What You Need to Know About Video Game Hockey This Season

[MC Fatigue]

Quote: Originally Posted by asu666

I'm glad to see VC getting NHL 2K back on the right track. I bought 2K8 last year and it just felt like 2K7 repackaged when I put it up against the huge jump NHL 08 made. I still think NHL 09 will be the best experience, but I could see from the demo that 2K is closing the gap again.

I feel the exact opposite.

NHL 2k9 is feeling like a step forward, and two steps back from NHL 2k8. We've lost some of our control, and they've made the game more "fun".

2008 on the other hand was NHL 2007 with a slightly harder AI. 2009, however, feels a ton different to me.

2k9 isn't closing the gap, they're giving it away. 2k8 was far, far better than 2008. However, it seems like the roles are switching and 2k9 is giving way to 2009 now. I hope 2k gets back on track. Just when Kush gets it right with 2k8, they fire them... They need some consistency already.

[SDwinder]

Quote: Originally Posted by Timmay

I feel the exact opposite. NHL 2k9 is feeling like a step forward, and two steps back from NHL 2k8. We've lost some of our control, and they've made the game more "fun". 2008 on the other hand was NHL 2007 with a slightly harder AI. 2009, however, feels a ton different to me. 2k9 isn't closing the gap, they're giving it away. 2k8 was far, far better than 2008. However, it seems like the roles are switching and 2k9 is giving way to 2009 now. I hope 2k gets back on track. Just when Kush gets it right with 2k8, they fire them... They need some consistency already.

2k8 was crap. Easy on the coolaid buddy. It was a complete checkfest and a big step back from the gameplay of 2K7, which I really liked.

NHL 08 was a revelation as most people in the know stated throughout the year. I didnt like 07 because other than the new stick gameplay, the AI was like chickens running around with their heads cut off. But EA got it right for 08 and 09 looks like more of the same.

I tried both of the the new 2k9 demos on the PS3 and 360. 360 was better but gameplay and camera view were lacking on both. They need more zoom at the far end to see what's going on. Game felt very early in development to me, but the presentation aspects were great. Too bad they didnt spend more time on the gameplay.

[MC Fatigue]

Quote: Originally Posted by SDwinder

2k8 was crap. Easy on the coolaid buddy. It was a complete checkfest and a big step back from the gameplay of 2K7, which I really liked.

Turn the checking down and lay off the button. The CPU doesn't go check crazy, so the only reason it's a check fest is if you decide to abuse it.

2k7 was freaking horrible. 2k8 was the only good hockey game Kush made.

[Dondadda]

For online, there is no other option than 2K sports. The leagues destroy, rip up, and humiliate EA's "effort."

[Russ Tundra]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dondadda

For online, there is no other option than 2K sports. The leagues destroy, rip up, and humiliate EA's "effort."

How it that??? EASHL??? Does that ring a bell? EA has upped their game the last three years and they are the best hockey game to buy. Truthfully there are no arguments. Skill Stick = best thing to ever happen to any sport video game franchise.

[SDwinder]

Quote: Originally Posted by Timmay

Turn the checking down and lay off the button. The CPU doesn't go check crazy, so the only reason it's a check fest is if you decide to abuse it. 2k7 was freaking horrible. 2k8 was the only good hockey game Kush made.

You are about the only one who thinks that. 2K screwed up the controls last year in 2k8, as most reviews will remind you. There was a serious lack of rhythm and flow to 2k8 with all the checking going on. It just didnt work, unless you were too stubborn to admit you paid $60 for a substandard game and forced yourself to like it. I tried but once I got into NHL 08, it was a no-brainer.

Ignorance is not bliss. There is a reason 2k got a new studio to do hockey and baseball this year. They both were weak efforts compared to the competition. Make the mental adjustment and move forward,

[savoie2006]

2K8 wasn't that bad with the checking with the right sliders. I could get less checks actually on 10 minute periods on 2K8 than 08. The problem was in the way it was done. First of all there were 2-3 guys charging a guy and they always lowered their shoulders, like they were trying to make a tackle. So it was just a matter of move to the side, make the pass to a wide open player and shoot.

Even though EA's magnetic hip checks were out of control as well, at least the cpu maintained some sort of positioning on D.

[MC Fatigue]

Quote: Originally Posted by SDwinder

You are about the only one who thinks that.

No, I'm not.

Quote:

2K screwed up the controls last year in 2k8, as most reviews will remind you.

No. NHL 2k8, once you bothered to learn the controls, had amazing controls. The reviews were written by people who apparently had no patience and didn't bother to learn the great controls.

You seem to think that because you love NHL 2008 that somehow NHL 2k8 was a big mess, when it wasn't. The controls were the best of any hockey game ever, I had almost complete control over my player, which is more than I can say about NHL 2008's messy scheme. With some fiddling of the sliders, I was able to get great games with realistic shot totals, realistic scores, and a great playing game that was fun, and challenging. I can't say that about NHL 2008.

I was able to play a game where I had to think and was pressured in the offensive zone, while in 2008 I could stand with the puck and just pass it around for an entire period without being pressured at all. I didn't really have to think much - I could literally grab the puck, skate up the ice, make a move or two and get a shot off. Of course, I had to avoid quite a few moves because of the whole money goal system.

And on note with the checking. So 2k8's was over the top, but it was only from the player - who could just lay off the button... How about that whole hip check thing... You know, the one where you didn't have to have any momentum, but could just basically fly several feet across the ice, getting sucked straight to the player, and then just send them flying?

People seem to have this strange notion that an incredibly flawed NHL 2008 was somehow the king of hockey and could do no wrong, while an incredibly improved 2k8 (from the crap they gave us from 2k4-2k7) was somehow a terrible game. Mostly in part because people didn't bother to learn the controls, which were absolutely incredible once you did, and didn't really bother to find the appropriate settings.

The game wasn't so good out of the box. But once you got everything set up right, it was the best hockey game out there. Even better than 2k3, my previous favorite 2k hockey game.