Breaking the Ice of Next Gen Hockey (NHL 09 (Xbox 360))

Member Name: GeordieNick

Product:	NHL 09 (Xbox 360)
Date:	01/07/09 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Superb online play, great graphics and soundtrack.

Disadvantages: Takes time to get to grips with.

I've always enjoyed ice hockey games, going back to playing NHL Hitz and others on the PS2. After playing the demo I opted to try this NHL out as my first next generation hockey game and nine months down the line, it is still a game i regularly play.

The gameplay is phenomenal and innovative using the stick as a shot stick which feels fluid and coupled with the tricks you can do it really does make for superb gameplay. Defensively there are many options available to you as well allowing you to poke check, dive, stick lift and body check and the beauty of this is that it leads to a variety of styles in multiplayer.

There are various well integrated modes throughout the game supported by a great and suitable soundtrack. You can play career modes as your favourite NHL sides or start a 'Be a Player' career where you only control yourself as you attempt to work your way up to an NHL superstar starting in your selected teams AHL team.

For me though, by far the best integration in NHL 09 is the online mode. Much like other sports games you get your standard one on one which works fine. You can set up your own team though, where you control yourself and you can invite your friends to join your team. You can then go online and play against others with no lag at all the majority of the time. There is not a better experience online than playing with five of your friends, all with headsets trying to win for your team against random people from accross the world!

Summary: A superb game with an innovative and brilliant online mode.