Game Review: NHL 2k9

This is the first video game review for Nittanydelphia. It remains quite uncertain how many actual review will be done here but from time to time I will let you know what sporting games are out there.

NHL 2k9
System reviewed: Nintendo Wii ($49.99)
Also available on: Xbox 360 ($39.99), Playstation 3 ($39.99), Playstation 2 ($19.99)
Official Site: NHL 2k9
Company: 2K Sports

Quick Thoughts: This is the only NHL game on the Wii because EA Sports is slow to adapt to the Wii properly. This game is for the Wii hockey hardcore fan only. Overpriced and I wonder why it costs more than the other versions.



Overview: The Nintendo Wii is often regarded as the forgotten gaming console. Despite its success in sales developers often shun the Wii and its unique control mechanisms. It takes time to figure out the best way to program a game for the motion sensing Wii Remote and the attached nun chuck. Attempting to be creative and broaden the horizons of gaming Nintendo effectively scared some companies from developing games for their systems. Never is that idea more prominent than in the sports genre. Two years into its lifespan the Wii finally received a licensed NHL game, and it came in the form of NHL 2k9.

Developed by 2k Sports, NHL 2k9 took the plunge on to the Wii rather hastily. It is great to see hockey return to the Nintendo but for $49.99 (suggested retail price), you expect more effort. It was nice of 2k Sports to pay attention to the controls of NHL 2k9 and utilizing the nunchuck and motion sensing capabilities of the Wii, but they are tough to get used too. I highly recommend taking some time to practice in the tutorial mode or exhibition mode in order to get used to the play control.

I always believe that play control is the most important feature of a game, not the graphics. Having said that NHL 2k9 falls short in both categories. You can adjust the camera angles in the game to zoom in on the action, which you will need to do. Otherwise it is near impossible to decipher which player you are actually controlling. A small circle follows the active player. The button layout is actually pretty decent, using the nunchuck to control the direction of your player and using the buttons to skate backwards or get a speed boost. The Wii Remote buttons are placed conveniently for preparing for a slap shot and passing. The Wii Remote is also used on screen to point to the player or area you wish to pass. While it sounds nice it takes some getting used too. Hockey video game veterans probably will have an easier time adjusting to watching the controlled player and picking out where they want to pass, but most people will have trouble picking out where their current player is among all the players on the ice. Adjusting the camera angles, again, is a must. Below is a video of some game play from the Wii version;

While controlling the goalie is a nice touch, it slows down the pace of the game as well. The feature is outweighed by the lack of benefit in this situation.

The game features the modes you would expect; Franchise and Season modes provide nice depth and customization, and you have a pond hockey mode where you can pick your customized teams selecting from all available players in the game. You can also create a player or a team from scratch. Where NHL 2k9 fails is in what it does not feature.

Want updated rosters? Too bad. If you want current rosters you will have to edit them yourself by creating some rookies and obtaining some free agents, as the rosters are made before free agency really got underway. The same issue happened with 2k Sports' baseball title, MLB 2k8, when the rosters were current as of January 1, 2008 (meaning Johann Santana was still a Twin for example). If 2k Sports is going to provide you with an outdated roster this poor when the game launches it then it should provide an easy way to obtain an updated roster via their website or online portal through the Wii. On the same topic, there is no online play available for Wii owners.

So if there is no online play, as there is on the XBox 360 and Playstation 3 versions which both offer up to 12 consoles joining in on a game, and you are on your own for an updated roster or any other updates, what exactly are you paying an extra $10 for? Frustrated game play? It clearly is not for the graphics or beautiful menus. I tested this game on a 42" HDTV and still had trouble reading menus and some on screen instructions. I can not imagine what it would be like on a smaller tv. As if reading the menus wasn't hard enough, some of the menu boxes actually sway back and forth, angling back and to the left and then back and to the right. Who was the genius behind that?

I do not know how much of these comments can be applied to the XBox 360 or Playstation 3 and 2 versions, but be advised to rent the game before purchasing, or as in my case using a gift card, on the purchase of this game. However for Wii owners, this is the only NHL game on the system. You can risk it by buying this game, or wait a year for NHL 2k10 and see if 2ksports has ironed out some of the wrinkles they are facing in their first year on the Wii.

Other Reviews for NHL 2k9 (Wii)
IGN.com
Adrenaline Vault
Gamespot
dBTechno

Feel free to leave your thoughts on NHL 2k9 n the comments section. Have you played any of the other versions available? Are they worth checking out, or is EA Sports' NHL 09 the way to go if given the option?