News Post

NHL 2K9 Demo Available on the Marketplace

12:07 PM - August 21, 2008 by Steve_OS

2K Sports Announces Free Demo of NHL® 2K9 Now
Available for Download on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace

Xbox 360® gamers to receive an early opportunity to preview highly anticipated hockey title

August 21, 2008 – While dedicated hockey fans eagerly anticipate the first puck to drop for the start of this year’s NHL season, 2K Sports today announced that a free demo of NHL 2K9 is now available for download on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The demo will provide fans an early chance to experience the new simplified controls and relive the excitement of this past season’s thrilling Stanley Cup™ Final for a brief three minute period as either the Pittsburgh Penguins or Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

NHL 2K9, developed by Visual Concepts, brings the fun back to hockey video games with all-new features including user-friendly controls, an exciting Zamboni® mini-game, playoff beards, a revamped fighting engine and much more exciting action than ever before. Complete with fresh new in-game commentary, improved franchise mode, and upgraded online features, NHL 2K9 is rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and older by the ESRB, and will be available on September 9 for Xbox 360, Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. For more information about NHL 2K9, please visit www.2ksports.com/games/nhl2k9.

NHL 2K9 screenshot gallery - Click to view

Game: NHL 2K9Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / PS3 / Wii / Xbox 360Votes for game: 15 - View All

NHL 2K9 Videos

Member Comments

# 1 savoie2006 @ 08/21/08 12:59 PM

Post your impressions here.

Pros:
1.Graphics,it's not the beauty that EA is,but after seeing these graphics in person,I think the game looks better than 2K8 or 2K7.Arenas Look Fabulous.

2.Less Checking,More Bumping.One of my big beefs with 2K8 has apparently been fixed if the demo is any indication.

3.Crowds sound better

Cons:
1.Pro Stick Evolution,not as good as the skill stick,but I expected that in its first year.

2.Players don't resemble their real life counterparts and the goalies look silly,but these are small things in the big picture.

Overall,with some slider adjustments 2K9 should be a winner gameplay wise.Looks like I'll be buying two hockey games this year.

# 2 savoie2006 @ 08/21/08 01:31 PM

Nope,sorry.

# 3 savoie2006 @ 08/21/08 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baa7


	LOL, you'd make a great politician. And that's still hate. Give it up.

Wait a minute,don't you have a vandetta against EA as well?

# 4 bluengold34_OS @ 08/21/08 02:24 PM

Guys, please stay somewhat on topic.....thanks

I played the the demo today, and really thought the arena's were crazy, and the pre-game is done very nicely also-kudos to 2k. I wasnt enamoured by the player models are the faces, but the game play was nice. It felt very solid, but I always like 2k's hockey feel they put on the ice. This will be a day 1 purchase, as it looks to be anice improvement over last year so far.

BTW....nice impressions Timmay. I will also by EA's product, but 2k's always felt to me( personal opinion ) to play a little more sim like, and I always like the spacing that 2k hockey allows on the ice.

# 5 bluengold34_OS @ 08/21/08 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmay


	Somehow they took a step back in the graphics department. The player models look worse than 2k8 for some reason - and the goalies are back to being crabs. They looked better in 2k8 compared to earlier versions, but for some reason they seem to have gone back a step.

I agree, I didnt want to knitpick, but it did look like they digressed, but enjoyed the gameplay and the feel of it, and I guess thats why it wasn't a big deal to me. I haven't looked yet, but is there a way to change the difficulty of the demo, it was a little to easy?

Still very impressed with pre game entrance and ice show

# 6 bluengold34_OS @ 08/21/08 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmay


	Nope - no options in the demo except for choosing the controller layout. The gameplay itself does play great, and for me the graphics aren't much of an issue either so I for the most part I don't mind them.

That sucks, but thanks anyways. You going to pick up both games this year, or just 2k??

# 7 Klocker @ 08/21/08 05:38 PM

Brief impressions... I liked it a lot better as soon as I switched controls to "Hybrid'. A combo of classic and Pro Stick... Pro Evo Stick is also available

game play was solid (on easy) and scoring was fun and the game seemed a bit slowed form the last couple of years, more deliberate, especially speed burst.

As for the graphics, opening sequence ROCKS... and the graphics are definitely more polished with less of that "cartoon animated" feel of previous versions and more of a 3D look to the players. although as noted faces were kind of weak from what I can tell. the modeling of the players and lighting definitely have more dimension IMO

# 8 Stroehms @ 08/21/08 09:44 PM

Long live NHL 09!

