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NHL 09 Xbox 360
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Metascore
88 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 51 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: NHL 09 builds on the momentum of last year, with innovative controls, added depth and new features designed to help newcomers jump into the series. The Skill Stick System evolves to bring an unparalleled level of control to the defensive side of the puck. The all new Defensive Skill Stick gives you the ability to sweep your stick to block passing lanes and lift an opponent's stick to prevent one-timers. Take your game online with 6 vs.6 team play, where 12 people can play together on 12 different consoles around the world. With new teams from the Russian, Czech Republic and German Elite leagues, NHL 09 connects hockey fans around the globe like never before. Players new to the series can now shoot, pass and check with ease. NHL 09 features Be A Pro, a game mode that puts you on the ice with a dynamic new 3rd person camera that allows you to play the role of one player. With a performance tracker grading your progress in more than 50 categories, you know exactly where you need to improve to become the next NHL superstar. [Electronic Arts]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 41
  3. Negative: 0 out of 41
  1. GamePro
    100
    EA Sports has been doing fine work on this series for the last few years, but everything until now only seems like groundwork for this years version. Small problems aside this is the best game of hockey ever made.
  2. Gaming Age
    100
    EA didn't just make their game look, sound, and play superbly, but they even brought their "A" game when it comes to features as well.
  3. Gamervision
    100
    With barely a visual hitch, exceptional presentation, engaging online, improved controls and an unmatched level of realism, there's almost nothing to prevent a full recommendation to any fan of hockey or sports games in general. Even if you aren't a fan of sports games, the game is so good it could turn you into one.

See all 41 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 17
  3. Negative: 2 out of 17
  1. SimonSinclair
    10
    This is the 1st NHL game i have played in years and even though i'm from the football loving UK, NHL 09 is without doubt the greatest sports title i've played on a games console. I really rate it that highly. Wasn't really into hockey before i bought this, but this title has got me that hooked that i have even subscribed to NASN so I can watch the real NHL.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. RichardV.
    6
    Too many games nowadays are rated based on pre-release review of written features. Then you have the post-release reviews that don't investigate the inner workings of a product. The fact is, the EASHL (MMO) feature of NHL09 is unsecured, imbalanced, unmoderated, unpoliced, unsupported and most importantly, unfinished. With all kinds of exploits that do not get addressed and the fact you cannot play a club game with 9 or more players (as they get dropped by the server), it's really hard to figure how this game gets an 89 rating. Quite bizzare.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. JamieC
    3
    Best sports game of all time? Do people play these games before they review them? This game is plagued by the same horrible AI and one sided reffing that every single hockey game ever created has had. 3/4 through a franchise season with penaltys on the max setting and my team has had ONE powerplay, in 64 games .... yet every time i touch the poke check button, a cpu player goes down, to the tune of 102 powerplays against...... how does that work? i guess when you program your entire defense scheme around interfering with the intended passing target rather then design an actual defensive scheme, it may be too much to ask for a game that has some close resemblance to balance. is it so hard to hire beta testers? EA has put a nice LOOKING game, but again, the gameplay is overcomplicated, "realistic", garbage. beta testers -what?… Expand
    • 0 of 1 users said yes

See all 17 User Reviews

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