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Thus far, I'm liking it. :)

Pros: unique controls - the Nunchuk's analog stick controls player motion, nunchuk buttons control speed bursts and other stuff. The Wiimote controls passing, shooting and fancy moves.

Cons: the little targetting "sight" that comes up with each Wiimote (sensor bar-based) is annoying and has no value in normal gameplay. Controls are harder than most new sports games to "learn" in order to be effective / have fun. Shaking the Wiimote the wrong way while holding it low makes it look positively pornographic. :lol:

The graphics are clean when in motion but there's way more aliasing than I expected from a new-gen console - even the Wii and its "lowball" ATi chipset. The controls are smooth but sometimes a little hesitant (as far as directional control goes) and shot aiming appears to be totally automatic (so far).

Slapshots are downright hilarious - a full swinging motion with the Wiimote will definitely take one, wristshots feel a little perverse. :o

Passing is fairly well-executed but lining up your hits appears to be a dark art - you have to shake the Nunchuk once alongside your foe. I feel this tends to throw off your movement in the game.

It's a bit much to take in at first - B to take a face off, B again repeatedly to dish the puck to a teammate off the faceoff, Z and Analog to skate with any amount of speed, A to pass, shake the Wiimote to wrist or hold B and shake for a slapshot.

Then, A to change players, Z and analog to chase down an attacker, shake Nunchuk to attempt to bodycheck, hopeully grab the puck, and carry on.

I found myself even mid-way through the 3rd period accidentally shaking the Wiimote to check, which does nothing. Same for accidentally shaking the Nunchuk while attempting to shoot. Perhaps most disappointing is the lack of a "shoot" button, but maybe that's what the developers wanted all along.

The sounds are great, in surround mode it's like being in any rink in the NHL! The menus are easy to navigate and there are lots of features and game modes to explore. Not sure what online mode is like yet, we only played a couple of games last night.

So far, I'm impressed. Just don't look at me when I attemptt to "seal the deal" on a breakaway :lol: :rofl:
I'm an EA guy myself but have heard good things about the 2K stuff.

Swinging a Wii remote around while playing a hockey game, just doesn't seem right actually. :lol:

I like NHL 2k9 for the PS3 a little better than '09... just because '09 has become a too serious sim. I need a little bit of forgiveness in my hockey fix and the slightly faster pace of 2k9 as well as the ability to simplify the controls makes all the difference to me.

not sure why all the sports games have to be so hardcore -- I just want a little fun playing with my friends. Having to spend 15 minutes explaining controls to a newb is no way to play with friends.
I'm pretty much a dyed-in-the-wool EA guy... this is honestly the first 2K sports game I've ever bought. I played NHL Hockey for Genesis (the very first one EA made!) and then every NHL, good and bad, all the way through to 2008... and well, Blades of Steel by Konami before that. :blush:

The only real reason I bought it is because EA is shunning Nintendo apparently and I'm in dire need of a hockey fix. :lol:

If EA had released NHL for the Wii, I would have bought it. Seeing as they've released every other major title on the Wii by EA, I'm more than a little disappointed. :angry:
Looks like I'll be NHL2K9 as well. Damn PS2. :D
darkpuppet,Sep 16 2008, 08:54 AM Wrote:I like NHL 2k9 for the PS3 a little better than '09... just because '09 has become a too serious sim.  I need a little bit of forgiveness in my hockey fix and the slightly faster pace of 2k9 as well as the ability to simplify the controls makes all the difference to me.
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But NHL '09 is supposed to offer a simplified controls option, from NHL '94 IIRC, this was the only reason I ordered it from Dell when it was on sale. That's not as good as Madden '09's "dumb it down until you can at least look semi-respectable" but I'll take it ;)

Well, that and the fact if I can scrounge up 11 other people willing to play a full game on the PS3 version it means staying in one position the entire game (guess which position I'll be taking :D)

NefCanuck
NefCanuck,Sep 16 2008, 02:42 PM Wrote:
darkpuppet,Sep 16 2008, 08:54 AM Wrote:I like NHL 2k9 for the PS3 a little better than '09... just because '09 has become a too serious sim.  I need a little bit of forgiveness in my hockey fix and the slightly faster pace of 2k9 as well as the ability to simplify the controls makes all the difference to me.
[right][snapback]272524[/snapback][/right]

But NHL '09 is supposed to offer a simplified controls option, from NHL '94 IIRC, this was the only reason I ordered it from Dell when it was on sale. That's not as good as Madden '09's "dumb it down until you can at least look semi-respectable" but I'll take it ;)

Well, that and the fact if I can scrounge up 11 other people willing to play a full game on the PS3 version it means staying in one position the entire game (guess which position I'll be taking :D)

NefCanuck
[right][snapback]272566[/snapback][/right]

It's too bad the Wii guys can't play everyone else (and considering the networking protocol is the same and so is the engine... you should be able to!) or I'd be down for a FC.net tourney night!!!
My copy of NHL '09 for the PS3 arrived today, if I get a chance I'll fire it up to at least get bug fixes etc. and fool with it a bit. Major playtime will be the weekend, since I'll have one more carless weekend ahead :(

NefCanuck