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If every Canadian boy’s dream is to play in the NHL someday, then it’s hard to see how a video game can empty the void of never realizing that dream. It’s easy to say that because so few end up making it, while so many end up forking over the $60 to buy an NHL video game each year. EA Sports has really turned a corner with NHL 09, likely its best hockey title to date. Adding more and more to the fluidity of the gameplay and interface, the “Be A Pro” mode is one of those long overdue additions that makes you wonder why it wasn’t included before. I’m focusing much of my review on that because the actual gameplay itself has really only been tweaked. For the most part, you won’t see a huge difference from last year’s game in that regard. There are less dumb goals that go in, and fewer glitches, but EA still has to work on solving the issue of pucks that turtle along the ice past the goalie for no good reason. Despite all that, Be A Pro offers up a unique experience that is actually very different from creating a player for the purpose of playing with your favourite superstar on the top line. In short, you have to pay your dues and earn the ice time. You can choose to create a fictional player or take the reins of an existing one to work his way up from the minors in the AHL. You’re evaluated on many different things, depending on your position, of course. If the coach sees you more as a scorer or playmaker, you’re expected to take shots on goal and make good passes. But you also have to play a sound positional game and be a good team player. That means going where you’re supposed to, distributing the puck, helping teammates make plays and getting off the ice when you’re supposed to. Chasing after the puck out of position and being a glorified puck-hog won’t win you any favours from the coaching staff. The coach will grade and comment on your performance after every shift. If you really screw up, be prepared to ride the pine for a while. I took a dumb interference penalty in the offensive zone - during a scoring chance, no less - and I sat on the bench for a good portion of the period after that. In the end, however, I scored the tying goal and set up the overtime winner, so I made up for the gaffe. That scenario pretty much sums up the balance that exists in this game. You can be selfless game after game in the NHL, but if you don’t score any points and the team suffers, you could be demoted back to the fourth line, or even back to the AHL. The stakes, naturally, are higher in the NHL, and you’re expected to contribute based on your credentials. It’s funny that as a team-based sport, hockey video games are actually very individualistic. Teamwork comes only at the hands of one player who controls all the players like a puppet master. The kind of team-oriented play offered here is very refreshing, especially since it comes both offline and online. Be A Pro is a nice segue into the awesome six-on-six gameplay online, where you can play together with friends or other random players around the world. You’d be surprised just how erratic some games can be, what with all five skaters on the same team chasing the puck. Breakaways can be common because both defensemen pinch incessantly. Missed bodychecks are also rampant. Some games can definitely be sloppy, but eventually your team finds a groove to compete against others that are equally disciplined and organized. You can also take your created Be A Pro players online as a team and join the EA Sports Hockey League. It’s a nice idea from the outset, but I suspect it only really carries any value to those who have a team to join. The regular team play online is more than sufficient for gamers of all stripes.   NHL 09 Format: Xbox 360 Publisher: EA Sports Developer: EA Canada ESRB Rating: E for Everyone Official Site: http://www.easports.com/nhl09/ Rating: 9 / 10

 

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G4 Canada (formerly TechTV Canada) launched in September 2001. G4 is the one and only television station that is plugged into every dimension of games, gear, gadgets and gigabytes. Owned Rogers Media Inc., the channel airs more than 24 original series. G4 is available on digital cable and satellite. For more information, see www.g4tv.ca.