NHL 09

 PC
User Score
4.5

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 37 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 37
  3. Negative: 19 out of 37
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  1. DominikCZE
    Nov 9, 2013
    6
    Honestly, me wanting to play a REAL NHL game is what made me buy a PS3 years ago. Basically NHL 03 with new rosters, doesn't even support proper multiplayer.
  2. twilightrocks
    Mar 30, 2013
    8
    ignore the bad reviews, this game is good! the graphics may be a bit dated for the time but the gameplay is fun and thats what counts! the controls are pretty good too! the only annoying thing about this game is the amount of times the ref whistles you and drops the puck again just for very minor offenses. i got this game for £3 and im glad i bought it!
  3. RadT
    Nov 5, 2008
    1
    Another year another typical failure NHL port to PC. What is wrong with this one is are same things that have been wrong with the last seven NHL games. Brutal front end designed for controllers, not drag-and-drop for mouse keyboard. One low resolution on the menu screen. 1600x1200 max in-game resolution with no widescreen support. No mouse scroll support. Unresponsive directional controls Another year another typical failure NHL port to PC. What is wrong with this one is are same things that have been wrong with the last seven NHL games. Brutal front end designed for controllers, not drag-and-drop for mouse keyboard. One low resolution on the menu screen. 1600x1200 max in-game resolution with no widescreen support. No mouse scroll support. Unresponsive directional controls in-game combined with over-responsive button controls.Visually a copy of NHL2006. Color Commentary was just as good in NHL 97: so no improvement. Poor create-a-player, with difficult to manipulate design and no in-game explanation for newbies of how stats affect a player. EA seems content to spend 10 minutes porting the console versions of its sports games to PC every year, so they will not get the message this is unacceptable until it hits them in the pocketbook via no sales. Since NHL09 is basically an exercise in frustration, not only is it not worth buying, it's not even worth the bandwidth to pirate it.… Expand
  4. Tron
    Oct 30, 2008
    1
    If you've bought any of this series in the last 5 years, you can skip this one. The gameplay doesn't differ from previous versions in the least.

    The only addition of note is the "be a pro" mode, which to me, won't replace Dynasty mode as my choice of game style. Otherwise, the same gameplay with new menu colors slapped on and some different music in the background. Its    If you've bought any of this series in the last 5 years, you can skip this one. The gameplay doesn't differ from previous versions in the least.

    The only addition of note is the "be a pro" mode, which to me, won't replace Dynasty mode as my choice of game style.

    Otherwise, the same gameplay with new menu colors slapped on and some different music in the background. Its a $50 roster update.    … Expand
  5. MarcosE
    Jan 3, 2010
    0
    This game doesnt deverse a 1.... the only positive point: licensed.... nothing more.... the controls are terrible, the response even worst, doesnt have even a 16:9 resolution (NFL 08 have, one Year BEFORE)
  6. JohnC.
    Oct 23, 2008
    3
    Do not get this game, unless you want NHL 06 with updated rosters. It is really poor. No online matchmaking, you have to go find people's IP address before you play.
  7. Joe
    Dec 19, 2008
    1
    This would have been an awesome game like...10 years ago. NHL series peaked in 2001-2002 and been dropping like a rock since then. Its truly a disgrace that EA even has the balls to release this game for anything more than free, hell people who pirate the game will probably feel robbed of hard drive space. Yeah its that bad and that's putting it nicely. Another typical EA PS2 to PC This would have been an awesome game like...10 years ago. NHL series peaked in 2001-2002 and been dropping like a rock since then. Its truly a disgrace that EA even has the balls to release this game for anything more than free, hell people who pirate the game will probably feel robbed of hard drive space. Yeah its that bad and that's putting it nicely. Another typical EA PS2 to PC port job, almost nothing new, game engine developed in the late 1980's, textures from 2001, horrible resolution support, lack of online support, overall just another turd straight out of the EA poopchute. To think we had games like oblivion setting the bar graphics wise in early 06 and crysis in late 07 and here we are late 08 getting this garbage from EA its just sickening, for a company so big, they produce games with quality so small.… Expand
  8. AndyE
    Dec 2, 2008
    2
    I played 09 on PS3 and got really excited and wanted to buy this on PC. Thank god I tried it first because this is really really bad. I was hoping that the new puck control would be so great with keyboard and mouse but nope. This is the same shit I played about 5 years ago.
  9. MurdockH
    Nov 18, 2008
    1
    If you do not own a hockey game for your PC, I would recommend NHL08 the most out of what little there is. If you can find NHL09 for a very cheap price, go for it - as long as you don't already own a hockey game for your computer. If you have ANY other hockey game, this one will be no different, no better, and the only advantage it has is the updated player rosters, which are about If you do not own a hockey game for your PC, I would recommend NHL08 the most out of what little there is. If you can find NHL09 for a very cheap price, go for it - as long as you don't already own a hockey game for your computer. If you have ANY other hockey game, this one will be no different, no better, and the only advantage it has is the updated player rosters, which are about right for August of 2008. All graphics, gameplay, commentary, menus, EVERYTHING is the same as the past 3 or 4 years of the EA NHL franchise. As many have said, they have put VERY little time in to this, and almost no effort at all. The "be a pro" mode is a great idea, I've heard it is EXCELLENT on the X-Box and PS3, but sadly this game is NOT the same at all on the PC. My vote is that EA has completely failed their PC market. If you own previous EA hockey titles, 09 will surely disappoint you and leave you frustrated.… Expand
  10. Flack007
    Oct 16, 2014
    1
    NHL 2004 with updated roster. Nothing at all. The worst hockey game for PC. Waste of money, waste of time. Rather play old versions. Btw it's last ice-hockey game for computers, so it's only one reason why to play or buy this game.
  11. JanisLatvia
    Jan 16, 2016
    10
    Real good game It doesn't look like it would have 8 years this year because you see graphics are real better in next parts of NHL games but i feel like i would never play better than 09 because i just love the game!
  12. 4ya5h1
    Jun 29, 2022
    8
    if we speak of it as a game of 2008 then its hecking gorgeous. last nhl game, and imho the best one. ofc sometimes it feels really old, there are some bad things in gameplay, but overall there is nothing terrible.
    PS. LETS GO RANGERS
  13. Genek13
    Nov 20, 2019
    3
    Last installment that was developed for PC - and it's a crappy one...
    Instead to play this game just install a 2003-05 version :) That's what i had done back in 2009 :)
  14. mohaczap
    Sep 4, 2020
    8
    I got this game in 2016 and have played it for hundreds of hours. It's a great game if it were from the PS2 era, however, it was made during the 360/PS3 era and it's lacking in many aspects. It's a robust game and with mods, the updated rosters and jerseys made it a nice experience. Hopefully, the NHL series comes back on PC, but its EA so I have my doubts.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
62

Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. Worth Playing
    89
    NHL 09 is as real of a hockey game as it can get. It looks great, sounds good (if repetitive), plays great and has an amazing set of features.
    Read full review
  2. Gamers.at
    89
    Whoever is not immediately enthralled by the graphic of the game will at latest be as soon as he tried the 6-vs.-6-online- or the “be a pro”-mode. EA never truly manages to release a proper sequel – but NHL09 should be counted among the top-3 sports games. [Issue # 16]
  3. GameStar
    71
    It's still a good hockey game, but all in all it's the same game sold four years in a row anyway. While EA Sports polishes the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game, it neglects the PC version, e.g. it's impossible to change the aspect ratio to 16:9 and the maximum resolution is 1280x1024. Time for 2K Sports to step in with it's NHL 2k- series. It worked for NBA 2k9.
    Read full review
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