Team Xbox preview (must-see videos)

[CellFish]

As mentioned in another post, Team Xbox has a great preview of the game with screenshots and HD videos. All of the videos are excellent but the Penguins introduction one got me particularly excited. Check it out:

http://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/2079/NHL-09/p1/

[duckdodger]

2k9 may surprise us !!:dance:

[MapleLeaf16]

These videos have gotten me pretty excited now for this game. Looks much improved from last years. Bring on Sept.9!!!!

[CellFish]

I was actually on the edge this year. I figured I'd pick up NHL 09 for its new features. I even started playing NHL 08 again and decided to complete a season and go to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Then, I remembered why I hated it so much : if you play well and have a strong offense and a tight defense, the game will punish you by having the opponent repeatedly score from the middle of nowhere.

Bring on 2K9!

[MapleLeaf16]

I was actually on the edge this year. I figured I'd pick up NHL 09 for its new features. I even started playing NHL 08 again and decided to complete a season and go to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Then, I remembered why I hated it so much : if you play well and have a strong offense and a tight defense, the game will punish you by having the opponent repeatedly score from the middle of nowhere.

Bring on 2K9!

Your Bang on Cellfish when it comes to 08. That's exactly why i stopped playing 08. No matter how good you play the computer will score when it needs too.

[Savoie06]

Umm..the cpu won't **** you in 08 if you lower the shot accuracy to zero.This should be done anyways,simply because not enough pucks miss the net.Shot Power should be at 2 for realistic shot speed.

[CellFish]

Therein lies the problem Savoie (and btw I thought you were from Quebec because Savoie is a french last name and frankly people with french last name who play hockey are generally from up here). NHL 0x players complain that 2k series players need to tweak the sliders to get a realistic game (even though you just have to choose 'simulation' really), and yet NHL 0x players now need to do the exact same thing to get realism out of their title. Anyways, **** NHL 08. I've grown tired of having complete losers score from the middle of nowhere. Sure tweaking might fix it, but I also hate how the skill stick pretty much consistently makes me shoot when I don't want to. I honestly prefer to have complete control to the point that a BUTTON will determine when I shoot, not the upward movement.

[joker07]

NHL 08 is simply game for anybody .... but this year it will be fight 09v2k9 more responsive I hope . 2k9 looks better this year but We can not know everything about games this year . Who will win in the online play? .... STANDBY.

[SaintPatrick33]

I have a great feeling aboot 2k9 and with EA being basically for online pro mode only being they ignored dynasty for the second straight as I dont wanna be a Pro scoring 200 goals lol against the kiddys.
I cant prove it yet but I think 2k dug up alot from 2k3 gameplay wise hint checkout the goalies they look like the 2k3 version ???

[Savoie06]

Therein lies the problem Savoie (and btw I thought you were from Quebec because Savoie is a french last name and frankly people with french last name who play hockey are generally from up here). NHL 0x players complain that 2k series players need to tweak the sliders to get a realistic game (even though you just have to choose 'simulation' really), and yet NHL 0x players now need to do the exact same thing to get realism out of their title. Anyways, **** NHL 08. I've grown tired of having complete losers score from the middle of nowhere. Sure tweaking might fix it, but I also hate how the skill stick pretty much consistently makes me shoot when I don't want to. I honestly prefer to have complete control to the point that a BUTTON will determine when I shoot, not the upward movement.My problem isn't tweaking sliders on 2K,in fact it's rather fun,when they work.That is the big difference for me between 08 and 2K8.In 08 tweaking the necessary sliders helped remedy the cpu shooting the lights out.In 2K8,nothing short of making the cpu completely retarded lowered the check happy AI.As far as the Skill Stick goes in 08,I just don't get too fancy with it and thus have no issues shooting when I don't want to.

Anyways back on topic,2K9's sliders are gonna have to be effective if I'm gonna buy this game.The Defensive and Goalie AI looks pathetic at the level they are playing at.Hopefully this really changes once you move up and adjust sliders.It does look as though it's a bit harder to flatten a player or that maybe the check button is pressure sensitive.Also I'll be quite turned off if they disposed of the 2K8 goalies(which it appears they did) and the great faceoff system they had.

[b-Dub]

My problem isn't tweaking sliders on 2K,in fact it's rather fun,when they work.That is the big difference for me between 08 and 2K8.In 08 tweaking the necessary sliders helped remedy the cpu shooting the lights out.In 2K8,nothing short of making the cpu completely retarded lowered the check happy AI.As far as the Skill Stick goes in 08,I just don't get too fancy with it and thus have no issues shooting when I don't want to.

Anyways back on topic,2K9's sliders are gonna have to be effective if I'm gonna buy this game.The Defensive and Goalie AI looks pathetic at the level they are playing at.Hopefully this really changes once you move up and adjust sliders.It does look as though it's a bit harder to flatten a player or that maybe the check button is pressure sensitive.Also I'll be quite turned off if they disposed of the 2K8 goalies(which it appears they did) and the great faceoff system they had.

In one of the previews, the guy said that the default Pro difficulty was easier than last year, and the settings above it are quite a bit harder. We'll have to wait and see if that's true or not. Doesn't really matter to me, I usually end up using custom sliders anyways.

[BruinsHockey08]

This game with its latest previews looks very impressive, I just hope the gameplay is as good as it seems. This year I may be forced to buy both games for the first time since 2006, I can't wait, this year looks like it is going to be a great year for hockey video gaming, and hopefully that leads to great games in the long run, rejoyce hockey fans, this should be our year, and it looks like both games will be strong candidates for sports game of the year. With that said, great job 2K, it looks like Virtual Concepts is again going to lead you to greatness, which is where it took you a long time ago before you went with Kush games.

[b-Dub]

This game with its latest previews looks very impressive, I just hope the gameplay is as good as it seems. This year I may be forced to buy both games for the first time since 2006, I can't wait, this year looks like it is going to be a great year for hockey video gaming, and hopefully that leads to great games in the long run, rejoyce hockey fans, this should be our year, and it looks like both games will be strong candidates for sports game of the year. With that said, great job 2K, it looks like Virtual Concepts is again going to lead you to greatness, which is where it took you a long time ago before you went with Kush games.

The part in bold is kinda funny. Since it's only 2008, that means you had to go one whole year without buying both games. Just seems kinda funny to me. Not hating, or anything, but the 2006 thing made me chuckle that's all. :D

[BruinsHockey08]

Actually technically two years. But reguardless I can not wait to get my hands on the 2k9 demo, looks like it will be a blast. Is there anymore info on when it will be out on the 360? I look forward to playing hockey demos every year, and since both games are less than 4 weeks away I want to get my hands on whatever I can to tide me over

[b-Dub]

Actually technically two years. But reguardless I can not wait to get my hands on the 2k9 demo, looks like it will be a blast. Is there anymore info on when it will be out on the 360? I look forward to playing hockey demos every year, and since both games are less than 4 weeks away I want to get my hands on whatever I can to tide me over

Technically, yeah. :D

No word yet on the 360 demo. Ronnie is hoping that MS will approve it and get it set for next week, but right now, it's just a hope. He will be in Germany next week for the Game Convention in Leipzig, but if he hears anything about the demo, he will either post it himself or have a mod post it. I'm hoping that it's soon too, as I don't have a PS3 yet.