Is 2K the way to go this year?

[DGuinta1]

I haven't played Hockey in a few years but interested in maybe getting 2k10 this year. In times past I played 2K hockey though I have seen EA' hockey get great reviews for last years games. Been tough getting stocked for hockey being a Rangers fan.
Suggestions and thoughts please?

Oh that celebration where the goal scorer lays the stick on the ice and rubs his hands together to feel the heat from the stick, does that happen now? Unique celebrations?

[baa7]

Depends on your gaming preference. 2K has tons of tweaking options to adjust to your level and style of play: ratings, sliders and User/CPU team strategy. EA's game is basically devoid of depth and tweaking options, and the CPU plays the same way regardless of which team you play against. EA's game has the more intuitive controls, so if you're looking for something to easily pick up and play and to just have some mindless fun, it's the better game for that. And it's easy on the eyes.

As for this year, EA's game looks more or less unchanged while 2K appears to have put a bunch of work into overhauling the controls and AI (which it needed). The biggest issue I have is EA's game has absolutely no player momentum. Players have too much agility and can spin on a dime. And the CPU programming takes full advantage of that shortcoming which leads to a very frustrating offline experience. I'd sum things up by saying EA is directing their game towards the online crowd, and 2K towards offline gamers who are looking for User-CPU gameplay depth. Which explains in part why EA's game has been getting a lot of attention -- online is where the majority of gamers and site reviews focus their attention.

[DGuinta1]

Quote: Originally Posted by baa7

Depends on your gaming preference. 2K has tons of tweaking options to adjust to your level and style of play: ratings, sliders and User/CPU team strategy. EA's game is basically devoid of depth in the form of tweaking options, and the CPU plays the same way regardless of which team you play against. EA's game has the more intuitive controls, so if you're looking for something to easily pick up and play and to just have some fun, it's the better game for that. As for this year, EA's game looks more or less unchanged while 2K appears to have put a bunch of work into overhauling the controls and AI (which it needed). I'll be renting 2K10 to check it out. And I doubt at this point I'll be renting EA's game, and I certainly won't be buying it this year from the looks of it. I bought NHL 09 last year, and it was barely more than a roster update of NHL 08.

Ty for your thoughts. Guess renting is the way to go at first. I see there is an EA demo out but not one yet for 2K. I was surprised that EA' game was better the last year or so since I am normally a 2K fan, from 2k5 football(best game until I played the show) to 2k bball and hockey.
I think the overhaul of the controls is a good thing if it add better gameplay to the game and hopefully I won't have too much of a problem since I haven't played hock in a few years. Back in the day my friends and I had hockey tourneys with 2K Hockey and they where so much fun. I miss those days. (38 years old)

[baa7]

Quote: Originally Posted by DGuinta1

I was surprised that EA' game was better the last year or so since I am normally a 2K fan, from 2k5 football(best game until I played the show) to 2k bball and hockey.

I rent first always, so definitely, that's the way to go.

A lot of us NFL 2K5-era gamers are still waiting for 2K to start churning out games that rival their games of the past. Me, I'm not sure it's going to happen. I personally think 2K will fold before too long. Maybe 2K10 will change that, but I'm not hopeful.

EA's game has been better for 3 years now. But it's important of qualify what "better" means, especially these days. EA's game is nice to look at and fun online. That's its big draw. Offline against the CPU is another story. It's an arcade game at best, and a frustrating, cheaply programmed game that's barely representative of the sport. Though 2K9 had it's own programming issues -- it was basically broken. So again, renting either is the smart thing to do for sure.

[DGuinta1]

Quote: Originally Posted by baa7

I rent first always, so definitely, that's the way to go. A lot of us NFL 2K5-era gamers are still waiting for 2K to start churning out games that rival their games of the past. Me, I'm not sure it's going to happen. I personally think 2K will fold before too long. Maybe 2K10 will change that, but I'm not hopeful. EA's game has been better for 3 years now. But it's important of qualify what "better" means, especially these days. EA's game is nice to look at and fun online. That's its big draw. Offline against the CPU is another story. It's an arcade game at best, and a frustrating, cheaply programmed game that's barely representative of the sport. Though 2K9 had it's own programming issues -- it was basically broken. So again, renting either is the smart thing to do for sure.

Neooooooooo!!! 2K can't fold! Geez the thought just saddens me!

Ahh good to know since I mainly play against friends or offline.

[baa7]

Quote: Originally Posted by DGuinta1

Neooooooooo!!! 2K can't fold! Geez the thought just saddens me!

If 2K keeps releasing broken games, they'll fold.

EA's games, even their crap games like Madden, at least work for the most part. So they're "better games" in that regard, definitely.

[baa7]

Quote: Originally Posted by DGuinta1

Ahh good to know since I mainly play against friends

Then I would recommend NHL 09 over NHL 2K9. As for the games coming out, who knows yet?

[DGuinta1]

Quote: Originally Posted by baa7

If 2K keeps releasing broken games, they'll fold. EA's games, even their crap games like Madden, at least work for the most part. So they're "better games" in that regard, definitely.

EA has been making crap games for years and their still here.

Yea I know the big boys on the block.

Oh well hopefully Visual Concepts and 2K will be around for a long time!