It's taken its sweet time getting here, but hockey finally hits the Wii with the release of NHL 2K9. 2K Sports tries to give fans something worthwhile, with motion-sensitive shooting controls and a number of features. It's adequate, but too many shortcomings make it feel more like a rookie player than a Stanley Cup champion.
In this version, you control your skater with the Nunchuk's analog stick. Checking is surprisingly fun, as you can send opponents flying across the ice with minimal effort. The fight system is better realized on the Wii than in other editions, as you use the Nunchuk and Wii remote to pull your punches.
The shooting controls are equally cool. To fire shots at the net, you can either flick the Nunchuk for a quick wrist shot or hold the B button and perform back and forth motions for a powerful slap shot. It works better than expected, especially when you involve friends. Choosing players via Wii remote pointing takes practice, but overall, this game plays fine.
We just wish the rest of NHL 2K9 could keep up the pace, as it comes up short in several areas. The presentation, for instance, looks ancient. Player animations aren't bad, as are the camera angles, but the rest of the arena details come up short. The fans resemble cardboard cutouts and the licensed rinks lack smaller details. Even worse, the game's speed constantly jumps around, as the things slow down when multiple players crowd the ice. In addition, the audio is muffled and difficult to hear. That's a shame, because the commentary by Drew Remenda and Randy Hahn is spot on and the surrounding effects are good.
NHL 2K9 also lacks certain extras that make the other versions so appealing. There's no online functionality whatsoever. No sports ticker, no list of lengthy opponents from the U.S. and Canada and worst of all, no online leagues. This makes the game an offline affair for up to four players. While it's not bad, it left us wanting more.
There are a few supplementary modes, but they seem cheaply ported over. Franchise and Season are included, but they're not as robust as in the other versions. There are two mini-games, pond hockey and mini-rink, and that's it. Considering that the Wii is a "party" system, this is a sorely missed opportunity. You can't even use your Miis.
NHL 2K9 has fun controls, but the average presentation and missing extras drag it down. It's decent if you need a quick shoot-around with friends. Those looking for something with more substance, however, will have to wait and see what skates onto the Wii next year.
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