There are few moments in any sports video game more satisfying than scoring a goal in NHL 09. It’s more than aiming top-shelf and pressing a button before the goalie gets into position. No, you have to outmaneuver the defense with quick skating and smart passing, work your way into scoring position, and then manually put the puck where the goalie isn’t. But if you played EA Sports hockey in the past two years and experienced the stellar control mechanic known as the skill stick, you already knew all this. In NHL 09, EA expands on its already outstanding gameplay with a host of addictive game modes that make this, quite simply, one of the best sports games of all time.

A variety of game modes and outstanding gameplay will keep you
coming back for more NHL 09. Group hug.

With skill-stick control, your right analog acts as your hockey stick. Move it left or right to deke, press up for a snap shot, down then up for a slap shot, and to the side then up for a wrist shot. On defense, you have 360-degree control to clog passing lanes, deliver poke checks, and pull your opponent’s skates right out from beneath him (two minutes for tripping.) There’s also a dedicated stick-lift button that, when used in proper position, will whack an attacker’s stick away from the puck. When not in proper position, you’re likely to be whistled for high-sticking or slashing, but this aggressive defensive move adds another risk/reward element to the action.

If anything, the new skill-stick additions transform NHL 09 into a defensive-focused game, forcing you to use actual hockey strategy to get past the blue line. Indeed, flip-dumping the puck into the offensive zone--another new maneuver this year--will allow speedy wingers to get behind aggressive defenders sliding in for the pinch. You’ll have to take what the excellent defensive AI gives you; working passes into the slot or behind the net and cycling the puck to create scoring opportunities. Simply zigzagging past defenders on the breakout isn’t going to work, especially on higher difficulty settings. Rest assured, there are fewer scoring opportunities than in years past, and NHL 09 is a much better overall hockey experience because of it.

But in large part, the overall gameplay on the ice remains very faithful to last year’s game. Checking is mapped to the right analog stick, and the physics have been improved so big hits can only be delivered at direct angles (provided the defender has a full head of steam). A stationary defenseman is more likely to harmlessly shove an attacker than knock him off his skates. This eliminates arcade-style hit fests and forces you to play more conservative defense. If you pull defensemen out of position to deliver a big hit, you’ll open up the slot, and skilled opponents will take advantage. Hockey purists won’t like all the off-the-puck hits that could easily be whistled as interference, but these concessions to video game fun are balanced well against the game’s dedication to realism.

There’s nothing quite like that first moment on the ice as a professional.

Because this simulation approach forces you to play real hockey, casual players that loved the old arcade style may feel lost. Fortunately, several tutorials are included that introduce player controls and some basic strategy tips. And if you still hate the skill stick, you can opt for the two-button NHL-94-style controls.