NHL 09 First Look

[webdanzer]

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

Use it to break up a one-timer. Lift the stick of the intended pass recipient.

[10spro]

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

Use it to break up a one-timer. Lift the stick of the intended pass recipient.

In addition, keep a good space between you and the attacking player, if you're too close to him you may get burned (too aggresive).

[ScoopBrady]

When is the appropriate time to use the "lift stick" feature?

I use it at the nude beach when I notice that everybody keeps tripping over it.

I played some last night and my initial impressions is that BAP is the coolest feature I've ever played in a sports videogame. I can see myself being totally consumed that mode online and off. I can't wait to try some online. I couldn't play last night when you guys sent the invites because I was playing spy with my wife's boss. He was trailing a woman whose husband suspected her of cheating on him and I was logged into a website tracking her whereabouts via lojack. I really wanted to play but that was cool as hell. It wasn't until 9:30 when I was able to get him back on her tail.

The single-player game is a big step forward too IMO. I like the increase of scrums and the fact that board play is present. It seemed to me as if the cpu only attempted one-timers when they were open. In other words, if I played stout defense and didn't leave anybody open in front of or on the side of the net that one-timers were not an issue. This is the greatest year in hockey videogame history with 2 excellent releases.

[Zeppo]

So now that it's out, and I don't have it yet, I'm curious:

With the BAP mode, can you create multiple alts on one profile, and/or can one BAP character be on more than one online team?

Also, can intra-squad games be played in some kind of unranked mode? How is the regular OTP mode with real players? And does the game now have league play for whatever Euro leagues may be in the game?

[MizzouRah]

BAP is so much fun.. love the beginning where you're in the tunnel.. I haven't had much sleep the last two days with 2k9's release and 09's release.

[GameSeven]

So now that it's out, and I don't have it yet, I'm curious:

With the BAP mode, can you create multiple alts on one profile, and/or can one BAP character be on more than one online team?

It appears that you have one persona that defines your name, number, appearance, etc. Offline, you can save individual careers as this persona as a Sniper, Dangler, OffD, Goalie, etc... Online, I *think* you can change your type (I don't know if you redistibute points or what), but you can only maintain one persona online and I believe you are limited to one online team. In addition to the Skater 'Type' you can select from one of three Goaltender types (stand-up, butterfly and hybrid). You can updgrade, independently, your skater persona and your golaie persona. You seem to earn points in tandem whether you played the position or not. i.e. last night I earned three point in both my OffD and Goaltender even though I played no goal last night.

You may also like that when in goalie mode, the blue arrow that indicates your skater position responsibility becomes an indicator of the puckcarrier. i.e., where last year it was sometimes difficult to discern the puck carrier in golaie mode, this year a blue arrow will extend from the puck carrier towards your net, helping you play your angles properly.

Also, can intra-squad games be played in some kind of unranked mode?

There doesn't appear to be a way to use your EASHL player in any mode outside of league matches. You can always make a private OTP room (if recollection is correct) but you will be limited to the online roster of teams.

How is the regular OTP mode with real players?

A lot of fun. I played a couple through bloodshot eyes after the DSP team disbanded for the night and it was fun. Full 6v6 and it is easier to find a match as the EASHL servers were a little hit or miss last night. Could take minutes to find an EASHL game, but OTP was rather easily available.

And does the game now have league play for whatever Euro leagues may be in the game?

I understand the "league" play of the european and russian leagues is minimal, from an OS post some few weeks ago, but I haven't tried it to be certain.

[GameSeven]

With a few games under my belt, I wanted to note that if the 07 and, moreso, 08 incarnations of the NHL series had gameplay to your liking, then 09 is a no-brainer and, in fact, contains an incredible amount of gameplay.

Having just scratched the surface of both online and offline BAP, I can see hours of gameplay in each mode. Upgrading your online and offline persona could have been an exercise in tedium, but because your goals are different (online you are playing, ostensibly, for record and for gelling with your online teammates, offline you are seeking promotion and trying to meet designated goals from your GM) I could see spending equal time on each.