# 9 MizzouRah @ 08/21/08 09:51 PM

Scott, you were right!

Love the new Pro Evolution controls.

Gone is the massive checks that knock you off the puck as soon as you shoot it.

Skating feels realistic... speed burst is finally like it should be.

Game flows very smooth, just like last year.

I think with the commentators, penalties, and a harder difficulty, I'm going to love this game. Game speed seems good and although the players don't look like EA's game, everything else is beautiful.

Oh.. crowds are the best in any sports game - really get into the game, nice!

Is it the end all of hockey games? No... but for me, it's what they set out to do, create a fun hockey game.

# 10 kerosene31 @ 08/21/08 09:59 PM

Just played the demo. My impressions:

Pros:

-Much improved from 2k8 (which I thought was awful)
-Defensive controls are very good
-Realistic passing (EA needs to copy this and remove laser passing)
-AI seems somewhat improved (hard to tell on unknown difficulty level)
-skating much better
-with the tons of sliders available in the final game, this might play a really good game of sim hockey
-controls are much improved, although I wish they did not copy EA's shooting with the right stick. They should stick with a button to shoot and let you control the puck completely with the right stick.
-the checking from past games is toned down and very realistic
-presentation is nice

Cons:
-player models look... awful
-goalie animations are not much improved
-I'd like to see how the AI does on higher difficulty. So far, it was not really setting up plays in the zone very much beyond one pass. Miles better than last year, but that isn't saying much. Still too much "driving the net like a zombie".
-players are a little slow to control, might be fixable with sliders

Overall:
This is a pretty good game for a 1st year build. You have to expect 2 years to get everything playable, but this plays pretty well as-is.

I really need to see it on higher difficulty levels to see if the AI has made significant improvements. If the AI is great on higher levels, we could have a great game.

# 11 allBthere @ 08/21/08 10:00 PM

Very impressed. I didn't think I would be either since videos of the game (although usually small and grainy) make it seem like the same thing as the past couple of years.

It's not at all, it feels so much better, there is so much more weight, and I'm so glad they completely ditched the stretched-out no frills, bulk-barn style menues of the past. It's 3D, it's intense, even the sounds is so much more 3D and way more compelling.

After playing the demo, and seeing the new fighting, I've got to say that I'm seriously considering picking this up and absolutley going to rent if not buying right at release. The last hockey purchase for me was a few years ago so this is saying a lot.

# 12 Qb @ 08/21/08 10:05 PM

I'm my way to get this now! BTW, I merged the other demo thread into this one. There are a post or two that seem out of place, but I don't want to be deleting people's posts...

# 13 MizzouRah @ 08/21/08 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allBthere


	Very impressed. I didn't think I would be either since videos of the game (although usually small and grainy) make it seem like the same thing as the past couple of years. It's not at all, it feels so much better, there is so much more weight, and I'm so glad they completely ditched the stretched-out no frills, bulk-barn style menues of the past. It's 3D, it's intense, even the sounds is so much more 3D and way more compelling. After playing the demo, and seeing the new fighting, I've got to say that I'm seriously considering picking this up and absolutley going to rent if not buying right at release. The last hockey purchase for me was a few years ago so this is saying a lot.

Yeah, once you play the demo for yourself.. it's really and fun and exciting game to play. I'm seeing some really great goals and a bunch of variety. Skill players play like well.. skill players. Love the crowd, again.. I can't say enough of the atmostphere.

Really can't wait to pick up my copy on Sept 9th!

The goalie animations do not seem as good as last year and I don't like the faceoff system as much as last year.. but overall, there is alot to like here.

I would bet on the next highest difficulty setting, the game could get quite better as far as AI goes.

I need to see a fight!

# 14 Eddie1967 @ 08/22/08 01:33 AM

Awesome demo for what looks to be an outstanding game. The checking, skating, animations and puck physics are all top notch. The presentation has been upgraded big time. Love the intro's. Player models don't bother me, besides it''s the game play that counts and VC has done a fantastic job with this rebuilt game. It's a huge leap from 2k8. No more checking fest, and much better AI. The king is back......................

