NHL 09 First Look

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:11 pm

Naples39 wrote:
XXXIV wrote:How many minutes per period??
Good question. I'll be pissed if EA didn't address this.

Not to worry. Fixed for 09.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:15 pm

10spro wrote:
Naples39 wrote:
XXXIV wrote:How many minutes per period??
Good question. I'll be pissed if EA didn't address this.
Not to worry. Fixed for 09.

Great!....Now how many minutes are you guys using?

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:16 pm

Woa, do I suck! Or I just haven't figured out the strategies of playing good defense. I played a quick play now game on defaults against Nashville and abruptly lost 7-0. I gave up 4 goals in the first period alone. The first two goals came within the first minute of the game.

All that said, I am in hockey heaven. I love the pace of the game play and the responsiveness of the controls (even though I'm not using all them correctly obviously). It's wide ope game play which I absolutely love. Yes, there are definitely some scrums now and then, and some board play, but for the most part, it feels like NHL hockey.

Is it too early to say that the game play is as enjoyable as The Show?

Now, I just ned to learn how to play defense!

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:30 pm

What camera angles are you guys using?

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:48 pm

weirdest post I have read in the OS NHL thread:

http://www.operationsports.com/forums/e ... 2038695758

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:52 pm

XXXIV wrote:[Great!....Now how many minutes are you guys using?

Just played a couple of games with 7 minutes per period.

The stats are not as accurate as 2K9, as the SOG were a bit too high for my liking.

Very nice presentation. Visually is better than 2K9, from player faces, models, lighting, etc.

Puck physics improved, while not as tight as 2K9, passes now are not as given, you have to see the ice well and your player has to be open to receive the puck (some passes do deflect on skates) without being intercepted. Still at times, the way you receive that puck is too perfect, too predictable and that's what I call too tape to tape for my taste.

Played the default Pro mode, and it seems that the AI has improved as well, not as easy as 08. The speed of the game seems to be just right and the ability to lift the stick and break a play is great.

You also get that great feeling when you paste somebody along the boards, timing is very important.

Can't wait to try the BAP mode later on.

Leadfoot5 · Post by **Leadfoot5** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 8:54 pm

I love the ability to edit replays!!

Check out my first goal with NHL09... Credit goes to the Tampa goalie for the help!!

http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/556252

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:32 pm

You guys are killing me. Hope I can pick this one up tomorrow after work.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:02 pm

sportdan30 wrote:What camera angles are you guys using?

Default

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:08 pm

I got my copy today. I will spend all day and night playing on Friday!! If anyone has the PS3 version hit me up Friday night for a couple of games.

Jackdog46

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:50 pm

Hands down the best sports game I've played this gen

In terms of camera angles - I really like the default cam, but also had a lot of fun with the Broadcast cam. More of a "tv feel" but the shooting doesn't seem as intuitive with it.

MUTTS · Post by **MUTTS** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:07 pm

Does the ability to play out the AHL in season/dynasty still exist?

Tony

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:09 pm

JackDog wrote:I got my copy today. I will spend all day and night playing on Friday!! If anyone has the PS3 version hit me up Friday night for a couple of games.

Jackdog46

Finally someone with the PS3 version. I'll be up for playing a game or two on Friday! Having a blast so far offline.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:12 pm

I believe I switched from default to classic. I think it pulls me closer the action which I like. Plus, it show off the graphics better.

Visually, I changed the camera so I'm always skating up.

How exactly do face offs work? I'm using the right stick, but sometimes the right stick doesn't move.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:16 pm

fanatic wrote:Hands down the best sports game I've played this gen

This is the quintessential day one post.

I don't have my copy yet. Can anyone copy if it's still up and down hockey like last year?

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 12:39 am

Here are a few vids from a game I played tonight. I was the Flames taking on the Sharks..

Nabokov robs Iginla with a great save
http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/559448

Regehr crushes Michalek along the boards
http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/560054

Regehr with a big hit in the corner on Vlasic
http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/560194

Cammalleri with the OT winner
http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/560322

The game is great so far but i'm getting dirty disc errors almost every time. I think I got in 4 games and had about 25 errors tonight. All my other games work so i'm taking my copy back tomorrow and trying another one. Great game though without a doubt.
I also was scoreless during my first two games and then won my last two and erupted for for goals in the last one. I was also outshot by the CPU on default pro settings so that's a good thing.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 1:13 am

Had lots of fun in my first game with the Manitoba Moose on BAP. Got two assists and scored on an empty netter becoming the 1st Star of the game. I tried the ICE camera on this mode and I think I still prefer the default High one. The camera on ICE doesn't follow the puck as well as the High angle, and if you're caught taking a little during the game, you can miss the action quite a bit.

Fleury14 · Post by **Fleury14** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 1:28 am

I had the unreadable disc errors too, and it's not an uncommon error. I read that you have to clear the HD's cache by going into the last pane on the Dashboard, hit memory, then push "X, X, LB, RB, X, X". As weird as it sounds, it worked for me.

Here's where I found it: http://forums.ea.com/mboards/thread.jsp ... 0&tstart=0

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 2:08 am

Pretty neat to play against the legendary Habs team. All the guys without their helmets all wearing C's and A's, including the great Maurice Richard.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:23 am

Hope I can find this game and see some of you tonight!

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:27 am

Fleury14 wrote:I had the unreadable disc errors too, and it's not an uncommon error. I read that you have to clear the HD's cache by going into the last pane on the Dashboard, hit memory, then push "X, X, LB, RB, X, X". As weird as it sounds, it worked for me.

Here's where I found it: http://forums.ea.com/mboards/thread.jsp ... 0&tstart=0

Well that would be great news...I'll give it a shot. Thanks!

Edit - Just cleared the cache and yes it fixed the issue. Thanks Fleury, I totally appreciate it.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:20 am

JRod wrote:
fanatic wrote:Hands down the best sports game I've played this gen
This is the quintessential day one post.

I don't have my copy yet. Can anyone copy if it's still up and down hockey like last year?

Just for that comment, I'll bump it to "best sports game ever".

Seriously though - really impressed so far. In terms of up and down hockey, I think it can be toned down with the settings. The AI defensemen seem to allow you too much room still, but I've resisted shooting everytime they lay back. I found a nice balance overall I think.

In terms of my first game on Be A Pro - I created an "offensive defensemen" and am using "Pro" difficulty. First game for the Toronto Marlies and I score 2 goals and KO some poor guy in a fight!

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:22 am

10spro wrote:Pretty neat to play against the legendary Habs team. All the guys without their helmets all wearing C's and A's, including the great Maurice Richard.

Sound fun. There should be a "black and white" setting just to set the mood. I believe MVP had something like for classic team play.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:55 am

When is the appropriate time to use the "lift stick" feature? I'm getting better at defense thankfully after a few more games.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:59 am

sportdan30 wrote:
JackDog wrote:I got my copy today. I will spend all day and night playing on Friday!! If anyone has the PS3 version hit me up Friday night for a couple of games.

Jackdog46
Finally someone with the PS3 version. I'll be up for playing a game or two on Friday! Having a blast so far offline.

Deal!! I'll PM you when I am ready to play. It should be around 9pm CST.