NHL 09 First Look

WillHunting · Post by **WillHunting** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:33 pm

Is there a way to leave a EASHL and join another? I find the whole interface very confusing....

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:35 pm

So, adding to my confusion: right now I am finding the custom game search rules to be very glitchy. It's letting me set ranked with BAP set to off, and switching certain items such as BAP rules or ranked/unranked isn't greying out the proper things. It keeps kicking me out of my own created private rooms, too. Dodgy server situation, to say the least.

Meanwhile, I tried some goalie with the overhead camera offline, and it's surprisingly playable. Even from classic cam it's not that messed up. It's actually a bit easier to follow the puck from up there. Of course, I turned the blue arrow off for online play so I don't miss that crutch when going online.

Murph · Post by **Murph** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:45 pm

Here's a question: When you adjust things like Shot Power, Puck handling, etc., does that affect the CPU too or just the user?

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:23 pm

Somethign i discovered as I was playing last night.....

If you go into the in game help menu, at least in Franchise, there is quite a bit of information in there about the new training system, progression, and some of the things "under the hood" that have changed that as always get no press!

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:00 pm

Gangrel,

Need to check those out.

All,
Is there a better feeling than scoring a goal in extra time. I think not!

Another thing about this game is how balanced the stats are. In most hockey games there's always one stat that's off. The CPU shoots too much. The HUM has too many hits. Passing stats are way off. For me, this adds to realism and my enjoyment of the game. Small thing but big for me.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:07 pm

JRod wrote: Another thing about this game is how balanced the stats are. In most hockey games there's always one stat that's off. The CPU shoots too much. The HUM has too many hits. Passing stats are way off. For me, this adds to realism and my enjoyment of the game. Small thing but big for me.

Have you checked 2K9? They have really nailed the stats as real as they come. In my BAP games I still outhit way too much the CPU in 09.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:09 am

That stats in 09 I think are a bit off as well. 10 games into my dynasty, and there are way too many goalies with sub 1.96 GAAs. I could see one or two, but I have almost 10!!!!

Also, just like in 08, I guess I just suck, because I cannot win on All Star at all. I'm going to try dropping down to Pro, and hoping I don't win 1o in a row on that, as in 08 it was a bit TOO easy.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 10:39 am

About the stats...

When I mean by balanced I mean the stats for the human and CPU are balanced. I didn't do any tests to see if the simmed stats are good.

I think the stats fit for NHL 09. Let me give you another example. In soccer, possession is a huge deal. Yet in soccer games time of possession is mostly lopsided towards the human player.

In past hockey games there was always some imbalance between CPU and human stats. I admit, I don't hit as often as others hit. I turned the hitting slider all the way down, forcing more poke checks and stick flips.

For me while NHL 09 isn't that realistic the balance of in-game stats adds to my immersion factor. If the stats were off, I would have probably put this away.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 2:27 pm

How Id look playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs if I weighed a ton less and had a new face. Zorba you handsome bastard.

Yes, Its a slow day at work.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 10:55 pm

Now that I found some good sliders for me, I'm really enjoying 09. There are things I wish it did better, but I'm having fun, and as I get older, it's all I care about.

A cool almost goal....

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dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:43 am

I love the new dump button...lol:

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sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:18 am

That's hilarious db....what a freakish goal. Gotta think it'd be hard to pull off again.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:22 am

Has anyone experienced any strange occurences during a shoot out? I was in a shootout with the Capitals. On one of their attempts, my goalie made the save with his stick (had complete control of the puck) and did a back hand push with the stick only to allow the puck to go in the net! It was the most absurd thing I've see yet in this game, with db's flip goal a close second.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 12:45 pm

sportdan30 wrote:That's hilarious db....what a freakish goal. Gotta think it'd be hard to pull off again.

Yeah...at least it gives me some motivation to dump and chase a lot more. I don't do it that often, which makes it even crazier that one went in!

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:51 pm

Damn Legace!!!

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 2:04 pm

MizzouRah wrote:Damn Legace!!!

It was actually the backup...lol...I doubt Legace misses that one!

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:34 pm

Probably one of my prettiest goals I've ever scored in video game hockey, well, ever! Mostly about the setup, but hey, Gagner cuts back against the grain good too.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:26 am

Offline Be A Pro is a little silly - after a short stint in the minors I made my way to the Senators first line, I then proceeded to go on a TWENTY FIVE game point scoring streak and am first in league scoring with 72 points in only 34 games. I promptly then have one bad game where I am a minus 1 with no points......and the coach immediately drops me to the second line.

WTF?

Either this a problem with the management AI....or EA Sports deserve even more kudos for accurately capturing the idiocy of the Ottawa Senators' coaching staff.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:04 pm

I really gotta say...I haven't been this happy with a hockey game for about 5-6 years. Not since the DC 2k games anyway. I can't remember the last time I actually looked forward to coming home from work and playing a couple games of hockey. It really is a fantastic game. There are a few things that I'm not terribly fond of...mainly that there is entirely too much space on the ice, but it's easily forgiven since the rest is so great.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:13 pm

I agree db. There could be a bit more board play, and the CPU could be a bit more aggressive with their checks, but other than that I'm extremely happy with the game this year. It's truly night and day with regards to how the CPU plays offense. I felt so helpless last year on defense when they brought the puck in my zone. Now I feel as though I have at least a fighting chance to interrupt the offensive rush.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:25 pm

SG of the year for sure, (Fifa looks very promising as well), on Pro level the AI is improved over 08 and if you want the CPU to be more agressive on your passing lanes, the higher difficulty will give you that challenge. As most agree, online is a blast to play, there's some room for improvements of course, and BAP is very addicting.

Haven't played much with the real players offline yet, the new rosters should be ready soon. In the past I would share my playing time equally with 2K9 but not this year, a compliment to EA for raising the bar.

Murph · Post by **Murph** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:41 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:I really gotta say...I haven't been this happy with a hockey game for about 5-6 years. Not since the DC 2k games anyway. I can't remember the last time I actually looked forward to coming home from work and playing a couple games of hockey. It really is a fantastic game. There are a few things that I'm not terribly fond of...mainly that there is entirely too much space on the ice, but it's easily forgiven since the rest is so great.

So true and I was a 2K8 guy last year. I've haven't played a more realistic hockey and BAP is fun as hell.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:42 pm

Yeah.. I put my copy of NHL 2k9 up for sale, it's still at least another year away from competition with EA's offering.

DivotMaker · Post by **DivotMaker** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:17 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:I really gotta say...I haven't been this happy with a hockey game for about 5-6 years. Not since the DC 2k games anyway. I can't remember the last time I actually looked forward to coming home from work and playing a couple games of hockey. It really is a fantastic game. There are a few things that I'm not terribly fond of...mainly that there is entirely too much space on the ice, but it's easily forgiven since the rest is so great.

Just got the game yesterday and have no had time to play a game yet, but what I want to say is "don't you wish all the EA Sports development teams were listening and reacting to user feedback and working hard to make their games respresent the sports they are trying to simulate"?

And yes JRod, this goes for the TW Dev team as well....

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:36 pm

I'm not into Hockey as much as some of you guys but isn't Post Strike Hockey supposed to be sort of played loose? I do agree that NHL 09 is just stellar. To me NHL 09 plays so good that the FIFA 09 demo is just meh.

Mizz I would have bought your copy of NHL2K9 but I bought a new copy on Half.com for $37 shipped. That's before you had yours for sale.