Add in the BAP for existing NHLer's and I could see myself jumping in a season with M. Brodeur as he tries to break the some of the ultimate goaltender records this year.

With conventional franchise and the euro leagues, the game packs a wide variety of gameplay options.

Fortunately, the game on the ice places a very entertaining brand of hockey, IMHO. The tweaks made have not appeared to break the game in any fashion and elevate the gameplay IMHO.

All in all, I am very happy with the game this year.

[dbdynsty25]

When is the appropriate time to use the "lift stick" feature?

I use it at the nude beach when I notice that everybody keeps tripping over it.

I played some last night and my initial impressions is that BAP is the coolest feature I've ever played in a sports videogame. I can see myself being totally consumed that mode online and off. I can't wait to try some online. I couldn't play last night when you guys sent the invites because I was playing spy with my wife's boss. He was trailing a woman whose husband suspected her of cheating on him and I was logged into a website tracking her whereabouts via lojack. I really wanted to play but that was cool as hell. It wasn't until 9:30 when I was able to get him back on her tail.

So, two comments. To the first line, hahaha...someone has to laugh, it was a good attempt and I feel bad it was ignored.

And to the second paragraph...what the f*ck?

[webdanzer]

And to the second paragraph...what the f*ck?

Better start monitoring The Smoking Gun:

'Known online as Scoop Brady, he has been charged with Accessory...'etc...

[ScoopBrady]

I guess I should have mentioned that my wife is a private investigator and her boss was hired to tail the woman. It wasn't stalking, it was legitimate business.

[GameSeven]

It wasn't until 9:30 when I was able to get him back on her tail.

So wait, your wife's boss was sleeping with her?

[sportdan30]

I guess I should have mentioned that my wife is a private investigator and her boss was hired to tail the woman. It wasn't stalking, it was legitimate business.

That's pretty cool Scoop. I interviewed for a PI position once. They investigated those who were collecting workman's comp, but who were actually going about their daily activities as if they had no physical limitations. The job was to video them and turn it over to insurance companies. In one instance, a PI had put a camera in a clock at a bar where the supposed person was throwing a party. Tailing wives and husbands cheating sounds more interesting though.

[Sudz]

<embed src="http://ll-999.ea.com/sonet-easw/2.4.2.0 ... player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="height=355&width=425&file=http://videocdn.easw.easports.com/easpo ... f"></embed>

[GameSeven]

There doesn't appear to be a way to use your EASHL player in any mode outside of league matches. You can always make a private OTP room (if recollection is correct) but you will be limited to the online roster of teams.

I may be mistaken here. There seems to be some talk on OS that it *is* in fact possible to OTP using your online BAP, but I'll need to explore to confirm. Will try to check this later if no one else chimes in.

[10spro]

Like I posted earlier Sudz, hitting in this game as long as it legal (although yours was border line ) gives you a great satisfaction feeling. My favourite is when I hip check someone along the boards. Ouch.

[dbdynsty25]

I just don't understand why I'm not a huge fan of 2k9. I think it's because it's just a bit jerky in terms of the animations...or just too fast, even when the skating is slow. Not sure...so I picked up 09 for the PS3. I'm a sucker, I know.

[Zeppo]

I may be mistaken here. There seems to be some talk on OS that it *is* in fact possible to OTP using your online BAP, but I'll need to explore to confirm. Will try to check this later if no one else chimes in.

You did seem to get it to work, but I still don't understand how you got there. We were playing with real teams and uniforms etc., but we were each our own BAP / OTP player. Millennium was explaining it to us but I didn't catch the whole thing. I think he was saying it randomly selects the CPU controlled players from the team you are playing as.

In any case, it's nice to know you can play intra-squad games with the BAP players. I assume the stats wouldn't add up in those games, though.

Also, I noticed that when you create a traditional OTP game, you can set the 'number of Xboxes' so you could play with as few as 3 Xboxes connected up to 12. So you could play 2 on 2 or 3 on 3 or whatever. I sure hope they allow that kind of control in FIFA. . . .

