Whether you are a hockey fan or not, there is no denying that videogame hockey is an absolute blast. 2K8 was an unfortunate failed experiment in updating a time-tested control scheme, but this year corrects that mistake and makes up for it with a fantastic new online mode.
With the return of the classic control scheme, 2K moves forward here by taking a wise step backwards. Last year's awkward control scheme, using bumpers for things typically mapped to buttons, is still here along with an additional option, but the classic controls are the default. Longtime fans of videogame hockey will feel comfortable immediately, though the controls are not without some minor issues. Shooting, passing, checking, and sprinting are all handled well with the buttons and triggers in a familiar layout. Even the coaching menu, called up with the d-pad, works well to call plays or change lines or strategy on the fly. The issues start to crop up when you try to do some of the fancier moves on the ice.
Dekes are some of the most masterful moves skaters make in a game, and they are appropriately difficult to pull off in the game. While skating with the puck, hitting the left bumper and a combination of the two analog sticks, your player will pull off a wide variety of impressive dekes to either get by defenders or get a goalie off balance. The concept is fantastic, but it takes quite a bit to get used to. Since the left-stick is used for player movement, and you need to be moving on ice at all times to avoid getting de-brained by a defender, quickly altering the direction of your skater to pull off a deke feels awkward. It feels similarly strange to take your thumb off the buttons and over to the right stick, since the buttons control your ability to take a shot or pass to an open teammate. The depth of available moves is great, it is just a little difficult to get used to pulling them off. With a little practice, they can turn a good player into a great one.
The gameplay mechanics while actually playing a game are similarly solid, with one minor gripe. Shooting slapshots and hard or soft wrist shots feeling accurate based on your controls. The direction of the shot seems to have a mind of its own at times, though in your favor. Frequently, if you flick your shot in the same direction the goalie is headed, your player will actually aim for the opposite side of the net. You will likely see one to two of these goals each game, taking some of the skill out of shooting in font of the net. Passing generally works well, with the puck reacting appropriately when you attempt to saucer pass through a swarm of defenders. The checking seems to be fairly realistic in terms of their effectiveness. The more powerful checks will lay a player out on the ice, while hits you do not have time to build up speed seem to do just the right amount of damage; with those attempted while just standing next to an opponent equate to a weak nudge. Fights break out about as regularly as a real game, with most games seeing none at all and others seeing a few. The fights might feel a little sluggish at first, but they seem accurate if you have seen most NHL fights. The post-fight stumbling of the fighter on the losing end is hilarious. Save for some occasionally questionable goaltending, the A.I. is great on both sides.
Sonically, 2K9 does a fantastic job capturing the sounds of an NHL game. From the ping of a puck hitting the crossbar, to the thud of a checked player hitting the ice, to the roar of the crowd, they nail the experience. The play-by-play does a solid job at keeping up with the action, and the color commentary is varied enough to keep it from getting repetitive too quickly. You can even drive the Zamboni to clean the ice between periods, in a challenging, timed minigame. The gigantic ice-clearing truck handles about as well as you expect on the slick surface. Visually, the game could use a little tightening up. The shaky, floating camera takes a goofy angle at times, most notably on breakaway attempts. The constant sway of the camera, as it attempts to keep up with action, can be annoying at times. You will get used to it after a few games, but you will still be left longing for a steady, vertical view of the ice. The player animations are fluid and realistic, and the puck reacts appropriately to players standing in front of the net. The player models look decent enough, but the color scheme looks washed out. It is most noticeable in the black uniforms, but in certain angles the Red Wings have a pinkish hue. The menus and general presentation can look a bit dated at times, but more importantly, the game is incredibly easy to navigate.
There are a handful of gameplay modes available here, but really just one you will spend your time on. Pond Hockey takes the concept of the NHL's annual outdoor game to an actual snowy pond. Two teams take turns picking players from the league for a five-on-five game. Each gets two wings, two defensemen, and a goalie, but you are not constrained to picking players based on their true position. The subtraction of one player from each side and the absence of referees open the game to quite a few big hits and fast breaks. It is a nice concept that takes hockey back to its roots, but with no crowd, scoring buzzer, music, or announcers, it feels too sterile. Mini Rink is the little brother of the pond game, shrinking the rosters to a center, a wing, and a goalie. The ice also shrinks to a rink about a quarter the size of a regular game. Since it also lacks the crowd and announcers, it also feels too dry to fully enjoy.
