NHL 2K9 Wii Features/Screens/First Look (56k?)

BTP

I said this in a post on another board months ago.

While I'm talking about hockey games, let me rant for a moment. WHERE ARE THE HOCKEY GAMES FOR WII?! WTF?! Nearly a year and a half later and there's still no hockey games for Wii besides the NES games on the VC! That's unacceptable! I don't care how, just get a hockey game on the Wii, just as long as it's an honest effort! Include CC and GC support if you have to! I shouldn't have to be forced to buying a used copy of NHL 04 for Gamecube just to have any kind of modern gaming hockey! Just...make....something!

Well, FINALLY, there is something. And it is called NHL 2K9. But does it measure to the standard of "an honest effort"?

...(*dramatic pause*)...

TIME TO FIND OUT!

http://www.nintendic.com/news/2751

[E3 2008] 2K Sports details NHL 2K9 Wii
Posted in Screens, Games, Wii by Andrew Macarthy on July 16th, 2008 at 23:09

2K Sports initially confirmed that NHL 2K9 would be making its way to the Nintendo Wii last month, but at this year’s E3 Media and Business Summit, the developer has unveiled many of the Wii-specific details for the multi-format title - including Wii Remote fighting on the ice.

2K Sports has revealed that the Wii Remote’s motion and pointer controls will play a big part in NHL 2K9, from passing and shooting to goal tending and scrapping with rivals (more details below). On the whole, 2K9 boasts improvements over its sequel that include new player animations, brand new in-game presentation system, and a user-friendly franchise mode.

Wii Key Features List:

* 2K Sports is proud to announce NHL 2K9 will be coming to the Wii Console™ from Nintendo this fall. As the first and only officially licensed NHL and NHLPA video game for Wii, NHL 2K9 will offer fans the fun opportunity to play like the pros using the Wii Remote™ controller as a hockey stick and experience the sport in a new, entertaining and wholly unique manner.
* Wii Remote™ Shooting – Execute wrist shots with the flick of the Wii Remote or put some power into shots by holding the B button while flicking the Wii Remote to blast a slapper.
Wii Remote™ Fighting – Adding a never-before-seen layer of fun to hockey video games, NHL 2K9 features on-ice showdowns. When two players have raised their aggression enough to fight, pointing the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller downward drops the gloves. Once a fight has started, punch with the Nunchuk and balance with the Wii Remote to get your opponent off their feet.
* Precision Passing / Chain Passing – Exclusive to Wii, take the guesswork out of which player is going to receive a pass by selecting players with the Wii Remote cursor. One-timers, give-and-go and tic-tac-toe passing are executed by selecting multiple players prior to pressing the pass or A button.
* Wii Remote Goaltending – Gesture-based goaltending allows fans to get between the pipes and flash the leather. Even take control when it counts the most - in shootouts!
* Full Featured Simulation – NHL 2K9 on Wii offers the same full-featured, fun hockey experience as available on other platforms complete with franchise mode, practice mode with a tutorial, pond hockey, and much more!

NHL 2K9 will be released on September 09. Check out the first screenshots above

The problem I have with that last bit I bolded is that it doesn't explicitly mention online. And the "First Look" from Gamespot seems to suggest that as well.

However, the biggest news regarding NHL 2K9 is undoubtedly its debut on the Nintendo Wii, which makes it the first hockey game for the console. In contrast to EA's approach to Wii sports games, NHL 2K9 maintains the look and feel of a simulation. Although the graphics aren't quite up to par with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game, the gameplay and game modes do seem similar (although we are unsure if this applies to online play as well). Of course, all of this is forgivable with the implementation of the Wii control scheme. Specifically, the Wii version of the game brings a new twist to the controls.

As for the screenshots, well........I'm going to spoiler them for you so that you can have a sort of blind taste test with previous versions.....only it's more of a blind sight test.
....Wait, what? Blind sight? Uh...never mind. Hopefully you know what I'm trying to describe.

NHL 2K9 WII

More screens on Gamespot

NHL 2K7 O-XBOX

Hmm? What's that you say? I'm being unfair by comparing the (realistically speaking) first NHL Wii game with a game where the developers had years of experience on the O-XBOX to get all they could out of it?

Okay then, Since Wii is somewhat based on Gamecube tech, let's compare it with the latest NHL 2K game for Gamecube: NHL 2K3.

NHL 2K3 GAMECUBE

So, let's recap:

- All the functionality of the 360 and PS3 versions, but maybe no online play? :x
- Visuals that aren't even equal to have of its predecessor of 6 years? :?
- And what do they mean with "gesture-based goaltending"? O_o / / :rotate:

Is this really what Wii gamers should expect as an "honest effort"?
What do you think? Because I want to be wrong and find out this turns out really well.

TheSonicRetard

Maybe when nintendo said the Wii was like 2xGCN, they actually meant it was 1/2xGCN.

Schide

That's...that's pretty shitty honestly.

But I don't Wii so I don't really care. If I get an NHL game this it'll be for...well...I don't know actually. PC maybe?

quovadis13

Nintendo games always look 10x better in motion.


I mean, it would have to. There is nowhere to go but up.

BTP

Schide wrote: »

That's...that's pretty shitty honestly.

But I don't Wii so I don't really care. If I get an NHL game this it'll be for...well...I don't know actually. PC maybe?

Then that'll be EA's game.

quovadis13 wrote: »

Nintendo games always look 10x better in motion.


I mean, it would have to. There is nowhere to go but up.

(*The X-Files' "I want to believe" poster.jpg*)

Schide

BTP wrote: »

Schide wrote: »

That's...that's pretty shitty honestly.

But I don't Wii so I don't really care. If I get an NHL game this it'll be for...well...I don't know actually. PC maybe?

Then that'll be EA's game.

Well, it won't be if it's as shitty as last year's version. I'd like to get one for the 360 but I wouldn't be able to play it enough yet to justify it.

Any news on which players on the respective covers yet?

Turkey

quovadis13 wrote: »

Nintendo games always look 10x better in motion.


I mean, it would have to. There is nowhere to go but up.

But....the NHL 2k3 already looks 10x, and it's still!

Saddler

Even if it had good graphics, it would still be hockey.

RichardTauber

2003 ... ah... when Roy was still playing...

FyreWulff

quovadis13 wrote: »

Nintendo games always look 10x better in motion.


I mean, it would have to. There is nowhere to go but up.

Acclaim's last Turok game had 15 minute load times.

On the Gamecube.

tsmvengy

Gotta love how in the Wii version they made the crowd look "better" than the GC version, and the actual players (the part you care about) look like ass.