NHL 09 (Sony PlayStation 2, 2008)

I originally bought myself the PS3 version of this game. Hockey is the only “real” sport I buy the game version of. One day while playing it with my nephew he said he wouldn't mind getting it for his PS2 (he liked it that much. So I got a PS2 copy of it for his birthday. This review is mostly based on the experience I’ve had with the PS3 version & a little on the limited experience that I've had palying it on my nephew's PS2. I'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars!

What I Liked:
- “Be A Pro” mode. I thought I would never use this mode as much as I have. It’s pretty much the only way I play NHL 09 now unless I have my nephew over. Besides the “Play Now” mode I haven’t touched the others at all! I like the grading/ rewards system; even though it takes forever to upgrade your character it’s more realistic & you learn how to play your position. Being able to create your own character & become a rising star in the NHL starting from the AHL is a lot of fun/ addictive!
- Intuitive Controls. EA has thrown out the old scheme & has introduced a new one. At first it is difficult to use this new control scheme but it makes sense after you get used to it. For those who liked the old control scheme you still can.
- Instant Replay. During a game you can hit the ‘start’ button to access the menu & choose the ‘instant replay’ option. You can make your own replay clips & save them for later viewing (at least on the PS3).
- The fact that EA Sports got every team/ player from the AHL & the NHL plus the European Leagues.

What I Hated:
- Player Renderings. EA was able to render many of the “big” stars of the NHL very close to the real thing but then they had a fair bit of default representations that weren’t even close. I understand that the leagues (NHL, AHL, etc…) are huge & that you cannot render everyone involved in them but try to get most of the players in the NHL at least!
- Frame Rate. Sometimes at any point during a game all the players flash on & off uncontrollably for a brief amount of time (10 seconds to a minute). This becomes annoying during game play but down right frustrating during a critical offensive/ defensive play!
-Announcers. They are repetitive. Call wrong plays & pronounce some player names wrong.

What Was In Between:
- Camera Angles. For the most part they were fine but during fast action at either end of the rink the camera has a hard time tracking the puck therefore making for a very dizzy & frustrating experience (especially while on the offensive)!
- Be A Pro Customization. Face options available on the PS2 version were exactly the same as in NHL 06!
- Fighting. While third person it is more realistic than previous attempts but not as rewarding. Fights are also very brief (3 hits maximum!).

After seeing reviews for NHL 2009 for the Xbox 360 and PS3 which claimed it to be the best hockey game and one of the best sports games of all time, I decided to purchase 09 or my PS2.

While it isnt quite as good as the current gen systems versions of the game in any aspect because of visuals and excluded content, the game is still excellent and is the best hockey game I've played since Blades of Steel on the NES.

The hybrid controls are excellent and easy to get used to while making for the most realistic video hockey and skating experience to date. There are more simple play control options for gamers looking for a arcade hockey or classic EA NHL feel.

A variety of new and old game modes such as season and "be a pro" will keep you busy far past the play now option, although some depth in these modes didnt make it to the PS2 version.

Where the game does lack is in the creation mode. There is little variety or room for creative expression when creating your own teams or players, so if you want to recreate a classic NHL team or your favorite high school, college or semi pro teams, you should look to the NHL 2K series. Also I would have loved an option to get rid of the 1 point for overtime loss rule (the worst choice the NHL ever made) and just to keep playing for the 2 points.

Graphic and sound wise, not much was updated for the PS2 version from past instalments on the system, but still looks and sounds great. The only thing that might get annoying is the game comentations which you can turn down or off.

All in all, NHL '09 in general is the best hockey game of all time, although it is not as good as the versions on the newer systems and leaves something to be desired in the creation areas. So if you dont own a Wii, PS3 or 360 and are a hockey fan, this is an inexpensive must buy.

9/10
-Mark K.

BE A PRO mode is what I've been waiting all my Hockey-loving life for.
It's Hockey with RPG elements.
You basically create a player with your name, and choose whatever play-style you like (ie, Power Forward, Sniper, Dangler, etc.).
You then start your career as an amateur in the AHL, on your favorite team's actual NHL minor league club, playing on the 3rd line.
I cannot believe EA Canada went out and got EVERY AHL team, and player for this. The AHL could be a game by itself!
After each shift on the ice, your coach evaluates you, and the GM will also let you know if they are impressed enough with your performance to move you up to the 2nd or 1st line, with the ultimate goal of making it to the NHL and becoming a legend.
You can either play this mode ONLY as your player, or if you get bored watching the game while waiting for your next shift, there is a position lock option, so if you're a RW, when your shift is over, you will control EVERY RW on your team.
With every game you play, you will earn experience points, which you can use to "level up" your character...basically to increase different attributes which improves the performance of your player

EA Sports brings out yet another version of NHL that could still use some improvements, but it is definitely improved from NHL 08. I first played this game on Xbox 360. The graphics and animation were better than 08, but the game still looks like something about five or six years old in comparison to the Xbox version of the game. I bought it to see if it was really like the Xbox version I played and it didn't seem to match up. I still liked the fact that the current version for PlayStation 2 now has Be A Pro mode as opposed to an 08 that lacks it. I also like that it has an "International" mode. The International teams are now available to play with and you can even play using international rules. Thanks for reading and be sure to read my other reviews.

I rate this game average.

Gameplay - The gameplay is the same as 08. 9/10

Features - The Superstar mode is a good start but unlike the next gen systems, You can't be a goalie. Dynasty Mode is the same as 06 and 07. However they added a new dynasty mode where you can play in the Russian League. I think that's pointless. 7/10.

Controls - Controls are very easy to use. You can switch to basic or original controls. 10/10

Sound - The Announcers are the same. However they do pronounce some of the player's names wrong. 8/10

Total rate - 6/10. Rent then buy