Phenominal gameplay and modes push NHL 09 into being one of the best sports games ever made.
As the ending of NHL's short summer hiatus draws near, the first and perhaps most anticipated calendar event occurs nearly a month before skaters take to the ice - the release of EA Sports annual hockey powerhouse franchise. NHL09 is the 3rd edition in the Xbox 360's history. The smartest thing EA did was to take an extra year off in 2005 to revolutionize the way we play hockey vids when they finally released NHL07 - a year after other EA Sports supremely disappointing launch titles. NHL09 continues to build upon a solid foundation of game play mechanics while offering an ever expanding library of options.
Game play: The "Skill Stick" remains one of the best innovations in sports videogame history. It allows gamers to move their players with the left stick as has been custom for almost a decade, but molded the right analogue stick into the player's hockey stick. This replaced the traditional method of using buttons to deke, pass and shoot the puck. The result was an ultimately satisfying level of control and intuitive game play. Until now EA has focused on refining its Skill Stick controls on the offensive side of the puck. NHL09 finally delivers with a much more defensive variety. A host of new controls like keeping the puck away from attackers, sweep checks, hooks and lifting your opponents stick really add to the authenticity of the experience. The game feels much more complete and balanced. Body checking is still an issue at times. Lining up hits can be frustrating. Despite this frequent problem, player control is excellent. The skating feels accurate and smooth. Everything from turning, cutting to the net, stopping and dekeing take what was best about EA's hockey game and makes it even better. Computer AI which has been an issue in years past seems to have been tightened up. You'll find less dumb decisions by your computer controlled team mates. Fewer offsides and lame passes keep the game moving and simulating real life hockey like never before. There are an incredible amount of game play options - ranging from intricate sliders, rules and controller configurations. For those daunted by the increasing level of detail, EA has also thrown in the option to play with the ultra-simple NHL 94 buttons. From making smart line changes, altering offensive and defensive strategies on the fly and using the plethora of dekes, passes and shot types, NHL 09 is easily the best playing hockey simulation ever made.
The biggest new feature is the Be A Pro mode where you take to the ice as either yourself or an existing NHL player to play out a career. This feature is one that has been used in Fifa and Madden for years, but really feels at home in NHL. If you choose to create your own player, you'll begin on the 3rd line of a minor AHL team and try to work your way into the NHL. You'll earn points and recognition for your contributions to the team based on what position you play. This position-specific analysis is what makes Be A Pro rewarding for all types of players. The emphasis is not only on scoring goals and wining games, but accounts for all aspects of your play including positioning, team play/passing and stats. One of the games biggest blemishes occurs often when making line changes in this mode. Gamers will find themselves unable to get their already exhausted players to the bench and end up surrendering them to the loitering CPU. Hopefully this bug gets fixed in an upcoming patch.
EA Sports is working on improving its online playability. The new EA Sports Hockey League is a fantastic addition to the franchise. Assembling a team of human controlled players and taking them online to compete against other teams is nothing short of an incredible feat. With 6 on 6 (yes you can even be the goalie) online play, taking sports vids to an MMO experience is truly revolutionary. But in true EA fashion you may experience issues with the game once you get going. Connection problems return from time to time - slowing down the framerate or kicking you off altogether. Hopefully these launch issues will be remedied soon. All in all this is the most ambitious EA Sports game on the Xbox 360 offering superior control and game type options. 9.7/10
Graphics: NHL 09 looks great. Visually, the game doesn't make any big upgrades from 08 aside from the addition of new animations and better cuts between them. The players are very well designed. Nearly all of the faces are easily recognizable. Jerseys are rippling and flowing quite well. You'll still see the odd stretch once in a while on some player movement, but this is a minimal distraction. The rinks themselves are on par with last season. The crowds are fine, but don't hold up on close inspection. More variety and atmospheric effects would be a welcome boost. Still the overall environment feels authentic and exciting. In player creation and customization, there is an extensive library of skates, sticks, blades, helmets and gloves to choose from. While these options allow gamers to best dress their player, the surprising lack of facial types and absence of morphing ability really hinder your final result. Importing your own face or allowing some control over the look of a user created player is needed next year. The graphics don't really push the envelope but they certainly are not an area that need too much attention either. 8.5/10
Sound: From the thundering of the crowd as you make your way up the tunnel to the ice, to the echo of the foghorn on hometown goals, to the shushing of skate blades, NHL09 sounds as good as expected. The lifelike sound effects marry the graphics perfectly. Slapshots sound intimidating. Big hits are explosive. Fans react well to the action taking place. Players calling for passes and talking strategy show nice polish this season. The commentary, while a bit too familiar at times does take some new liberties in calling the game. Gary Thorne and Craig Simpson return with a bit more analytical prowess. Revisiting big goals and discussing overall team performance is a very nice touch. It would be great to see these "smart" quips continue to develop in the coming years. The soundtrack to NHL09 is a mixed bag of familiar alt-rock that is customizable. There are a few questionable acoustic additions that don't quite fit the genre, but you only endure them for the length of time you're navigating the menu. 9/10
Presentation: The instant replay feature is much more active this season and it looks fantastic. After virtually every stoppage in play, the game cuts to the big play of that series, or will revisit a defining moment from earlier in the game. The accompanying commentary is just a hair shy of where it could be. Mirroring the visuals with dynamic audio would be a major undertaking, but something that ALL of EA's games need to work on. NHL09 appears to be slightly ahead of the rest of the pack, but could use more integration. The multitude of camera options is impressive. My criticism of EA's presentation crosses all of its games and that is the lack of broadcast appeal. NHL09 is one of the best, but definitely suffers from a lack of innovation. Its nice to see period highlights, but it would be even better to see them with some commentary and overall perspective. Showing some out of town scores and highlights would be an added level of detail that help immerse players in their franchises. One very nice addition is the "Edit Highlight" feature, where gamers will be able to view, cut and position cameras to best frame their bragging rights for uploading online. NHL09 clearly leads EA's effort to bolster its lackluster presentation, but still has some ways to go. 8.6/10
Overall: If you love hockey there is no question this game needs to be in your collection. If you're a casual fan or a curious gamer then NHL09 is at the very least deserving of a rental. The sound and graphics pickup where last season left off, tweaking and improving them slightly. What drives the success of this NHL09 is the phenomenal game play. Between the game modes and control, hockey has never been so enjoyable or addictive. If EA can back up its online offering with smooth accessible game play for 6 on 6 competition then this game will surpass its already lofty expectations. This is the best playing sports game on the Xbox 360. All of this is coming from a very casual hockey fan. Hardcore fans will no doubt make NHL09 a staple - if not an exclusive tray warmer for months to come. Final rating - 9.2/10