GameSpy Preview of NHL 09

After playing last year's NHL outing from Electronic Arts, it's safe to say that we were wowed. Complete with stunning visuals, fantastic depth, and some of the best overall hockey we'd ever played in a videogame, it proved to be one of the best hockey titles to date. And now EA is upping the ante with the 2009 iteration. Using an assortment of new animations, new modes and a new skill stick feature, the next NHL title is shaping up to be something impressive.





When you first see the game, you'll notice the great visuals. Although they don't really look much better at first glance, when you pay close attention you'll see that the animations are much better and more detailed than in last year's title. Checks properly convey the impact a player will dish out based on the weight and speed of the individual athlete. When a player hits his hand on the wall or against another player, he'll shake it in pain. If a player gets nailed in the kisser, he'll cover his mouth in agony. These animations make things more authentic and keep moves that don't exist in the real world from cropping up. It's the little things like this that really make the game that much more enjoyable to watch while remaining faithful to reality.





A large focus in NHL 09 lies in the defensive aspects of the game, and to accommodate that, some refinements and tweaks have been made to the skill stick. In last year's game, the skill stick was used to make plays and handle the puck with great precision, making your offense just as strong as your ability with the stick. In this year's game, in addition to the offensive capabilities the stick has to offer, you'll be treated to a suite of new defensive moves, allowing you to be more of a threat on the ice. You'll be able to steal the puck by using a new stick-lift maneuver, as well as use a new poking and checking system, making for a more balanced game.










Another defensive aspect that has been implemented is a new protect-the-puck mode, where players will be able to take a defensive position in order to better protect the puck. In this stance, you'll huddle over the puck with one hand on the stick, guiding the puck, while your other hand will be free to stiff-arm your opponents, keeping the other team off your back while you make a drive to the net. This emphasis on defense makes D just as important as O, allowing you to have fun regardless of which side you're playing on.















In addition to all the other new features, there's a new career mode called Be a Pro. This will allow you to create a player and take him to the top of the NHL Hall of Fame… if you're good enough, of course. You'll select a position, specialty, and expectations for the season. Once you get all that out of the way, you'll have a set amount of points to allocate to your stats, and your player will start in the minor league and work their way up. Be a Pro will let you keep playing for up to 15 seasons, and if you're good at the game, you could get called up to the NHL in as few as five games, progressing into a hockey legend. Conversely, if you're a poor player, you could be in the minors for all 15 seasons.





Within Be a Pro mode are three different styles of play, allowing you to participate in the game as much or as little as you'd like. The first mode has you play only when your character is on the ice, which is determined by the line changes; the game will skip to when your player is in the ice. The second mode gives you the option to stay on the ice at all times. You'll be able to hit the bench whenever you like, but the action will keep going without you, and when you're ready, you can head back on whenever you'd like. The third mode allows you to play a given position for the entire game. This means that even when your character goes off the ice, you'll still control whoever replaces him in that position.










In an effort to help people understand hockey better, a new performance tracker has been implemented. It tracks your movements and plays on the ice, offering you advice on how to be a better player. On top of that, if you stray from the recommended path for your position in Be a Pro mode, an arrow will pop onto the ice, showing you where you need to be, helping you gain a better grasp on the action. The idea is that not only will you become a better player in the virtual world, but should you ever become inclined to actually go out and play the game in the real world, you'll be able to do so without missing a beat. Assuming you can skate, anyway.





NHL 09 is looking to be a fantastic follow-up to last year's game. With the new visual touches, a more balanced approach to defense and the new Be a Pro mode, it's looking like another quality update. From what we've seen, NHL 09 is just a refinement of last year's game, but considering the caliber of NHL 08, that's hardly a bad thing.

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