NHL 2009 Unveils Revolutionary New Feature

July 29, 2008 by Panzer Pev · 1 Comment

Arguably the best sports game released in 2007 is set to return with a vengeance in 2008. Already the recipient of much praise from journalists at IGN and 1Up, Electronic Arts’ Vancouver Studio has reinvigorated hockey for gamers with their innovative “skill stick.” So what is new for NHL 2009? Is it just going to be another roster update with a few extra skating animations thrown in? The answer is a resounding no. Once again, the NHL franchise will be pushing the thinking forward for sports games, integrating a new and very exciting feature called the EA Sports Hockey League (EASHL). Really rolls off the tongue doesn’t it? Ok, maybe not. For millions of hockey fans that live and breathe hockey, this may be the feature that you have been waiting for. For all other sports fans, you can bet that the NHL test bed for this idea will find itself soon in Madden, Fifa and many more EA titles to come.

Levelling up in a sports game? Awesomeness ensues.

So what exactly is the EASHL? It isn’t just another online mode…it’s basically an introduction of RPG elements into the sports genre with a dash of MMO for flavour. In the EASHL, you take control of your own player and you (yes you, it is your name on the back of that jersey and your real name that appears on the leaderboards – not your gamertag), play online and are graded on your performance. With the new performance tracker feature, you are graded on how well you play hockey, not on how well you play a video game. A new system for tracking your progress and skills allows players to “level up” their hockey player by attributing skill points and improving stats…just like an RPG. Perform well on a consistent basis and your hulking power forward will improve with you.

When you first begin there will be 10 player types to choose from across 3 categories of players:

Forwards: dangler, grinder, playmaker, power forward, sniper
Defensemen: defensive defenseman, offensive defenseman
Goalies: stand up, hybrid, butterfly

Want to be the next Sidney Crosby? Become a playmaker. Think you may be the next coming of Patrick Roy…choose a butterfly style goalie. Point is, you get to tailor your own player and make him into a superstar…that is, if you have the skills to back it up.

So how do the RPG elements work? As you play online with your created skater you will be awarded hockey cards which give you points to spend on your player’s growth in three areas: offense, defense, and athleticism for skaters and reflexes, puck control, and athleticism for goalies. You may choose to level up your player across any of the three areas. Even better, if you decide at any point in your career to change player types you retain all of the points you have earned and can redistribute your skill points to the new player type.

So how is it like an MMO? All of this player development takes place online in the EASHL with teams made up entirely of gamers just like you. You will have to work with your team and play your position if you are to have any chance of winning. Players can emerge online as snipers, grinders or shutdown defensive specialists. Best of all, it will be your name the opponents fear. As you prove yourself online you will ascend the leaderboards and can challenge for the distinction of being the best player in the game at your position. For once the leaderboards truly will mean something.

For anyone that has ever played a sports game this has to come as exciting news. Finally, gamers have the chance to prove themselves in a system that rewards the player for playing better than everyone else. Maybe it will finally help answer the question that all sports fans ask…who is the best?