I used to be a die hard 2k fan, but the whole MMO gameplay that NHL 09 has is going to be hard to beat. Playing as one player in a massive custom league? I have to change my undies every time I think about it.

guitarzan2k5

@ChimDeathmonkey: Because during the half time in Blades of Steel you could play a Gradius boss. Aw yeah.

Eville1 says SKUse me a sec.

Hell yeah. I don't live in CO but I'm a die hard Avs fan if that helps. This is one of the only sports games I'll actually play.

Eville1 says SKUse me a sec.

@MSUSteve: and lord knows, time can't progress past last year.

themissing

Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey and 3D Hockey 98 were the balls. Running scores up to like 13-10. You score on just about every rush down the ice... so great.

amazinglarry

Did the guy in the placeholder image break his ankle or something?

Samutz

anyone who thinks this is real...go check gameplay vids, this is nothing but pre-rendered crap. This is not what the game looks like while playing.

ComixZone

i refuse to play another sports game until they all have incorporated natural motion's euphoria engine

@archibaldleech: that song makes children into men.

3inst3in

looks unreal...
and you can drive the zambonnni?>?>?>?>?>?>?>?>?>?>?>

Scrapple

Hm. If they fix their stupid controls from last year then it may be good. But I'm definitely getting NHL 09. 07 and 08 have impressed me so far, so I'll stick with them.

HAHA, GET IT, STICK? Yeah.

who8myrice

Just found out it's Xbox 360

exnihilio

Wayne Gretzkey's 3D Hockey 98, I think it was. That was a fun game. There was a rage meter that let you do a fighting minigame when it topped out.

ZinkO: USA WE DA BEST

What platform is the video of? Looks a little pretty to be Wii

exnihilio

looks like they're gonna let you drive the zamboni.... I wonder how they're planning on making that fun for longer than 10 seconds.

aKed

I remember loving NHL 98 & 99, but then again ice was kinda hard to find when living in Zimbabwe. :-( That game was all we knew about Hockey...that and NHL Hitz.

CHU BOI

Yeesh, that song.

archibaldleech

I think I may have to buy this purely out of Principle. Mastodon rocks.

Redface

I miss the NHL Hitz series. I mean, it was a fairly solid hockey game, but the over the top gameplay was the best. The big hitz and fights were awesome...ahhh the good ol days.

Killer_WaLrUs

If you're any kind of hockey fan you'd know that NHL 08 was the way to go last year, not the 2k series.

MSUSteve

Playoff beards + Zamboni mini game = Epic Win

Bakkster_Man

I remember adoring Wayne Gretzky's on N64 but - that - was a long time ago.

sir_carrot

I love hockey (I'm from Canada), love hockey games (I'm from Canada), and much prefer the 2K franchice over EA's offering (I'm from.. Canada?). I'm very much looking forward to this!

Inanition

Living in CO I agree.. we have 3 seasons.
Football season, Hockey Season... Construction season. (the worst season of them all)

Rabidsquirrel

NHL 94 on genesis is all one need.
Blades of steel comes second.... check the pass!

Kyolux

that looks great AND a MASTODON song?!!! amazing.

themissing

Hockey is pretty big in Germany, depending on the region though. Not so much in other countries here. I do believe NHL games sell well in Europe but not as good as FIFA/PES.

Candlejack

Have not played a hockey game in years. Will see how it turns out.

KaneTaker

I love hockey, but gave up on games after you couldn't make them bleed anymore.

Plus, best hockey game ever was Blades of Steel.

ChimDeathmonkey

I'm a CO resident and I don't like hockey. Of course, I don't ski and I don't like the Broncos either, so what the hell do I know?

chuffhoncho

Im curious to see what they can with the wiimote to simulate slap sticks.

They have these one to beat:

+ Watch video

+ Watch video

And, of course, the unbeatable, legendary:

+ Watch video

The puck is in your court, EA. Will you make me have to buy HNL on the Wii or not?

Shiryu

2k8 killed it for me. 2k dominated EA from the first nhl2k (bob cole & harry neale commentary was amazing too) up until 2k6. 2k7 wasn't much improvement over 2k6 and then they completely lost it for 2k8. Of course that being the year that EA stepped up there game.

I'm the kind of guy who will play both versions extensively too. I just love hockey that much.

I'm not sure what to expect for this year. EA will probably keep their game the same, which is decent but could be better. 2k9 will need an overhaul because 2k8 was just abysmal, and yeah, I got used to the controls and it was still just not very good.

ps. yes, I am canadian.

weendex

@Shifty203: looks like garbage?
come on you get to drive the zamboni

Jamaces

@themissing: Did you play NHL 08? It was not only the best hockey game I have ever played, but one of the best sports games I've ever encountered. I'd definitely recommend checking it out.

