For a nation much more at home kicking balls about in grass than sliding a rubber biscuit over frozen water, the appearance of a second ice hockey game which looks, play and even sound almost same as the first EA’s NHL 09, is pushing it. Confusing the issue even further is the fact that they are both really good. Last month’s NHL 09 scored an impressive nine, and 2K9, although still lagging a little behind, is a big improvement over last year’s stiff, over serious sim.

The biggest change for 2K9 is in the controls. Following on from NHL 07’s trailblazing lead both EA and Take Two’s hockey series have dabbled with using the right analogue stick in recent years. However, 2K8’s system was a muddle, attempting to capture EA’s movement matching swing without ripping off the idea wholesale. The resulting setup was counterintuitive and clumsy, and while the option remains for the stubborn few who mastered it last year, the default controls are now a hybrid of face buttons and stick. As a result the game feels much looser this year, and more fun.

There’s still enormous depth here if you go looking for it, mastering skill controls, scrapping for face-offs, the huge, Master League-Style Franchise mode – but overall the dull realism’s been dialled back to make for a faster, more physical and highly accessible game. Again in line with EA’s 09 sports games, 2K9 includes customizable difficulty setting that enable you to fiddle with human and computer skills settings independently, not only making the game easier or harder but shaping it your particular strengths and weakness. What it comes down to is if you are after a slightly simpler but still fun ice hockey game, look no further than this, but if you want the deepest and best there is the EA’s big scoring NHL 09 is your only man.
[via IGN]