I'm really jazzed up about playing some DSP squad games tonight. I played an offline game as goalie, and yes I need work, but it seems to be much improved over what I thought was a really good start last year. The big blue arrow showing you where the puck is is a massive addition, and somehow the movement feels a lot better and more in control. I can really envision some players getting the hang of it and becoming impact-player type goalies in OTP.

[dougb]

I just don't understand why I'm not a huge fan of 2k9. I think it's because it's just a bit jerky in terms of the animations...or just too fast, even when the skating is slow. Not sure...so I picked up 09 for the PS3. I'm a sucker, I know.

I'm finding that the animations aren't as polished in 2K9 (they seem to end a bit abruptly) and the presentation is a bit weak as well. The colors also seemed a bit muddy and muted.

Best wishes,

Doug

[Granatofan]

There doesn't appear to be a way to use your EASHL player in any mode outside of league matches. You can always make a private OTP room (if recollection is correct) but you will be limited to the online roster of teams.

I may be mistaken here. There seems to be some talk on OS that it *is* in fact possible to OTP using your online BAP, but I'll need to explore to confirm. Will try to check this later if no one else chimes in.

To use your BAP in pickup OTP games with other BAP's go into the xbox live menu and find the OTP menu and choose custom game.

The one parameter you need to set to "on" is called Use Online Team Play Club Rules or something like that. Then do your search and you'll get a list of games that are BAP non-club games. Join anyone of them and whichever team you are using your BAP will be there and the others will be BAPs too. Just remember to lock into a position.

And it helps if the teams being used are AHL's at the moment since most BAPs are still mid 70's like the AHL players. If not and you get into a game with less than 6 on a side then sometimes the CPU player(s) feel a little juiced.

Random BAP games are a hoot and nothing beats having two human goalies in the game.

Hope that helps.

[10spro]

I know that BAP is the main beef of the game, but I tried Pond Hockey and is heck of a lot of fun as well.

[GTHobbes]

I finally picked this up after skipping the last couple of years of EA hockey, and wow...what a great game. Too bad Madden hasn't faced competition because both hockey titles are what I've wanted out of next gen sports games. I'm going to be playing BAP for a long, long time.

[Naples39]

Plenty of connection woes last night. After the total debacle of BAP mode game I gave up on online play last night. With any luck things will get better as we move away from the release day online crush.

Instead I played some offline BAP, which is pretty engrossing for now anyway. I wasn't sure about age and stat progression, so I made myself 19 years old.

Maybe it's the shitty AHL players, but it's a little maddening watching your teammates pass the puck like it's a hot potato, even after you've set them up for a onetimer. How am I supposed to get assists as a playmaker if they won't shoot? Also, most of the goals I've seen were BS goals. All my games were very low scoring, and each game had a goal scored when a defensemen skated with the puck was right in front of his own net, then put the puck in his own net when he was hit.

I'm sticking with it as the mode is rewarding enough otherwise, but I'm hoping these things get better with time.

[sportdan30]

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

Hey Jack,

I forgot the Kansas/South Florida football game is on tonight on ESPN2. It starts at 7 central time. If you're around during half time, I'll surely jump online and play a game or two. If not, I most likely won't be on until after the game, unless of course the game has already been decided.

[ScoopBrady]

Maybe it's the shitty AHL players, but it's a little maddening watching your teammates pass the puck like it's a hot potato, even after you've set them up for a onetimer. How am I supposed to get assists as a playmaker if they won't shoot? Also, most of the goals I've seen were BS goals. All my games were very low scoring, and each game had a goal scored when a defensemen skated with the puck was right in front of his own net, then put the puck in his own net when he was hit.

If you press the pass button without the puck you will call for a pass. If you press up on the right analog stick without the puck your teammate will shoot the puck. So if you pass and then press up on the analog stick you'll get the desired one-timer.

[Naples39]

If you press the pass button without the puck you will call for a pass. If you press up on the right analog stick without the puck your teammate will shoot the puck. So if you pass and then press up on the analog stick you'll get the desired one-timer.

Thanks. I thought I tried that once or twice to make my teammates shoot, but nothing happened. I'll keep trying, particularly on the onetimers.