• Posted September 23rd, 2008 at 13:00 EDT by
• 3,656 views
• 5 Comments

Review Score

NHL 2K9

PSU Review Score

8.0

Avg. user review score:

6.0

Add your rating

You must be logged in to rate a game

Summary

NHL 2K9 will appeal to longtime fans of the series, though gamers looking for a more realistic experience are likely to jump ship to NHL 09 for this season.

We like

• Variety of deke maneuvers
• Bearded playoffs
• Team-Up online mode

We dislike

• Game speed is too fast
• Poor AI system
• Somewhat too arcade-like

See PSU's review on Metacritic & GameRankings

(continued from previous page) ...the online component as its main attraction, and as a result this is where the game truly excels. NHL 2K9 gives players a similar experience to that of Be A Pro mode except theirs is called “Team-Up.” Team-Up allows you to play with 11 other gamers where the goal is to achieve a high grade as a team and of course to rack up as many Ws as possible. Each position will have certain expectations they need to meet in order to attain a high enough grade to be respected. You don’t want to be known as the runt on the rink after all.

This brings me to the final touches and one of the brightest points in any 2K Sports title…the presentation. 2K9’s Franchise mode displays some of the coolest presentation features to ever hit a hockey title. Users can watch their players grow beards throughout the playoffs on their quest for Lord Stanley. Speaking of which, 2K has also allowed for user celebrations with the Stanley Cup. Therefore, you’re going to be able to skate around the rink displaying your achievement for all to see. Finally, your team will take a photo together commemorating the experience.

2K Sports has done a fantastic job delivering a title that both newcomers and vets can come together to enjoy. Despite this, they’ve still set themselves back a tad due to the excess of speed and lacklustre AI system. If the development team can utilize this season as a stepping-stone for the next, we could be looking at a reversal of fortunes in the near future. Until then, stick with NHL 09 if you’re looking for the most realistic experience possible.