NHL 2K9 Demo Available on the Marketplace

[nyisles16]

Just DL'd the demo myself, and must say that it basically feels the same as 2k8. I do like the team intros on center ice, but the gameplay feels slow to me for some reason - just seemed guys were "sitting around" for a bit before they reacted.

I'll play some more, but from what I've seen, this looks to be a rental game for me.

[TheMatrix31]

Since no one responded to my post in the Wii Controls thread, I figure I'd ask it here. I suppose it's the same for all consoles, so, I just wanted to know how long (in minutes) a full game takes to play.

[Money99]

Just got done playing a few more games of 2K9. I'm really enjoying the demo.

Like 06 said, there's a real loose feeling to the gameplay. I love the puck physics and because of it you'll see some very unpredictable goals.

I also love how you can hit your own players or even the ref. Poor little Jiri Hudler got run over by the official during my last game.

Having played both the PS3 and 360 demo versions I've noticed the offensive AI for the CPU is much better on the 360's. I don't know if that's any kind of indication but in 5 games against the CPU on the Xbox it scored 6 goals. Not bad when you consider it's only 5 periods and shortened ones at that. Compare to that to 0 goals in 8 games I played on Rudes PS3.

A few of things I still don't like though:

1. Hitting is still a bit too over the top. It's better than 2K8 but it still needs some toning down. Particularily from players who rarely hit.
2. While I like the new Pro Evolution stick control it still leaves something to be desired. I still don't feel like I have total control and I don't like how I have to press button-combo's to get a canned-deke. At times I'd love to do a toe-drag but I have to press a thousand buttons to do so.
3. Flip-passes are bad. Your player stops skating to load up a flip-pass. It's unrealistic and can kill some chances.
4. Not enough lateral movement. On a breakaway with Hossa I would have loved to shift from left to right to deke out Fleury but there doesn't appear to be too much of it.

All in all though, I don't think any of the above will kill the game for me. There's a lot of good in it.
Crosby scored a beauty against me where he toe-dragged around Lidstrom and fired it past Osgood. It brought a big smile to my face. I'm sure the full version will do the same.

[Scottdau]

Yeah between this game and EA's I am going to be getting my full share of hockey!

[Behindshadows]

Let me take back my comments about the graphics. I went back and popped 2k8 in, and then played more of the demo of 2k9.

Graphics don't suck, they are different styles, you can see Kush was going for that realistic look with skin textures and things like that. That is why people considered it to look so nice in HD that is.

2k9 with Visual Concepts doing it, has a more animated style to it, more like those of the first scene in the animatrix. Where the player models are very well done, and the jersey's have thread textures to the numbers and the stitching. Also the crowd looks great and so does the ICE in HD. With tons of splashing ice, and streaks in the ice during skating. I think the animations are a bit stiff and weird in the demo when the players are turning around, but many others are fine.

Love the introduction, during loading screen and before the game, nice presentation I can see coming in this game.

Overall I look forward to the final version before being too hard on Visual Concepts about their first attempt since Kush is gone.

HD Video Coming Soon, for spectators who don't have the demo.

[Eddie1967]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

Just got done playing a few more games of 2K9. I'm really enjoying the demo. Like 06 said, there's a real loose feeling to the gameplay. I love the puck physics and because of it you'll see some very unpredictable goals. I also love how you can hit your own players or even the ref. Poor little Jiri Hudler got run over by the official during my last game. Having played both the PS3 and 360 demo versions I've noticed the offensive AI for the CPU is much better on the 360's. I don't know if that's any kind of indication but in 5 games against the CPU on the Xbox it scored 6 goals. Not bad when you consider it's only 5 periods and shortened ones at that. Compare to that to 0 goals in 8 games I played on Rudes PS3. A few of things I still don't like though: 1. Hitting is still a bit too over the top. It's better than 2K8 but it still needs some toning down. Particularily from players who rarely hit. 2. While I like the new Pro Evolution stick control it still leaves something to be desired. I still don't feel like I have total control and I don't like how I have to press button-combo's to get a canned-deke. At times I'd love to do a toe-drag but I have to press a thousand buttons to do so. 3. Flip-passes are bad. Your player stops skating to load up a flip-pass. It's unrealistic and can kill some chances. 4. Not enough lateral movement. On a breakaway with Hossa I would have loved to shift from left to right to deke out Fleury but there doesn't appear to be too much of it. All in all though, I don't think any of the above will kill the game for me. There's a lot of good in it. Crosby scored a beauty against me where he toe-dragged around Lidstrom and fired it past Osgood. It brought a big smile to my face. I'm sure the full version will do the same.

Interesting, Thanks for the impressions. I think you may know a little more about those negatives that you mentioned then I would, but glad to hear they are not game killers. I guess I'm just giddy to have something better then 2k8.

[bjackets]

I played 2k7 and 2k8 very little but enough to know I didn't like them much at all and had pretty much given up on 2K hockey even though it used to always be my favorite.

I played NHL 2008 a bunch and enjoyed it and was really looking forward to 09....that is until playing this 2K9 demo.

Wow what an unexpected surprise! I've never been into demos but have been really enjoying it. I've been very surprised how different each game feels with the same two teams each game.

People can critisize all they want but this game feels totally different than previous versions and does seem rebuilt.

2K9 has a great hockey feel to it...hard to describe but it nails skating and a lot of the other nuances.

There is a huge difference in player abilities.....and i've seen more goal variety in this demo than any other game to date....even saw some blasts from the blueline go in clean.

Goalies are done very well....sometimes they are hot and save everything and other times they give some goals up.....they seem very human like.

There is a lot of hitting but I don't think it's going to be too awful bad this year and I have a feeling that if the penalties are implemented correctly things could even out out in a risk/reward way. I've seen an awful lot of trips that will get called in the full version so if roughing gets called as well we should be fine here.

The one big improvement besides overall feel to me is that you can actually cycle the puck now at a realistic pace...but it isn't over the top easy like in NHL 08 where there wasn't any pressure by the AI defense.

Like Money99 pointed out.....I'm not a big fan of the deke system either and would like this area overhauled but the number of checking animations etc really are well done.

I'm back on the 2K bandwagon

ohiost

[Pierzynski 12]

2k9 is terrible. 09 is getting my money next week.