The ongoing battle between EA and 2K on the fierce rinks of the NHL has finally come to a close. After having over a week with NHL 09 and NHL 2K9, it’s time to break down a head-to-head comparison on exactly which one deserves your hard earned cash. Although some people may have the luxury to play both games this year, we have decided to put both the games in a cage, and only one will emerge a winner.

Final Round: Fight!

Based on the play we had with the demos, it was clear that our expectations for the final products would be very different. Considering the very big difference between the two in the year before, as well, we anticipated one of them veering into new territory, or at least exploring something a bit new. However, it’s easy to sum up both games by saying that they are remarkably similar to last year’s offerings. New graphics, new modes, but you are getting the same style of game, the same as it ever was, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. With NHL 08 walking away with lots of praise from last year, it seems that they were not intent to simply release the exact same product. The 2K series does add a few things, as well, but it seems that it still falls short in a few areas.

Visually, NHL 09 is much more striking than the 2K showing. Both have their strong points, with NHL 2K9 having very consistent and smooth play, and NHL 09 delivering a much brighter and more detailed look at each player. The lighting in 2K9 doesn’t have quite the right look for a hockey arena, and seems a bit dark most of the time. The game is also much slower, and feels a bit bogged down in comparison with 09. That extends through the gameplay, as well, which can be sped up, but still feels held back and not quite the right pace for what is supposed to be a very fast paced game. Still, the game runs smooth; smoother than 09 in most places.

The NHL 09 controls are very solid, building only slightly on the stick mechanics used in their last outing. There are more defensive stick controls, allowing the play to control how they poke check and adds more precise movement to the offensive side. NHL 2K9 is much simpler, falling back on the arcade style that has been the staple of the series. For the most part, it feels very good, too. Easy to use, has a solid feel and still plays very well, but does start to feel dated when faced with the level of control. It’s still fun, and even NHL 09 has built in a control scheme that is based on their previous installment from 1994. A very cool throwback.

2K’s entry has strong components when it comes to bringing you into the hockey atmosphere that 09 just does not have. During the playoffs, for instance, your characters grow beards, and while not groundbreaking it’s a neat touch that accents one of the staples of post-season. They’ve even added a mode to allow Zamboni driving, which is completely pointless but still a nice touch. In terms of some smaller additions to 09, they’ve put in a more advanced replay system that allows you to upload your plays to a central service. The menus also load much quicker in the PS3 version, which was a pretty glaring issue in the first game. 09′s Be A Pro mode is also a very interesting addition, allowing you to take control of a single player, starting off in the minors and working your way up into the big leagues. Something very authentic about that experience, and it is a great addition to the series.

The big sell for both of these games is in their online modes. EA has gone out of their way to make almost everything they can in terms of online mode. Navigating to any mode is exceptionally difficult, but the amount that is available, including creating clubs, ranked matches, fun matches and dynasties makes the game a lot of fun to play past the offline modes. There is also a good ranking system built in, and your profile gives you details on who you’ve played and how you’ve scored. 2K9 has done a similar system, giving you a grade when you jump into a mode called Team-Up. This mode allows you to make a full team, up to 12 people, and band together in either a dynamic or fixed position. You are graded on how well you play, and it goes towards your overall score. 2K9 also has a dynasty mode that you can play online, and with avatars and weekly tournaments set-up by 2K Sports, it is a satisfying experience.

Beyond the features and the tweaks, the gameplay on the ice stays very much the same as last year. 2K9 fixes up a few of the control issues, and 09 has added more offensive and defensive controls. 09 can be almost daunting in its complexity, but immensely gratifying when something is done very well. A solid deke feels better in 09 than in 2K9. The AI in 2K9 is also a bit wonky, having score-on-themselves moments a few times during the game, and even the cut-scenes having skaters crash into the boards randomly. 09 AI doesn’t necessarily do the game great justice, but it does pretty well throughout, and even the goalies remain pretty consistent in this version.

The big surprise here is that both games are actually pretty good. What isn’t surprising is that one does have the edge, and it is definitely NHL 09. Deep online multiplayer, solid offline and just really well rounded controls and gameplay make it a lot of fun and a great sports game. The big tell in the coming year will be how often they update their roster and if they can fix a few odd issues with game crashes and the score ticker, which is poorly formatted and has actually been something consistently driving people crazy. 2K isn’t dead, however, and they do demonstrate a lot of great ideas, but it doesn’t have the same feel as it did before. It’s more arcade and less down-to-earth than the series has been known for, and while it still is a lot of fun, it’s missing some of the critical elements of control and speed that are really needed to make the game of hockey come alive.

Keep your stick on the ice.

NHL 09 played for PS3 and Xbox 360. NHL 2K9 played for Xbox 360. All modes, online and offline played and tested. Club created, dynasty played through.