Keys to Success for NHL 09

[StatMan79]

bigwill - that sounds a lot like how the A button is used (on 360 that is) on defense right now, except you're tying the guy up, not lifting his stick. You can get the high-sticking call just the same though if you're doing too much.

I'd very much like to see the scouting and draft stuff improved a ton.

[bigwill33]

Quote: Originally Posted by StatMan79

bigwill - that sounds a lot like how the A button is used (on 360 that is) on defense right now, except you're tying the guy up, not lifting his stick. You can get the high-sticking call just the same though if you're doing too much. I'd very much like to see the scouting and draft stuff improved a ton.

You mean when you hook the guy and sometimes it goes and does the stick in the face animations?

I think this should work better, because it serves as a way of just playing the stick and not the body. It will help smaller defensemen pick up a man, and is probably a good way to counter the annoying slap passing that goes on online.

What would be nice would be if they had 2 and 4 minute penalties for high sticking. I know they are not allowed to show blood in the game because of the rating, but even not showing it and just putting those penalties in the game would add a lot to the experience. Here's to hoping atleast!

[Flyermania]

I am very optimistic for NHL 09...the core of the game is solid, so the game needs some minor tweaks and adjustments to make it better. The development team seems very committed to the series -- just look at the improvements made when it first came to next-gen, and then again from 07 to 08.

[Kontos18]

NHL 08 definitely needs to work on the player faces. They had the superstars and a few other players but not enough. It is nice to recognize your favorite players. I also think a new faceoff system would be good. You don't see many faceoffs in the NHL that doesn't result in a battle with help from the wingers. The board play needs fix bad. The only way to pin a guy was to hit the hold button and half the time you get called for a holding call when the puck is right there. The goaltending was either terrible or awesome depending on your difficulty level. The game was fun against a human opponent but for playing the computer I prefferred 2k8 because of the slider options. Looking forward to 09 because the potential to be an awesome game is there.

[StatMan79]

Am I really the only one that doesn't care about dumping and chasing being in the game for the sake of realism? These are the worst parts of real hockey - I certainly don't want to be playing dump and watch in a video game.

[Trick_]

Quote: Originally Posted by StatMan79

Am I really the only one that doesn't care about dumping and chasing being in the game for the sake of realism? These are the worst parts of real hockey - I certainly don't want to be playing dump and watch in a video game.

i'm torn on this....because i try to play sim...but like you i hate that part of the game...however i'm willing to bet that their are a lot of goals scored this way. it would be a perfect way to incorporate or create plays from behind the net IMO.

[bigwill33]

Quote: Originally Posted by StatMan79

Am I really the only one that doesn't care about dumping and chasing being in the game for the sake of realism? These are the worst parts of real hockey - I certainly don't want to be playing dump and watch in a video game.

It should at least be an option for players who like a simulation style game. If you play a team that you cannot get into their zone any other way then dumping should be an option at least.

[Flyermania]

Quote: Originally Posted by StatMan79

Am I really the only one that doesn't care about dumping and chasing being in the game for the sake of realism? These are the worst parts of real hockey - I certainly don't want to be playing dump and watch in a video game.

Yes, you are. j/k

I think it should definitely be in the game. You may not always choose to use it, but it is such a common facet of the game that it needs to be in there.