NHL 09 Looks to Hoist Another Cup
The zamboni has nearly finished smoothing the ice on this year’s highly anticipated hockey release, NHL 09. That’s right, it’s nearly hockey season again and 09 takes center ice boasting an impressive slew of new features that will have fans crashing the net in anticipation of a fat rebound. Regarded by many as the best sports game of 2008, NHL 09 bounces back to the hockey faithful with new game modes, exclusive online leagues, tons of new animations and a plethora of new moves. So lace up and get ready, this is a title that promises to be as sharp as Sidney Crosby’s skates.
With the 2008 Olympic Games coming to a close, the entire world has had the opportunity to witness some of the most spectacular athletes competing on the world’s biggest stage. These athletes are world class, the best of the best and some (Michael Phelps) will never be forgotten in Olympic history. Logically, it was only a matter of time before these incredible athletes were compared to video games; the games that stand apart from the others, titles like Madden, Pro Evolution Soccer and NHL. I’m using these comparisons to polarize the difference between the best of the best, and the worst of the worst. Read ahead to see just how bad some sports titles truly are. 
With the rising popularity of the UFC, it was almost inevitable that a game would eventually spawn from the blood and sweat of the octagon. UFC: Undisputed promises to utilize gorgeous gameplay and enhanced physics to produce the greatest amount of realism that video games offer today. Submissions and knockouts aside, most gamers realize that no matter how hard a company tries, these games fail to live up to their namesake and fall face first to the mat. Can THQ deliver the knockout and create the next legendary sports series?
EA Sports has announced plans to bridge the gap between hardcore and casual gamers by introducing an exclusive line of games for the Nintendo Wii. Entitled All-Play, it’s an effort to bring the joy of complex sports titles to those less apt at playing with detailed control schemes. But don’t make the mistake of thinking All-Play games are simply stripped down versions of the original titles.
If you’ve ever tried to watch a baseball or football game with someone who has a fantasy team, you might understand the devotion of fantasy sports players. To enlighten the rest of the world, Challenge Games has decided to reinvent the wheel, and create a brand new type of fantasy baseball, infinitely more accessible to those of us who don’t have hours to spare at the office to watch the waiver wire.