NHL 2K9 - Wii

Got packs, screens, info?
Also for: PS3, Xbox 360, PS2
Viewed: 3D Third-person, floating camera Genre:
Sport: Ice Hockey
Media: DVD Arcade origin:No
Developer: Visual Concepts Soft. Co.: 2K Sports
Publishers: 2K Sports (GB/US)
Released: 9 Sept 2008 (US)
14 Nov 2008 (GB)
Ratings: PEGI 16+

Video

Get Adobe Flash player

Summary

Hockey. On a field, it's pretty girly really, isn't it? Somehow, however, stick a pair of skates on a player, shove him onto the ice and covering him head to toe in masses of padding and it becomes a testosterone-fuelled man's game.

With NHL 2K9, 2K Sports has gone back to basics. Gone are control systems that are barely easier to master than that of the Starship Enterprise. In their place is an intuitive control scheme designed to make even total novices at home on the ice. It wouldn't be a Wii game, of course, if that wasn't all customised to make the most of the Wii's motion-sensitive control system.

Also updated, of course, is the list of superstar moves, blocked shots, stick-handling moves and hit-by-puck collisions on offer. The skating engine has had its share of enhancements, as has the all important fight engine!

In keeping with the pick up and play approach, 2K Sports has thrown in a Zamboni (that's 'ice groomer' to non-Canadians) minigame, user-controlled Stanley Cup celebrations and play-off beards!

If that doesn't sound exciting enough, how about a soundtrack featuring the likes of Pennywise, Bad Religion, The Offspring, NOFX, The Ramones, Inner Circle, Mastodon, Operation Ivy and High on Fire?

Go on, player - the status of toothless, tough-guy Canadian awaits!