NHL 09 First Look

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:43 am

10spro wrote:Well PK, those numbers matters a lot to Hockey nuts like you and I and let's be realistic to a lot of people especially in the States, those numbers mean nothing as long as EA produces a decent game of Hockey, the gameplay flows and online works wonders. Fortunately, a patch would fix those erroneous numbers but you do wonder as they prepared to launch the game, who approves those ratings?

My original post was more tongue-in-cheek than anything, hence my reference to fretting over proper sweatbands in Madden.

I don't even own a console, so I could care less about the ratings. I just hope you dudes enjoy the game as much this year as you did last year.

Take care,
PK

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:17 pm

pk500 wrote:I don't even own a console, so I could care less about the ratings. I just hope you dudes enjoy the game as much this year as you did last year.

Hey, did you ever play last year's on the consoles? I know you have played some other next-gen racers; and I was wondering if you have had the opportunity to play any of the hockey games as your thoughts would be interesting.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:27 pm

GameSeven wrote:
pk500 wrote:I don't even own a console, so I could care less about the ratings. I just hope you dudes enjoy the game as much this year as you did last year.
Hey, did you ever play last year's on the consoles? I know you have played some other next-gen racers; and I was wondering if you have had the opportunity to play any of the hockey games as your thoughts would be interesting.

G7:

No, sir. I had NHL 08 on the PC, heavily modded, and enjoyed it quite a bit. Played an entire Oilers' season! But the PC version didn't have the Skill Stick.

I sold my Xbox in November 2006 and have been console-less since. No plans to return to Console Land. I've had very limited play with two next-gen console racing games -- DIRT and GRID -- and that's it.

Take care,
PK

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:01 pm

7 new blog entries, 6 with videos highlighting some of the gameplay changes.

http://www.easports.com/nhl09/blog.jsp

Plus an OS hands-on impressions article:

http://www.operationsports.com/preview.php?id=49

This one looks to be shaping up nicely.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:15 pm

After hearing some things about 2k9 this year, I was thinking the other day that I might switch back to the 2k brand if it was as good as it seemed to be. AFter watching these videos, and hearing about "superstars are like superstars" and "fourth liners play like fourth liners"... along with all the other goodies, I might just stick with EA after all....

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:05 pm

Both will be members of my collection.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:08 pm

I really like this:

After being stick lifted I realized two more things: the game speed is slowed down, and I couldn’t skate backwards nearly as fast anymore. Last year, NHL 08’s game speed was a contributing factor to the breakneck pace of the game, and while that was part of the appeal for some, it was probably too fast. This year, the pace of the game is turned down just a notch, enough to make me realize speed isn’t everything and that strategy does play into the sport this year.

Any news on the release of the demo?

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:28 pm

10spro wrote:I really like this:

After being stick lifted I realized two more things: the game speed is slowed down, and I couldn’t skate backwards nearly as fast anymore. Last year, NHL 08’s game speed was a contributing factor to the breakneck pace of the game, and while that was part of the appeal for some, it was probably too fast. This year, the pace of the game is turned down just a notch, enough to make me realize speed isn’t everything and that strategy does play into the sport this year.

Any news on the release of the demo?

I like that too.

There is gaming sports country for old men.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:52 pm

I just watched those videos and read the blog.. wow.. just.. wow..

Looks like both 2k and EA are making quality hockey games again this year.

Hello $120....

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:12 am

Ok a few things, 08 won 7 awards last year i think,

"in case you missed it i added it at the end of every 10 second clip, i know i know its longer than the actual gameplay point i was making, they made me do it".

The dump ins, ok i can live with the fact that its banked of the scoreboard like the Bird/jordan nothing but net commercial but as the board play in EA's game sucks i have to board the guy to gain posession of the puck ...No call.

In that last vid? The injury? Boarderline? Are you f***in kidding me? That was 4 mins if not a major as he was injured on the play...NO CALLLLLLL!!!!!!!!

The OS guy, he was playing another human ? ok . Did that guy reeeealy change up his strategy and force him to dump in ? Errr i doubt it.
Just sounded like another creative way to get the ea speak out.

I dont know why im hating on EA as i realy liked their last 2 games, there's just something now about their whole way about it and i dont think the scoring and shooting has been improved upon much , which may end up being the killer for me this year.
That and the fact every online game will be filled with guys using the i'll just sit here shall i ? while i watch you use the drive to the net move..... AGAIN!!!!
I dunno , they talk about having to make real hockey plays and its true you do and its a great part of their game but when you have to use none hockey plays like hitting a guy from behind to gain posession to get to them it all evens out .
If it was "a real hockey play" there would be some puck support on the dump ins first man takes the player next man takes the puck but as there is no board play you lose a very important aspect of their 3rd and 4th line players playing like they should.
I guess ill have to create my own plays for that.
Woah , that turned into a rant didnt it ? Blimey!!

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:30 am

MizzouRah wrote:I just watched those videos and read the blog.. wow.. just.. wow..

Looks like both 2k and EA are making quality hockey games again this year.

Hello $120....

Wonder if either game will finally have tune-able goalie difficulties?
This is a basic concept that never seems makes it into a game?

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:23 am

i thought goalie skill could be adjusted in exhibition only....

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 12:09 pm

JackB1 wrote:
MizzouRah wrote:I just watched those videos and read the blog.. wow.. just.. wow..

Looks like both 2k and EA are making quality hockey games again this year.

Hello $120....
Wonder if either game will finally have tune-able goalie difficulties?
This is a basic concept that never seems makes it into a game?

Probably not, but they definitely have many more save animations.

I still hate the puck hits the damn post so much!!!

I have a best buy giftcard I'll wait to use after I read impressions. I do agree EA loves to pump us up.. and they do a great job at it.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:12 pm

MizzouRah wrote:I still hate the puck hits the damn post so much!!!

It's supposed to be toned down for 09.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:48 pm

10spro wrote:
MizzouRah wrote:I still hate the puck hits the damn post so much!!!
It's supposed to be toned down for 09.

Does that mean more goals or more misses?

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:24 pm

wco81 wrote:
10spro wrote:
MizzouRah wrote:I still hate the puck hits the damn post so much!!!
It's supposed to be toned down for 09.
Does that mean more goals or more misses?

We'll find out soon, too many goals and misses can't be a good thing either.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:21 pm

10spro wrote:
MizzouRah wrote:I still hate the puck hits the damn post so much!!!
It's supposed to be toned down for 09.

I've heard it in some videos already.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:11 pm

Pastapadre has this news today:

"The demo for NHL 09 will be available on the PS3 later today (generally PSN updates occur around 3pm PT). The Xbox 360 won’t be receiving the demo until sometime in early September.

The demo includes a Stanley Cup rematch of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings played through the perspective of an individual player in Be a Pro mode."

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:19 pm

So no switching players then.

EA's demos this year ...

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:58 pm

GTHobbes wrote:Pastapadre has this news today:

"The demo for NHL 09 will be available on the PS3 later today (generally PSN updates occur around 3pm PT). The Xbox 360 won’t be receiving the demo until sometime in early September.

The demo includes a Stanley Cup rematch of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings played through the perspective of an individual player in Be a Pro mode."

Hell yeah! Thanks GT. Looking forward to downloading this demo tonight!

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:07 pm

Great news. It pays to have a PS3.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:41 pm

10spro wrote:Great news. It pays to have a PS3.

Indeed it does. However, is the demo just "Be a Pro" mode? If so, then it doesn't really show off the gameplay that much. I guess it's better than nothing.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:36 pm

I'm reading over at Pastapadre.com that the PS3 demo was pulled for some reason. So, perhaps we're not so lucky afterall.

Edit: Delayed a week on the PS3.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:06 pm

damn you. got me all excited.

we got the head coach demo instead.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:07 am

XXXIV wrote:
There is gaming sports country for old men.