NHL 09
by Electronic Arts
List Price:
Our Price: $56.99
You Save: $3.00 (5%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1 to 3 weeks
Buy Used: from $47.52 (click here)
Category: Video Games
See more product details and other editions
Product Summary
Brand: Electronic ArtsRelease Date: 2008-09-09
Platform: Xbox 360
Model: 15582
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Product features:
- Defensive Skill Stick - NHL 08 gave you true offensive prowess with the Skill Stick, and this year, you have the power to stop it. Block passing lanes with 360? control of your stick or kill an opponent's one timer game by lifting their stick just before they receive a pass
- Be A Pro - A dynamic 3rd person camera puts you in the role of one player on a team. The Performance Tracker will rate your play in over 50 categories, to make sure you know what parts of your game need to improve. Start your career off in the ranks of the AHL and become one of the best in the NHL. Your very own hockey card will mark your progress, from your rookie beginnings to a potentially legendary ending
- Create-A-Play Breakouts - create a winning strategy in both online and offline play. Make breakout plays from your own zone or set up behind your net and tell your right winger to look for the flip dump from the defenseman
- NHL 94 Controls - Hit, pass, shoot, and score using the simplified two-button control system featured in NHL 94. So even if you're new to the game, you can challenge the best of the best
- One-handed Dekes - When you are skating in on a breakaway, tap the puck to one hand and tuck the puck behind a sprawling goalie for the ultimate finish
Video Game Reviews of NHL 09
Customer Review: EA finally made a believer out of me.
Summary: 5 Stars
I was going to buy NHL 08 last season for PS2 but after trying it out, I got the 2K version (which admittedly ended up getting played a lot less than the other 2K titles.) This year I abandoned playing the games on PS2 and went and tried them out on XBox 360 instead.
I heard some good things said about NHL 09 and yet the first thing I thought to myself was "Great, an EA NHL title for an odd year, not a good sign." (I gave EA's NHL 07 2 stars and didn't review NHL 05 because I thought it was terrible!)
The short version of this review: This game gave me everything I could have ever asked for and more.
The long version:
I sat down and went over my options and I couldn't believe the DEPTH of the game. EA has always included the NHL, the SM-Liiga, the Elitserien, and the DEL. Two years ago they included the Czech Extraliga and last year they included the AHL. This year... The Kontinental Hockey League and all of it's teams make their EA debut! Way to go EA for pulling off such a coup!
And that's just for starters.
The controllers have two options: The NHL 09 settings where you can control your shooting with the left and right triggers or the NHL 94 controller settings where you control everything on the buttons, just like playing it back in the day. Even controlling the goalies is nifty because you can set their positioning and have them prepare to make saves in the butterfly. Pretty nifty if I say so myself.
The Dynasty mode is sufficient as always with two-way contracts, waivers, and truly deep team management (woulda been nice to see a fantasy draft option available but I can overlook that given everything else) and it's easy to get into the games. But there's one game function that sets the game miles apart from any other hockey title...
The "Be A Pro" mode is so ridiculously awesome that after you play it, the game will have you hook line and sinker. One option is to play as any other professional player of your choice. Wanna play as Sidney or Alex? Now you can. Any position, any player.
The second option, and the most rewarding to me at least, is to create your own character and watching him ascend the ranks! You'll start of as a prospect on your farm club (so if you choose the Phoenix Coyotes as your team, you get assigned to the San Antonio Rampage) and accomplish your goals over the course of the season. If you play well, you'll get called up from the farm club and play with the biggest, baddest, and best of the NHL. Do poorly, and you'll go from NHL star to AHL fourth-liner faster than you can say Alexandre Daigle. You can sim through those seasons, but don't sim a lot because the game doesn't appreciate it (the AI will have the coach reprimand you if you sim more than you play. I did this to test it out and while my goalie rocked during the regular season, my backup got the starts come playoff time. Hmm...)
Any complaints about the game? Well, I've noted before that the music used to be soft. The soundtrack now is more metal, but it's more mall-metal (Avenged Sevenfold, Priestess, etc.) I give EA an A for effort, but 2K just gets better bands on their soundtrack.
All and all though, while I still have to play the 2K title, something tells me that for the first time in 5 years I'm looking in EA's direction as to which will be the more superior in hockey titles. And that's an allegiance that isn't swayed easily. Kudos to EA for putting out a great title.
Description of NHL 09
Become the first great name in videogame hockey with NHL 09. Jump into the EA SPORTS Hockey League and become part of the first console sports MMO. Take your created player online and join a team with friends, or scout for players. Featuring 6 vs. 6 online team play, the ability to level up your player, tournament brackets, and awards at the end of every season.Check Hard and Fight - A physics-based checking and fighting engine featuring more than 300 new animations brings a higher-level of intensity to the game
Kids & Family Games
Computer and Video Games
Bestsellers in Kids & Family Games
Lego Star Wars: The Complete SagaLucas Arts; Lucas Arts Entertainment; Release date: 2007-11-06; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $18.99
Price in other shops:
Kirby Super Star UltraNintendo; Nintendo; Release date: 2008-09-22; Nintendo DS; Video Games
Best price: $27.50
Price in other shops:
Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams CollectionCrave Entertainment; Crave Entertainment; Release date: 2008-02-26; Nintendo Wii; Video Games
Best price: $11.94
Price in other shops:
Active Life Outdoor ChallengeNamco; Namco; Release date: 2008-09-09; Nintendo Wii; Video Games
Best price: $51.97
Price in other shops:
Wii MusicNintendo; Nintendo; Release date: 2008-10-20; Nintendo Wii; Video Games
Best price: $48.80
Price in other shops:
SporeElectronic Arts; Electronic Arts; Release date: 2008-09-07; Windows XP; Video Games
Best price: $39.99
Price in other shops:
Lego Star Wars: The Complete SagaLucas Arts; Lucas Arts Entertainment; Release date: 2007-11-06; Nintendo Wii; Video Games
Best price: $18.98
Price in other shops:
Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2009Majesco; Majesco Sales Inc.; Release date: 2008-10-21; Nintendo Wii; Video Games
Best price: $35.00
Price in other shops:
Wii FitNintendo; Nintendo; Release date: 2008-05-21; Nintendo Wii; Video Games
Best price: $126.99
Mario Kart Wii with Wii WheelNintendo; Nintendo; Release date: 2008-04-27; Nintendo Wii; Video Games
Best price: $38.27
Price in other shops:
Similar Video and PC Games
![Iron Man (Ultimate Two-Disc Edition) [Blu-ray] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
Iron Man (Ultimate Two-Disc Edition) [Blu-ray]Release date: 2008-09-30; DVD
Best price: $27.95
Price in other shops:
SporeElectronic Arts; Electronic Arts; Release date: 2008-09-07; Windows XP; Video Games
Best price: $39.49
Price in other shops:
Mercenaries 2: World in FlamesElectronic Arts; Electronic Arts; Release date: 2008-08-31; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $46.90
Price in other shops:
NHL 08Electronic Arts; Electronic Arts; Release date: 2007-09-11; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $17.99
Price in other shops:
Madden NFL 09 20th Anniversary Collectors EditionElectronic Arts; Electronic Arts; Release date: 2008-08-12; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $68.00
Price in other shops:
Rock Band 2MTV Games; MTV Games; Release date: 2008-09-14; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $56.00
Price in other shops:
Star Wars: The Force UnleashedLucas Arts; Lucas Arts Entertainment; Release date: 2008-09-16; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $50.00
Price in other shops:
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09Electronic Arts; Electronic Arts; Release date: 2008-08-26; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $42.00
Price in other shops:
NCAA Football 09Electronic Arts; Electronic Arts; Release date: 2008-07-15; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $44.99
Price in other shops:
Madden NFL 09EA; Electronic Arts; Release date: 2008-08-12; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $47.95
Price in other shops: