They become a liability.
©2008-09-09, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved