NHL 2K9 Demo Available on the Marketplace

[Behindshadows]

This game plays much better than 2k8, but my goodness the graphics are straight trash!

Why are they killing the graphics in the games. College Hoops 1st, MLB 2k8 2nd, and Now the Hockey is taking a hit.

Nothing against Visual Concepts, but I hate Take Two get these guys a new graphics engine already...

Great game though, crowd is nice.

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by Eddie1967

I like the fact that EA is improving there hockey game. It works out for fans of both games and I would love to have a reason to own both. Glad you admitted that EA tanked their hockey game for a few years (lol) There is nothing wrong with you stating your gripes but if you can cut EA some slack for putting out a whack game for 3 years than surely you can do the same for 2k not having everything that you want. We both know that EA just added things this year? that 2k already has in their game. For some reason you expect more out of 2k than you do EA. You said you expect more out of a game 4 years into the next gen systems? Then why isn't that expected of EA. It's the same with madden. EA screwed around with both football and hockey for the about 3 years (not counting 08 for hockey) and now when they put out something decent they are given so much credit and so much slack, yet 2k is nitpicked to death. I'm happy that they changed announcers on 2k9 but how can you nitpick about their dialog. The presentation is so much better than the last few years for 2k in every way. Like I said no game is perfect and there are things that I would like to see improved but I just don't spend a lot of time dwelling on it, as long as it's not taking away from my enjoyment of the game. As far as the developer's getting feed back and doing something about it regarding 2k? I think they did that and more this year IMO 2k9 is a huge jump from last year and the animations, AI, the sliders (which worked last year), the presentation, the fighting engine! etc. have all improved a great deal. Country boy's quote says it the best. "Playing video games for what they are, instead of what we expect them to be" or something like that.

I was refering to strickly next gen with that comment, EA hockey on next gen started with a brand new engine and made major improvements from 07 to 08, and now with stick lifts, the EAHL, goalie animations and the like for 09. 2k ported a last gen engine bugs and all and as much as they want to state that 2k9 is "built from the ground up" It really doesn't feel that way. Things feel much better yet controls still feel sluggish and the commentators I'm sorry, they don't sound that great to me, and I attest it more so it being the same 4 year old recycled commentary Cole and Neale used to be honest. 2k really needs to write a new script for them, it didn't sound fluid when Cole and Neale used it, it still doesn't sound fluild now. The rest of the presentation is awesome though I agree.

AI the jury is still out until we can raise the difficulty level, the offensive AI in the demo isn't that hot imo, But I'd more attest that to the low difficulty level being fixed in the demo. This is an area I'm weary on due to just how long its been since any major improvements have been made AI wise to 2k's hockey game.

And honestly half the sliders have appeared to be broken the last few years anyway, I spent more time with 2k8 trying to get the AI to stop trying to piledrive every player it sees every 2 seconds via sliders its not even funny. Hitting set to 0 should not result in the AI hitting everything it sees. That at least seems much toned down in the demo and for that I'm greatful.

Really I don't think I'm knocking the game all that much, its much improved and its a good starting point for VC to get this game back to where it was last gen. They just have some work ahead of them is all.

[Bornindamecca]

I don't know anything about hockey, except for what it has in common with basketball, but I scored a goal in my first game against the computer and it felt great! The demo was fun.

Last year, NHL 08 was reviewed as being hands down being better than NHL 2k8. Is that true?

I know how this EA vs. 2k stuff can go, and I'm not trying to start anything, but I trust the crowd here much more than Hilary Goldstein or whatever hacks they have review sports games at the major sites.

[savoie2006]

Quote: Originally Posted by Eddie1967

Yeah that's it call of duty. No, believe it or not I have never played on line. I will have to give it a try. What's your gamer tag. I'll try to play sometime.

Actually I hadn't either until recently.I'll forewarn ya though,it's a bit of a pain at first,but once you start getting some upgrades(after a certain amount of kills),it gets better.GT=savoie06

[daflyboys]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bornindamecca

Last year, NHL 08 was reviewed as being hands down being better than NHL 2k8. Is that true?

Oh, God....please don't go there again..... you'll get so many sphincters around here tightening up.....lol.

[savoie2006]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bornindamecca

I don't know anything about hockey, except for what it has in common with basketball, but I scored a goal in my first game against the computer and it felt great! The demo was fun. Last year, NHL 08 was reviewed as being hands down being better than NHL 2k8. Is that true? I know how this EA vs. 2k stuff can go, and I'm not trying to start anything, but I trust the crowd here much more than Hilary Goldstein or whatever hacks they have review sports games at the major sites.

Yes it's true,08 is the better overall game.Eddie and Saint Patrick will try to tell you differently,but they are a small minority.

[kerosene31]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bornindamecca

Last year, NHL 08 was reviewed as being hands down being better than NHL 2k8. Is that true?

Nobody can tell you which game is "best". That would be like comparing one restaurant's steak to another's lobster. You have to play demos and decide which one is right for you.

Honestly, I thought both games were not that impressive last year. I spent $120 on both and didn't play either game all that much.

I'll most likely be buying both games this year as well, simply because nobody else here or anywhere else can tell me which one I will like better.

[Scottdau]

Yeah that is a tough one. I really loved the Skill stick in 08, but I like the animation and the way the puck physics were in 2k8.