NHL 2K9

 Wii
NHL 2K9 Image
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 20 Ratings

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  • Summary: 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-iceWii 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. Balance with the Nunchuk and punch 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! [2K Sports]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. GameFocus
    81
    Of course, NHL 2K9 isn’t a perfect game and isn’t the best looking game but it does capture what we want to see, a playable and fun sport game on a console that definitely needs more than mini-games and Mario games.
  2. Nintendo Power
    70
    Still, for Wii owners looking to lace up their skates, this is the only game in town and it's not half-bad. [Nov 2008, p.100]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Da Gameboyz
    70
    NHL 2K9 for the Wii disappoints in the graphical department as it cannot compete with its competitors in terms of visual appeal. However, the hands-on controls more than make up for this by adding a sense of actually being in the game and not just sitting on the couch playing the game
  4. IGN
    68
    2K has the right idea here, including motion shooting, IR passing, and motion-based goaltending, but the core game is just too much of a rushed effort, and the final product is a visually unpleasant, choppy, incomplete package.
  5. GamingExcellence
    61
    Overall, NHL 2K9 is a respectable first effort with on the Wii. Still, the subtraction of key features from other titles and atrocious graphical presentation hold it back from any sort of rookie-of-the-year consideration.
  6. GamesRadar+
    60
    It’s just too bad that it looks so darned ugly. The controls are a breath of fresh air, though, so long as you give them a chance (which we have a feeling too many people won’t).
  7. GameSpot
    55
    NHL 2K9 on the Wii boasts some innovative controls but suffers from serious AI problems.

See all 11 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 9
  3. Negative: 4 out of 9
  1. CK
    Sep 20, 2008
    7
    Overall, I find gameplay to be very enjoyable. The graphics are disappointing, as noted by others, and overall the whole game feels as if itOverall, I find gameplay to be very enjoyable. The graphics are disappointing, as noted by others, and overall the whole game feels as if it is more of a beta version than a finished product. However, it is very fun to play, the Wii Remote is used effectively, and passing is natural.… Expand
  2. aaronallingham
    Sep 14, 2008
    6
    The game play was typical 2k. The inclusion of the unique Wii style of play was surprising, in a positive way. My only disappointment with theThe game play was typical 2k. The inclusion of the unique Wii style of play was surprising, in a positive way. My only disappointment with the Wii style of game play was that stick handling should have been incorporated using the Wii remote.The players were generic with little resemblance to the actual players and sadly the one token that 2k has over EA is the off ice, behind the scenes game play.In this installment this falls short of earlier versions. I give great acclaim for being the first Wii version of an NHL game and though I have sited some negatives I would recommend this game to any NHL fan porting on the WII.… Expand
  4. Nelson
    Sep 18, 2008
    6
    Hungry for a game of Hockey for the Wii I picked this up. My 9 year old and I had a blast playing it as the controls were easy to pick up;Hungry for a game of Hockey for the Wii I picked this up. My 9 year old and I had a blast playing it as the controls were easy to pick up; before long slap shots, wrist shots and a fight or two happened. Graphically it sucks....really hockey on the game cube looked better. It has been awhile since I've really been bothered by graphics vs gameplay..in this case..it is very disapointing. Regardless glad there is some hockey for the wii and hopefully next year they'll get it right… Expand
  5. PaulShannon
    Sep 10, 2008
    5
    Good: Finally a hockey game for the Wii
    Bad: They should have finished the game before releasing
    Ugly: This game. Graphics literally look    Good: Finally a hockey game for the Wii
    Bad: They should have finished the game before releasing
    Ugly: This game.

    Graphics literally look half done. Players are identical and lifeless (dead, DEAD eyes). On the plus side, gameplay and controls are pretty good.

    I am becoming more and more convinced that the impending Wii motion plus addon is necessary before waggle is useful.    … Expand
  6. brock
    Sep 12, 2008
    3
    This game is broken. The gameplay is fun, but only for as long as you can overlook the fact that the graphics are worse than games made 5This game is broken. The gameplay is fun, but only for as long as you can overlook the fact that the graphics are worse than games made 5 years ago, the commentary is plainly stupid, the text on the screen is too small to read, the motion controls are annoying, unintuitive, and CANNOT be changed or adjusted, the menus are difficult to navigate, the controller responsiveness feels clunky, and the player faces appear to be random and generic.
    But hey, if you can get past that, then you'll really enjoy the half-decent gameplay.    … Expand
  7. JoelSmith
    Sep 11, 2008
    3
    Awful game. I assumed that the wii version would be modified in a way that made it work and be fun with the limitations of the wii. What theyAwful game. I assumed that the wii version would be modified in a way that made it work and be fun with the limitations of the wii. What they did was simply take an existing version, which runs on powerful gaming consoles, and force it to try and work on the wii. They failed miserably. What a waste of $50. Honestly, I had to force myself to try and finish a few complete games. Sadly, the only part that is any fun is the Zamboni mini game (unfortunately you can only get to it after playing a fulll period of a game - how ironic!)… Expand
  8. JTrot
    Jan 11, 2009
    0
    Worst!!! Horrid game play. I challenge anyone to even see the net at the far end of the ice as the only view you get is basically behindWorst!!! Horrid game play. I challenge anyone to even see the net at the far end of the ice as the only view you get is basically behind your own goal. You will often accidentally hit the 1 button when you shoot which switches you to Goalie mode. Just horrid horrid gameplay. First game I bought and will trade in as soon as possible. Graphically it is a joke. Sure, pregame looks awesome but gets tiresome. No one can read the players team lists as the fonts are tiny. The fighting is terrible.... by the time you have mastered how to use both controllers to (a) stay on your skates and (b) actually throw a punch, you'll already be in the playoffs... impossible to learn to fight! I played Team Canada vs Team Belarus and they still beat me and I've owed every hockey sim EA Sports has put out. Wait for an EA SPORTS version.... this one get a game misconduct.… Expand

See all 9 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

91
#91 Best Wii Game of 2008
51
#51 Most Discussed Wii Game of 2008
88
#88 Most Shared Wii Game of 2008