The Big Question
Year to year, it’s important for sports titles to continue to find ways to improve their product. So the question that we all wonder each year is, what’s different? Well, this year, the focus for 2K9 was making the game more accessible to the non-hardcore hockey fans. The primary way this was achieved on the Xbox 360 was with changes to the control scheme. In recent 2K offerings, the controls required a fair amount of time to really get comfortable with, largely due to the use of modifiers, i.e. having to press one of the shoulder buttons and then a face button to perform a certain move. With 2K9, the controls are just simpler, but still detailed and deep enough for the seasoned player to be comfortable and productive with. Players can choose from three different levels of control including Basic, Pro Stick Evolution, and the aptly named Hybrid that combines the two. Not surprisingly, most players will find Hybrid to be the best mix of ease and functionality. Having played hockey games on and off since NHL 99, and most recently with NHL 2K7, getting used to 2K9’s Hybrid scheme was not difficult. In an informal and unscientific test, I asked one of my friends who hadn’t played before to try out the controls. After just a game or two, he was comfortable and confident with the controls, so I think 2K and Visual Concepts succeeded in making the series more accessible, at least from a control point of view. Moreover, for a more seasoned player like myself, the new streamlined control scheme made playing easier and more enjoyable.
The other most notable change that I saw with 2K9 was in its presentation. From the opening menu and throughout a game, the presentation is efficient and functional, complete with several cool subtle enhancements I’ll get to shortly. But first, I liked the clean cut look of the menus and especially the new HUD in game. The new HUD has a small pop-up box slide out from it above each team’s name indicating the players that are coming onto the ice during line changes, making getting to know names around the league easier and the experience a little more satisfying. Moreover, it’s crisp and easy to read.
As far as those more subtle enhancements I mentioned, the first one you’re likely to see is the new fighting system. The new fighting system streamlines the controls (just like the rest of the game this year). This year, A and B are used for weak and strong punches, and the left and right triggers are used to help maintain your balance. A touched up energy bar shows how you and your opponent are holding up. During intermission, you can take the wheel of a Zamboni, which is okay, but certainly not what you would call a big feature. The other changes are for the playoffs and champions; the facial details of the players changes throughout the playoffs to reveal beards growing in, ha – talk about a subtle, but still appreciable detail. Lastly, custom Cup celebrations, whereby you can actually do some controlling during the celebration scene should you win it all are new, and if I win the cup this year, I’ll be sure to check them out.
2K9 includes commentary from Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda, two guys I hadn’t heard of before, but their commentary was actually quite good. The 2K Beats, aka soundtrack, includes the likes of Pennywise, Bad Religion, NOFX, Inner Circle, and a handful of others; if these aren’t your cup of tea, you can disable any or all of these tracks. Furthermore, you can setup your own custom playlists with music on your 360 or PS3 that can also be set to play at various stages of a game (maybe have a certain track play during face-offs, for example).
I found myself playing two other additions, Mini-Rink 3-on-3 hockey and Pond Hockey quite a bit, despite their lack of commentary. In Mini-Rink, you choose a goalie and two players for your team as well as for the CPU and you literally play on a condensed rink. The action can be fast paced and fun, and its a nice distraction from the regular 5-on-5 play. The same can be said for Pond Hockey; with Pond Hockey, you choose a full line and goalie for your team and for the CPU and take things outside to a frozen pond. Neither of these modes are a major addition, but they are nice features nonetheless.
Lastly, NHL 2K9 allows up to twelve consoles to hook up in a 6-on-6 (playing goalie is tough, but somebody’s gotta do it, right?) matchup online. I haven’t been able to try this out yet, but I suspect if you can find a good core group, this could be pretty darn fun. Personally, I’ll be sticking to my four player local play with my local friends, but hey, having the option to get up to eleven other systems to play online is impressive. You can also create, edit, share, and rate user-generated highlight reels online with NHL 2K9 Reel Maker.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back?
With 2K9’s focus on streamlining the controls and adding small features to try to increase the overall fun factor of the game, they have made some sacrifices in the sim department. For one, the default settings seem to urge a more arcade experience than sim, as evident on ice by the player’s ability to Turbo far and often and the sketchy AI exhibited by the computer. The overall speed of the game is quick, but not the over zealous quick I remember from EA’s NHL games from the early 2000s; still, it’s quicker than NHL 09, and quick for a hockey sim regardless. As far as the AI, I’ve experienced AI lapses of both the absent minded and bullheaded variety, if you will. On the one hand, getting a fast break or juking can be a little too easy, and it can happen a little too often. On the other, there were quite a few occasions where I would score, only to have the AI return the favor almost immediately. Several times it seemed like my body checks and poke checks were completely ineffective as an opponent player breezed passed my defense and slapped home a goal. In either event, it’s a concern.
I can appreciate what NHL 2K9 was going for this year: a more accessible offering for all gamers, especially the newcomers. On one hand, everyone gets improved controls, and that’s never a bad thing. On the other, the entire experience has shifted noticeably away from its rich past of simulation hockey, instead opting for a more arcade/mini-game mixture that leaves a 2K fan like myself a little worried. Couple that with the fact that the general consensus online at this point is that EA’s offering is a better all around game this year and 2K does have something to be a little worried about. Still, NHL 2K9 does not at all tear apart the rich history of the 2K series and while it’s not as sharp as I hoped for, 2K9 is indeed still a good hockey game, it’s just not great like we’ve come to expect.