NHL 09 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

[tgalv]

Quote: Originally Posted by MizzouRah

There is some lag on cut screens and such (360), while in no ways a game killer, I hope that's fixed in the retail verison.

i noticed this too. the new lighting effects are really cool and make the graphics look better but it seems like the framerate on the 360 took a hit with it, especially during cutscenes. it's still not bad though and perfectly playable.

[tgalv]

Quote: Originally Posted by kerosene31

I'M NOT SAYING THE GAME IS TOO HARD. I'M NOT SAYING THE GAME IS TOO HARD. I'M NOT SAYING THE GAME IS TOO HARD. I'M NOT SAYING THE GAME IS TOO HARD. I'M NOT SAYING THE GAME IS TOO HARD. Whatever. Sorry you can't look at the game objectively. Every game needs to cheat. 2k, PES, EA, they all cheat. No $60 game is going to have an AI to beat you fairly. It isn't possible.

so why do you keep complaining about it? how else is the game going give players a challenge if not letting the cpu skate and shoot and control the puck a little better on the higher difficulty levels. the only way to do it would be to make the cpu "smarter" on the higher difficulty levels. and if you create a smart AI, it makes no sense to just hamstring it and make the cpu play dumb on the lower skill levels.

[kerosene31]

Played some more games. More opinions (sorry I just suck at the game, or whatever)

Pros:

-The magic keep away game from 08 is gone. You can't just play keep away from the CPU or vice versa all game long. 09 plays a lot nicer in this regard. You still set up plays, but you can't keep the puck in the zone for 10 minutes straight. The improved passing plus better D controls work really well together. The one-timers are toned down. You still see pressure at times, but it is more realistic (not every play)

-You have to move the puck side to side to get out of the zone and through the neutral zone. I think you could actually play a trap and be effective causing turnovers.

-Shooting is improved. A little less accurate overall. I still think they could make it even less accurate, but a move in the right direction.

-I'm more impressed with the CPU defense than before. At first they seemed a little passive, but they come after you fairly well. You can still do the spin around move along the boards every time though. The AI does not ever seem to adapt to that. You can't generate consistent chances from that though. I'm really interested in seeing different teams play.

-Play along the boards is much improved. Not perfect yet, but the dump and chase seems to actually work pretty well. You dump in and force the D to turn their backs to you and drive in.

Cons:

-The goalies worry me on all-star. No matter what team I play, my goalie gives up terrible goals on long shots. I switch teams and the other goalie does the same thing. Hopefully this is what they talked about fixing in the final version.

-Rebounds - for those getting good garbage goals... I'm not seeing them. All I see is a weird rebound that comes off the goalie at a 90 degree angle. A puck hit Fleury straight in the crest and flew off along the goal line for an easy goal. I see this happening a lot. I'm just not seeing loose pucks in the crease. Is anyone else? I'm trying to fire low, hard shots.

-The animations for your player are definitely slower than the CPU. The CPU can clearly do things you can't. You can adjust to it of course. Like I said before with the skating, it seems more floaty and you end up moving around more. Liked 08 better in this aspect. Not sure why it is different. It is more like 2k8 (which I didn't like at all) where you have to make these bigger circles to move. I thought 08 was a lot tighter than that. Even with vision control you can't stay in a tight circle.

Overall:

-The game isn't 100% sim by any means, but the more I play the more I am enjoying it. Remember too that I only play offline, so these CPU issues stand out more. For those who play online, you probably don't see most of these things at all.

[MizzouRah]

Quote: Originally Posted by tgalv

i noticed this too. the new lighting effects are really cool and make the graphics look better but it seems like the framerate on the 360 took a hit with it, especially during cutscenes. it's still not bad though and perfectly playable.

I actually think it has to do with the player models.. they look a bit better this year and the uniforms are unreal.

[MizzouRah]

I saw a goal tonight where the puck just sat there for a bit and a few seconds after the stick did its motion, the puck finally went forward and into the net. Looked really odd...

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by kerosene31

I'M NOT SAYING THE GAME IS TOO HARD. I'M NOT SAYING THE GAME IS TOO HARD. I'M NOT SAYING THE GAME IS TOO HARD. I'M NOT SAYING THE GAME IS TOO HARD. I'M NOT SAYING THE GAME IS TOO HARD. Whatever. Sorry you can't look at the game objectively. Every game needs to cheat. 2k, PES, EA, they all cheat. No $60 game is going to have an AI to beat you fairly. It isn't possible.

You're just flat out wrong on this, I'm sorry, I swear its the same two people year in year out, you and Baa who repetely complain about cheating AI that 99% of the rest of us just don't see.

[phillyfan23]

Quote: Originally Posted by kerosene31

I'M NOT SAYING THE GAME IS TOO HARD. I'M NOT SAYING THE GAME IS TOO HARD. I'M NOT SAYING THE GAME IS TOO HARD. I'M NOT SAYING THE GAME IS TOO HARD. I'M NOT SAYING THE GAME IS TOO HARD. Whatever. Sorry you can't look at the game objectively. Every game needs to cheat. 2k, PES, EA, they all cheat. No $60 game is going to have an AI to beat you fairly. It isn't possible.

I understand you're not saying the game is too hard....but you're saying the ai cheats to "keep up" with you....RIGHT ?

I disagree....the game keeps up with me because they do have good AI logic and me the user isn't perfect. Sometimes I use bad strategy, sometimes I take chances that I don't need to take which result in goals, etc.

I'm looking at the game very objectively, but since I differ in opinion with you....automatically I am in denial...and you're right

ironic you use the term "objective"

[kerosene31]

Quote: Originally Posted by phillyfan23

I understand you're not saying the game is too hard....but you're saying the ai cheats to "keep up" with you....RIGHT ?

No... I'm not...

My point is the way the CPU cheats can be annoying. The more I play, the "puck magnet" from 08 doesn't seem to be there in 09 now that I have the D controls down. The poke is much more effective when you use the button and right stick.

The turning and accelerating thing is there, but not bad really.

Playing more tonight the one thing that gets me, is my player reacts slowly sometimes. That's what really gets me. The puck is right near your player and you move to get it and it seems to take forever sometimes relative to the other players on the ice. I wish the animations were quicker. I don't really know how to describe it.

Anyway, the game is growing on me after some initial letdown. You can actually play D in the zone now and have fun with it.