# 15 Eddie1967 @ 08/22/08 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmay


	Stop digging through posts in order to find something to bitch about. Either play the demo and comment on it - or go away. This thread is to post about the demo, not to try to nitpick at other people's posts in an attempt to start arguments. I've no idea who you are - but you would certainly appear to be unworthy of discussing this matter with any further So I'll leave it at that, and hopefully this can get back on track, instead of being dragged off course.

He's does that often, jumps in a thread and says something smart to start an argument and then moves on. I put him on ignore long ago. Anyway I agree, I always felt EA's hockey was more arcade and definitely not near the simulation 2k's is. This year 2k has taken that to a new level IMO. EA looks improved this year too, but I'm not sure how long it will hold my attention. I like the detail that 2k puts in their games. Can't wait for this one.

# 16 Blitzburgh @ 08/22/08 10:25 AM

I played the demo last night about 10 times and used the Hybrid controls. It was definately alot more fun than 2k8 for me.

Pros-
Skating felt very realistic to me. I never liked how fast they moved last year and seemed to slide around to much to me.

I have seen some really cool animations as well.

The camera is perfect to me the way it flows with the game.

Face-offs are the best in the biz, hold up on the R stick and then pull back to win it! It feels real!

Sound and the arena looks and sounds great!

Cons..

Player models all look the same and are not very detailed

stick handleing is sadly doesn't exist imo at least not to the point where you feel you can manually drive and deke out the goalie. Am i missing something here?

I hate canned moves with the left bumper! To me that is a thing of the past and in this Gen we should have alll the control to make the moves and not have to rely on memorizing what does what with a button or stick push.

I would like to see checking somehow moved to the R stick. Hitting a button just doesn't feel right to me.

Final comments..

They were aiming for fun this year and I think they nailed that. I don't really miss the graphics too much because the game play is fun but it would be that much better if they looked realistic. Same goes for the player faces.

I need to play NHL 09 demo when it drops and really see which is more fun. Last year I scored to much on pro and sucked on allstar so that kind of took the fun out of NHL 08 for me.

# 17 Blitzburgh @ 08/22/08 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottdau


	Yeah I really like it. It is the exactly the same as the PS3. Maybe if it is on a harder level the goalie animation will be better, but to me they are fine. I did a sweet deke to get the goalie to sift then I did a top shelf. It was freaking sweet. I love the goals in this game and the skating is the best I have ever played. I love Ea's skating too, but this just have more of a feeling of weight. Can't wait for both of these games to drop. It is a great year for hockey. I hope this really starts to make the other try to out duel each other.

Hey my friend, how did you deke? Was it using the L bumper and the left thumbstick special moves or is there a way to manually deke? Thanks I use the hybrid controls.

# 18 CarryTheWeight @ 08/22/08 10:58 AM

Honestly, I don't see why people are bashing this game. It's a very fun hockey game. It reminds me a lot of NHL Hitz Pro, which had a perfect mix of simulation and arcade aspects IMO to make it one of the more fun hockey games out there. This could very well be Pro's spiritual successor.

It just feels, though, like I'm playing a game from last generation. Despite the great animations and presentation, the game feels like it was made in 2004. It's nothing major and I don't really have a problem with it, but I just get the feeling that 2K dropped the ball graphically. The arenas and crowds look excellent, but there's only so much you can do with environmental models. Player models are what you'll be spending 99.9% of your time observing, so why aren't they up to par with NHL 2K8's?

Also, this could very well be the best SOUNDING hockey video game in years. EA's series has been doing pretty well in that regard recently, but 2K9 exceeds it. The chants and crowd reactions are great and are mixed in well with the rest of the action, it almost sounds like they were actually recorded from Joe Louis Arena instead of in-studio. Sound effects, especially the sound of the puck rattling off the boards, glass and off the goalie's pads, are much more authentic.

I won't be buying the 360 version this year (going with Wii instead), so I hope a lot of what I saw in the demo carries over to that console's version. I'll be really disappointed if they drop the ball in that department.

# 19 MizzouRah @ 08/22/08 11:17 AM

I agree.. the sounds are the best in any game.

Really anxious to play the full version!

# 20 allBthere @ 08/22/08 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MizzouRah


	I need to see a fight!

I should have mentioned, that I saw a fight that someone posted here I think on youtube, not in the demo. But playing the demo combined with how cool the fight looked make it something to look forward to.

« Previous12 3 4 Next »

More Links

NHL 2K9 Demo Available on the Marketplace