NHL 09 First Look

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 1:24 pm

alright, i started to reply to this earlier, then my power went out!

For sliders, I am finding that All Star defualt with minor tweaks is working for me. The only ones I have changed are:

Fatigue Effect maxed: tires out the lines quicker, forcing you to roll them.

Fatigue Recovery to one: tied to fatigue

Pass speed down one from default: To the naked eye this makes passes still too fast compared to real life. But, it's also the only way I can find to spread the D out, and also get the goalie moving with any chance of scoring whatsoever. I had it down to 1 before, and couldn't score at all. MOved to to default -1, and I scored 6 against Pittsburgh, with only a few one timers

I have Goalie Cover at 2 less then max too. On default the goalies pass way too much under pressure. I picked this suggestion up from OS, so the goalies don't suck in every puck with no rebounds, yet won't make stupid passes.

I think I also have Shot blocking up one.

As for Strategies, I find them hit or miss. Overload works, my players cycle. But my lines set to Crash the Net, even if full of PWF and Grinders do NOT crash the net.

If you have skill guys, I'd use overload, or behind the net and look for one timers.

I've also been using overload on the PP since Shooting doesn't work at all... I've been doing ok.

Hope this helps a bit.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:56 pm

Well, I feel compelled to reply to myself, to ehar myself talk.

This game is gold after the patch. Is it perfect, no, but it's the most fun I've had in a long time.....

I just had a game where I experimented and turn game speed down one notch from default AS, thinking scoring would go down....

It was a 6-5 barn burner with the Blues winning. Shot speed seemed to still be good, and more importantly, a few clean slappers went in. Well, screens maybe, but still.....

Roloson has been sucking for me, and sure enough, I checked his confidence level and it's at 50%..... time to ride Drouin-Deslauriers I guess!

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:17 pm

I have to get back into this...

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 12:06 pm

I'll try that Gangrel.. what period time do you use?

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 12:17 pm

I use 10 minutes. Shot totals are fairly realistic, and it allows me time to play, and not feel rushed like I would on shorter periods.

I'm not sure if I'm seeing things, but I just played the Sharks after playing the Kings the night before, and my players seemed a bit slower then normal. It's like they show fatigue on the ice, which is a nice touch if I'm not hallucinating!

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 6:23 pm

Thanks.. going to try that today!

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:41 pm

I still think that is too slow for me... I really like the default speed.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:59 pm

MizzouRah wrote:I still think that is too slow for me... I really like the default speed.

That's the difference between you and me Mizz, I like to treat the ladies to a nice low and slow, and you just wanna stickhandle like a demon and wham, bam, thank you ma'am!

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:21 pm

Gangrel wrote:
That's the difference between you and me Mizz, I like to treat the ladies to a nice low and slow, and you just wanna stickhandle like a demon and wham, bam, thank you ma'am!

What's wrong with that?

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:13 pm

Because your career will burn out like Eric Lindros, while I'm like Chelios, around forever.....

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:03 pm

Gangrel wrote:Because your career will burn out like Eric Lindros, while I'm like Chelios, around forever.....

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:47 pm

All Kidding aside, this has to be my sports game of the year now. Is it the end all of the be all for realism? No, not at all.

There are many areas I would like to see improved, such as a greater difference between star players and grinders... I can deke almost as well with Stortini as I can with Hemsky.

Other things I'd like brought back are some indiciation of hot or cold streaks, the ability to see your opponents lines (and match them up if I'm home and have last change) and I'd love to have a completely redsigned passing system.

I don't know how many times I'd love to pass the puck along the boards to my guy behind the net, but you either have to try a "dump" which I can only get to work half the time, or you pass it directly to him (and most cases getting picked off)

I'd love some kind of through pass system, like Fifa. It's there a bit now, but I'd like more.

I'd also like to see a real difference in goalies. Sure, Luongo is harder to score on then Conklin, but it is just because the virtual Luongo moves faster, not any better.....

Anyway, I'm excited already to see what comes out next year. And if there is interest, I can also see myself playing OTP all summer long with you bums. One day I'll find someone who can finish one of my amazing passes.....

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:06 pm

It's weird.. I'm a bit too good on Pro and not good enough for AS.. it's been that way for me this year.. although I think I just need to play it much more than I have.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:22 pm

I was like that last year, as I found the goalies too good. This year I seem to win and lose at a decent clip.

I find the key is to get the goalies moving. It's rare I can get into the slot and fire home a shot, but if i catch a pass and fire a one timer, or even a delayed wrister, i have a far better chance at scoring.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:12 pm

Gangrel wrote:I was like that last year, as I found the goalies too good. This year I seem to win and lose at a decent clip.

I find the key is to get the goalies moving. It's rare I can get into the slot and fire home a shot, but if i catch a pass and fire a one timer, or even a delayed wrister, i have a far better chance at scoring.

I go through times where I cannot get the puck out of my own zone! I think I just lack the game time.. I've probably played about only 30 games so far this year.

I need to really concentrate on my game play.. just like I've been doing with MLB 2k9.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:13 pm

I have that happen to me too sometimes. If the other team is on an aggresive forecheck, I end up running around.... As soon as I can, I switch my break out to conservative.... and even ice the puck if I have to!

I'd rather have a face off in my zone, then tons of pressure leading to a goal.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:20 pm

True!

Speaking of faceoffs, they are much harder post patch.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:35 pm

Yes, I agree. It annoys me actually. They "toned down the effect of ratings, and made it more timing based", which to me sucks as it removes the gamble of having a face off guy or not.

I used to make sure I had a guy who was good at the draws take them in my own end, but now it doesn't matter anymore who takes the draw, removing some of the fun strategy....

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 11:29 pm

Exactly why I hate it now.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Mon May 25, 2009 9:23 am

Had my best goal scored in this years game early this morning in an EASHL game. We were down 2-1 in the third period when 34 tied it up with less than a minute to go. Less than 3 minutes to go in overtime 34 sets me up with a pass at center ice and I go in alone for the gamewinner. Was an awesome feeling to score on a breakaway to win a game.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon May 25, 2009 10:11 am

Nice deke Vader.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon May 25, 2009 11:25 am

10spro wrote:Nice deke Vader.

Yes. He did score one beautiful goal...I think they heard me down the street when he put them away.

Great way to finish a pretty good night of Ice Dragon hockey.

HipE · Post by **HipE** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 12:13 pm

HipE wrote:Just to update, I actually finished an entire season while playing every game, somthing I haven't done in many years. I decided to play out the first season on pro level, then I switched to all star for my second season.

I ended up going 54-24-4 in the regular season and finished with the top seed in the East by one point over Toronto (ha!). I beat the Red Wings in the finals to win the Stanley Cup. Crosby won the Art Ross and Hart trophies, with 105 pts. Malkin finished 8th in scoring with 91 pts. Gonchar won the Norris trophy with 65 pts, and Malkin won the Conn Smythe with 41 pts in the playoffs (wow!).

I guess I should have known how the playoffs would end this year. I played it out a couple of months before they began, beating the Wings in the finals with Malkin winning the Conn Smythe!

toonarmy · Post by **toonarmy** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 1:58 pm

HipE wrote:
HipE wrote:Just to update, I actually finished an entire season while playing every game, somthing I haven't done in many years. I decided to play out the first season on pro level, then I switched to all star for my second season.

I ended up going 54-24-4 in the regular season and finished with the top seed in the East by one point over Toronto (ha!). I beat the Red Wings in the finals to win the Stanley Cup. Crosby won the Art Ross and Hart trophies, with 105 pts. Malkin finished 8th in scoring with 91 pts. Gonchar won the Norris trophy with 65 pts, and Malkin won the Conn Smythe with 41 pts in the playoffs (wow!).
I guess I should have known how the playoffs would end this year. I played it out a couple of months before they began, beating the Wings in the finals with Malkin winning the Conn Smythe!

Very impressive!

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:43 pm

In one of the greatest upsets of my gaming history I have my NHL 09 online superstar card...For one moment in time I have a freaking B online.

Forget World of Warcraft that was some serious f***in grinding.

The downside is I cant play anymore til 10 comes out