Pre-rendered nonsense with a glimpse of a Zamboni minigame, all set to Mastadon? Take-Two is doing a good job with telling me to perpetually ignore their hockey offerings; a successful sports game trailer gets me caught up in the experience of the sport - commentators, cheering crowds, buzzers, etc. - not by depicting an oppressive land lacking esprit.

advertised as poetry

Sorry, this looks like garbage compared to NHL09. I know who will be getting my money yet again this year.

Shifty203

2K has to completely revamp their controls and player graphics before I'll ever re-buy their product. The last really good 2K hockey game -- in terms of gameplay -- was 2K6 -- and it was buggy like no game before it or since (I still enjoyed it for its much stronger gameplay compared to EA's offering at the time).

EA created by far the best hockey video game in 08 last year -- controls that are intuitive yet require skill, generally great AI (admittedly, with a few holes like any other game), and graphics that make 2K look like a joke in comparison. I mean -- look at the bug-eyed players in 2K hockey games for just a few seconds -- I can't believe the poor quality of their facial graphics.

2K's real strength was in their football games but that went down the tubes with EA's exclusivity deal with the NFL. It's too bad they can't put the same sort of work into their hockey franchise as they did with football years ago.

Xsid

@guitarzan2k5: lol assuming it works. they tried it in the past with other games and the shit never worked. someone always got disconnected or the game would freeze/crash two minutes into it.

themissing

Eww Hockey? PASS!

Aznchan

@amazinglarry: Fist NHL 2K for the Dreamcast, After 1 semester with that game our scores where like 58-61, 60-62... Great times..

AudibleDefect

The only damn game EA does well....NHL.

They'll be getting my monies...however, good show 2K...good show.

Canadiankid

Wow, NHL2K9 looks as crappy as NHL2K games have always been

airdom

Let's see if 2K Sports can come back with this one. NHL 2K8 was a huge disappointment. And I've been a 2K Sports fanboy for a loooong time.

Pixelantes Anonymous

NHL 08 had amazing controls, but the most boring gameplay ever. I was so disappointed. I hardly ever play it. The hits were so weak and lackluster, and the AI was ridiculous. Never should a team be able to even up the score in the final period after I am up 5 - 0 so frequently. That's not "smart AI", that's broken and unfair AI.

But unfortunately, NHL 2K8 had terrible controls, so I had to stick with EA. Hopefully EA turns down the suck this year.

bysty

@Shiryu: looks as if there is no EA NHL 09 for Wii this year. So our only option is NHL 2k9.

teh_joe

The ONLY problem with NHL08 is that dealing with players in dynasty mode. 1) the computer automatically resigns guys who are going to become free agents, so you cant ' let them walk', you have to trade or hope they get picked up on waivers. Stupid bug. And the overall interface could improve. But the gameplay itself is awesome.

If NHL09 is hit with the same crappy bugs other EA sports titles have been plagued with lately, I'll definately check out 2k9. I used to buy both every year, but since 2k6 have only got NHL series games.

underthechestnuttree

After witnessing my friend use the goddamned stupid NHL 94 ring around the goalie AI bug on NHL '08 (!) to get something like 16-0 or 16-2 with the motherfucking MONTREAL CANADIENS (of the 06-07 season, so you KNOW their original stats sucked) with each and every game, I can't see why 2K8 would be worse, but I guess they found a way. Seriously, it'd be like, in FIFA 08, shoot from one of the edges of the center circle and get a top corner goal each time, like you could do in '94.

And yes, sadly, it still works. You have to wear out the goalie first (by repeatedly doing that), but by second period/third period, it's an automatic goal unless you hit the post. Funny part? The commercials for the game lauded that the AI would learn frfom your patterns to prevent you from doing it.

I'm not doubitng those who say that 2K sports dropped the ball from 2K6 onwards, I'm just saying NHL '08 doesn't seem like it should get THAT much praise.

CommentatorHatman

@teh_joe: Doh! I got those two mixed up. :(

Shiryu

Go Habs Go!

RadProphet

1) Updated version of Mutant League (both hockey and football). Now.

2) I love me the hockey and try to love the games, but they just have not been very good. I'm hoping for a better year this year...but i'm gonna wait to play it before I buy it.

3) There is no 3. Lists don't seem right without at least 3 things.

beta_angel

Also Canadian. Also getting this. Wii version though! Best for me would be a DS edition of one of the real games, not that Kidz crap.

On a related topic, I'm going to join a hockey team (university of rhode island) for the first time in... 10 years? How I've missed it.

jeffx

@RadProphet: Oh yeah, cup #25 is coming for their centenial year!

It does look pretty good. I spotted a zamboni mini-game in there too, which is always welcome.

Yobari

Hockey games peaked on the Sega Genesis in the mid-90s. Those were fun. This game looks really good, but I don't know if I can get that excited about a hockey game anymore. I make way more money these days, so I'll probably pick up the better hockey anyway. Leafs suck, go Sens!

SeedyXX

@RadProphet: @Yobari:

BOOOOOOOOOO!

Go B's! :D

amazinglarry

drivable Zamboni = instant buy, well played EA

Fert

I live in CA and love hockey. I'm buying this for sure. Go Kings Go!

Morphie

09 is going to get most of my attention mostly because of the 6vs6 online play.

However, to any sharks fans out there, be aware that Randy and Drew are doing commentary on 2k9.

DuckPoo

I think NHL 08 was way better than the 2K Sports hockey.

Axolotl

I'm really looking forward to EA's 09. I mean the Be a Pro mode sounds fun as hell. Go Flyers!

jello44

is it me or it seems that we can control the zamboni? that would be funny

mcool93

Hockey is so underrated. GO CANUCKS!

NeoAmon

@amazinglarry: HELLs YEAH!! lets go Bs!!! Those Habs barely made it past the Bruins, who softened them up for the Flyers in round two. The Price is wrong!!

That being said, i think the 2k series looks like garbage. Those goalie animations are very repetative, they never seem to drop the butterfly. The jerseys look really tight and unnatural. It looks like NHL hitz and is it just me or did the game seem really grey, somewhat like NHL 95?

wiriamou

Hold on, hold on, HOLD ON!!!

Did I see a playable Zamboni in there? For seriously?

Quilt

@MSUSteve: That was last year.. who knows what'll happen this year. EA hasn't exactly delivered in other areas this year. I cringe, but await both games to rent and see which one I'll be buying.

MrBionic

The only thing I dont like about Ice Hockey is I can never keep track of where the puck is. Maybe if they made it bigger, and rounder. And played on grass instead of ice, and made the goals bigger, and used their feet to kick it instead of hockey sticks. Yeah, then I'd really like it, that sounds awesome!

CockneyKaiser

fyi those PICTURES ARE FROM THE WII VERSION!

DontTouchMyDaughterYouFilthyGaijin

@amazinglarry: @wiriamou: We still beat you guys... :)

RadProphet

@NeoAmon: Hockey gets no damned respect because its a Canadian sport and has many European players and very few "minority" players. Too bad considering it's the best sport to see live and has the best athletes in the world when it comes to the big pro sports.

If the game were easier to follow on TV and had more black and hispanic players things would be much different. LETS GO DEVILS!

DontTouchMyDaughterYouFilthyGaijin

I have always liked NHL 2k's sim hockey, rather then EA's arcade style hockey. I bought 2k8 last year and have a rule of not buying a sports game every year, so 2k10, you have my business.

Muisee

If you want to see a real hockey game in action, just go to the NHL 09 media site.

[www.easports.com]

Seriously, guys. 2K9 has been shite for the last few years.

MIKEAWESOME

Wow.
That song was friggin awful.

The game looks just as bad.

NHL 09 here I come!

Superlocke

god wacthing that jsut make wonder what NFL 2k9 would look like

TheblazinNinja

Go Avs! Still probably gonna go with NHL 09 though.

tshack

The graphics look like a huge leap over 2K8, but my homeboy Dion Phaneuf (I'm from Calgary) is on the cover of NHL 09. I'll be getting 09 for sure, but I won't dismiss 2K like years past.

The Magnificen7

For anybody seriously considering a hockey game, then they've already paid for NHL '09. If not literally, then in spirit.

And... that Zamboni driving game looks wicked stupid.

MichaelBrazell

2k hockey games have been better every year over ea's games until last year. This game at least looks pretty and you get to drive the zamboni, and that is so awesome it secured my purchase.

ItotheCtotheE

Oh, I'm Canadian too. Since we're all, like, shouting it out. Yeah. From Toronto. Leafs fan. That's why hockey games are so important. When else am I going to see the Leafs A) Win the cup B)in a perfect season. They let us live out our hockey fantasies.

"Look at the score. I'm only in the middle of the second, and I'm winning 12 to 2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene. Now, Hartford-the whale-hey, they only beat Vancouver once... maybe twice in a lifetime."

SonicRift

I used to buy EA hockey games at least once every 2 years, but stopped in '02. It got stale. Felt like it didn't change from '98. Picked up NHL2K7 and totally got back into it. Last years offerings were reviewed poorly, and the demo's didn't hook me, so I skipped it. Hoping for something groundbreaking this year.

SonicRift

I'd be shocked if they overthow EA's offering this year. NHL 08 was a truly outstanding game (arguably the best ever, depending on how you value '93), and 09 looks to build on that solid foundation. The 2K series has a long way to go to be competitive, and I doubt its a gap they can bridge in a single year.

Jakkers

I stopped with the 2K series when 2K7 wouldn't let me finish the month of October in season mode, and their wonderful support monkeys told me it was clearly a problem with my console... which I might've believed if the same thing didn't happen on two other consoles.

Sadly, I hadn't played an EA NHL game in years, but trying to get used to doing everything with the right analog stick proved to be too much, and I gave up on that franchise as well.

My only hope: [update.nhl94.com]

gotroot801