Played both games and to me it's not even close
EA Sports and their NHL 09 take this easily, features, graphics, gameplay, realism they win in every category.
Here is the breakdown:
NHL2k9
Pro's
1) The View
Both games have reasonably good views but personally liked the 2k9 view as most of the players can be seen at any time, it allowed me to set up some amazing passing plays and especially on the power play the puck movement played out fairly realistically. Also personally I didn't find the players to be overly smallish or undersized given this differing view.
2) The Saucer Pass
The controls are almost overly simple but I did like the saucer pass being worked onto the same button as pass just hold the button a split second longer and the player will attempt to saucer it across as opposed to an along the ice pass, having both worked into one button allowed on the fly, decisions based on the defensive scenario a nice touch.
Con's
1) AI
The Artificial Intelligence is a real problem all over the ice computer controlled players react in a very predictable and unnatural way, on offense players crash the net relentlessly and it's hard to find an open player slot high at any time it led me to shot from anywhere and I found myself more often than not being rewarded with UGLY goals. On defense there are many other issues and the first is pursuit defensive players essentially pursue the puck even if it takes them out of position but the pursuit is enough to have me passing all over the place as to not turn it over so the game gets a pinballish feel to it.
2) Goaltending
All goalies allow weak goals but the trick is to make them seem realistic NHl 09 does a great job of this having goalies partially block shots or allowing tip ins or week rebounds and it happens only so often as to seem realistic in context, 2k9 on the other hand does not do a good job here even top flight goalies are outright beat by weak shots from bad areas and I began to pick the goalies apart against the computer where as in Nhl I still lose games to both computer and live opponents where I out shoot my opposition badly but can't bury the puck.
3) Visuals, Graphics
I did not like the trick deke visuals it worked to often and as a ploy or addition to gameplay it fell way behind
NHL 09's skill stick the save visuals, the hits and certainly the audio all seemed second rate comparitively.
NHL 09
Pro's
1) Skill Stick
This alone is the real fun factor for EA control the puck back and forth with your controller "have the puck on a string" they have added a defensive skill stick this year so you can poke check, lift a players stick, slash that add to an already impressive list of features dekeing, shooting wrist, snap, slap, backhands on demand, and now one handed dekes and puckless moves where you can pull the puck through and around the defender temporarily leaving the puck only to get it back on the other side.
2) Realism, Graphics
The player models are great, the game plays relistically the create a play feature allows computer players on both sides of the ice to adapt to your trends players go to opne areas and defense's know how to stop you. Arenas and surfaces seem realistic crowd noises give you a home ice feeling.
3) Be a pro
Create yourself start in the AHL and try to work your way in to the the show, your computer coaches rate you every shift and your grades determine your role with the team, what line you'll play on 1st. 2nd, 3rd, how much you'll get paid and so on. This alone makes a great game and is highly addictive!
Con's
Online play
The online play is not really a con the setup is just abit confusing it took me a while to get it staright how to play when I wanted too it could certainly be a little more intiutive and at times there is latency issues where an online game suffers some play lag but I have yet to find an online sports game that doesn't suffer this a bit.
The Verdict
Gamespot reviewed both and their verdict like mine is clear by NHL 09 they gave NHL 09 a 9.1/10 whereas NHL 2k9 got a 6/10.
I currently rock this game pretty hard online on Ps3 so anyone that's interested add me as a friend my id is tshilton currently I'm 9-1-2
also check out my first goal on Be a Pro Mode by
clicking Here
Nhl 09 vs 2k9
Linear Mode
