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Gather ’round, ladies and gents: we’ve got some hockey video for you. Today, 2K Sports sent over the first trailer for NHL 2K9, this year’s installment of their annual ice hockey series. There isn’t much to say about it -- it’s less than half a minute long (not including pre- and post-trailer logos and such), and it looks like, well, videogame hockey.
It mostly comprises a standard-fare barrage of great goals, stupendous saves, crushing checks, and devilish dekes, though there are a couple of takeaway points. While this isn’t gameplay footage per se, one can ascertain that 2K appears to have finally gotten rid of that ghastly “depth of field” filter, an effect that I always liken to smearing Vaseline on your TV. Secondly, and most notably, there’s a goddamn Zamboni-driving minigame. Check out the video at about the 27-second mark to see a quick flash of what it looks like.
The minigame looks pretty simple -- you’re given control of the famed surfacing machine, and you have to clean 100% of the ice within a certain time limit. I don’t know if this is going to be anything more than a mere shallow diversion, but I guess 2K is looking to bring all aspects of the hockey experience into your living rooms. If you can’t wait to get your Zamboni on, there’s less than a month to go until the September 9th release of NHL 2K9 for the PS3, 360, Wii, and PS2.
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21 comments + 95764 views
So, custom soundtracks are a must, then?
If you squint your eyes a little it looks like a real hockey game.
Also, I predict that the 2k's zamboni mini game will be more fun than EA's NFL Head Coach '09.
Can't wait to see which one is better, 2k9 or 2009. It's gonna be very tough to match EA's gameplay though, 08 was one of the best hockey games ever made.
2k9 and 09 are perfect examples of what happens when you allow competition within the sports genre. Madden 09 is crap, NCAA 09 is crap, but look at these two little hockey games. NHL09 hopes to revolutionize the online arena, while 2k9 keeps implementing features to rival it.
I think 09's online options will put it on top this year, but I can't wait to see 2k9's graphics in aciton. Their hockey games are always the most realistic sports games around.
I would buy a game based entirely around the Zamboni.
Just watched the video, and while they get points for using a Mastodon song, and the game looks fun, I still think they will be really hard pressed to top what EA brings. 2008 played so much like an actual game it's unreal.
But does it have Henrik Zetterberg on the cover? If it does, I will buy it.
That ice seems really small, almost claustrophobic. Could be just the video, but wow.. that looked tiny.
@CountingConflict
Glad to see people just assuming Madden is bad this year. From my time with it, it's probably the best Madden they've made in many, many years. Any game that allows me to not only play fantasy football with my friends, but put that team on the field is ok in my book.
The animations look really lively.. I was taken off guard as I thought a portion of the video was actual footage..
@JJ Rage
I'm not assuming anything. I've been playing Madden 09 since it came into my work a week ago. The gameplay is way too buggy, and they are just now implementing features that should have been in the game 10 years ago. Just because EA adds a new gimmick every year, it doesn't make them innovators.
I think the rivalry between these hockey games speaks for itself. NHL 09 not only allows for massive multiplayer games (6vs6), but continues to add a huge list of improvements to the game each year to beat out its competitor.
Take your one new gimmick and buggy gameplay with Madden 09. I only pay for sports games that bring something innovative to the table.
@NihonTiger
FUCK YES! I think it's ridiculous that EA didn't consider a Red Wing for the cover this year. We annihilated any team we came across this year. It wasn't even close.
@NihonTiger
Unfortunately, it's Rick Nash. So neither NHL game has a Stanley Cup winner on it? Lame...
I haven't played a hockey game in a while. And that vid is looking gooood
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