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NHL '09
As Good as Hockey Gets...
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Last year, when I played the demo for NHL ’08 and read the features list, I remember saying to myself: “Next year this will be awesome”. It was clear that they had spent tons of time developing the new skill stick system, which is great, but the release for ’08 seemed rushed to me, like they finished the core game then had a month or two to cram in some functionality. Well, this year they came back in spades. They not only added every feature I could have asked for, but many that I hadn’t even considered.
The first thing they did that is really cool is the addition of the “Be-A-Pro” mode for single player. For the first time ever you can take the ice as an individual and work your way through your hockey career. You pick your position, goalie even, and then you play that position throughout your career, never changing characters. Even when a line change occurs, or you get a penalty, you watch the game from a first-person perspective at the bench or the penalty box. The entire time you’re playing, as well, there is an extending blue line from your avatar that lets you know when you are out of position. Not only is the game mode fun, but it teaches you about hockey and prepares you for the next amazing feature: The EA Sports Hockey League.
The EASHL is the first online sporting league, ever. Much like “Be-A-Pro” mode you create a character and pick a position. The difference is, however, that all your character's progress is made by playing 6 vs. 6 online (or a smaller subset of players, of course). You and up to 49 other friends can create a virtual team to play in the league, and at least some of you have to show up and play games to move up the leaderboards. Next April EA will give away the first EASHL cup to whoever is leading the boards. As you play you get points to build your character just like in the single player mode.
Playing online with 5 other players is a very surreal experience. At first everyone defaults into their normal NHL game methods of chasing the puck, but it doesn’t take long for most people to realize that 5 people chasing a puck is a bad strategy. You get on voice and start discussing strategy, and one person invariable yelling at the rest to play their positions, and everyone normally falls in line. That’s when the real magic begins. It’s only when you play with 5 other human players that you realize how superficial playing with a computer is. Every player on the ice is displaying unpredictable, strange behaviour, and it all seems real. This is without question one of the greatest gameplay experiences to come along in a while.
The game is not without its problems, however. The first major problem is the camera in “Be-A-Pro” mode. Whenever you grab the puck it switches into this really cool action mode where the camera stays focused on the puck relative to your character at all times. The problem is, however, that you can’t seem to get it out of this mode when you want, and sometimes it just jumps into it for no good reason at all. Other times the camera seems to swing around your character uncontrollably, presumably at the times when the puck moves on some horizon limit for your focus, but it is extremely distracting and can often cause your player to stop skating and then move again.
The second major problem is the slowdown, an issue that seems to plague a lot of EA sports titles. Look, this is 2008, and when I play GTAIV I can see an entire mock-up of New York City rendered at once in 60 FPS. When dealing with 10 moving characters and a static hockey rink these graphics should be IMMACULATE without an ounce of slowdown. Every single time the game moves into a close-up of a player on the ice it crawls at about 5 frames per second. Fortunately the actual game isn’t as affected, but it also has times where slowdown occurs and messes with the gameplay. |
Graphics
Looks pretty nice but is plagued by slowdown in close-ups. The player models are definitely pretty sweet.
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7.5 |
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Sound
Nothing to complain about here. I turn up the volume regularly just to hear the puck slide along the boards around my head.
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10.0 |
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Gameplay
Love the skill stick system but camera difficulties in Be-A-Pro mode hurt this score a little. Hey, you can always use NHL '94 controls if you want too (that's right. I said '94).
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9.0 |
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Originality
Have to give this one huge marks for the EASHL. Having a real virtual hockey league that up to 50 friends can create a team for is probably the most innovative movement in virtual sports gaming ever.
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10.0 |
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Interface
Not too many complaints, but I really wish they had the one-click save all feature that Madden NFL '09 had. Also, the "Disc read error" that is solved by clearing your cache is unacceptable.
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8.5 |
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Fun
Insanely fun hockey, probably the best you've ever played. I don't enjoy this one QUITE as much as Madden, though, and given that I am a hockey fan at heart I had to dock it a little for that.
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9.5 |
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Lasting Appeal
This should last a damn long time. Just like with Madden, they will have to come out with some pretty significant improvements next year to get me to buy another version. This one does everything.
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10.0 |
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Overall
NHL ’09 is not perfect, but it’s the best hockey game to ever be released. The skill stick controls combined with the new online EA Sports Hockey League make an experience unmatched by any previous sports title.
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9.2 |
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