Game: NHL 09
Manufacturer: EA Sports
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation2, PC
Price: $59.99, PS3 and Xbox 360, $39.99 PC, $29.99 PS2
What’s to like: The biggest addition is the “Be A Pro” mode, which allows players to create a character, develop in the AHL minor leagues, and break through to super-stardom. It’s a great feature in EA’s other sports games and a welcome addition to hockey.
What’s not to like: The controls are also tough to master, and scoring is extremely tough, but the alternative arcade-style settings are way too simple. Also, the “Be A Pro” mode on PS2 and the PC versions starts your new player on the top line of their NHL team, rather than bringing them up through the minors as in the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions.
Graphics: On the higher-end systems, the graphics are among the best in any sports game. On the PS2, it’s more of the same we’ve seen in the last few years. Grade: B+
Gameplay: Defense! Defense! Defense! It’s back, at long last. Defense in previous years meant either no checking or cartoonish, arcade-style hits, but EA finally split the difference and got it right. But it’s not like scoring needed to be harder. Grade: B+
Music: A little more diverse than EA’s usual whiny-rock soundtrack, but not much. If nothing else, Panic at the Disco will always have a career with EA Sports. Grade: C
Bottom line: NHL 08 was a pretty great game, but this year’s version manages to surpass it with new features. Grade: B+
