Significant edit: EA has closed it's servers for this game, which means that only 420 out of the 1000 gamerscore points are obtainable. Yep, that's right, you can't get points for 58% of the game.
NHL 09 is a fantastic and deep hockey game from start to finish. It has an incredible amount of features, including many new ones, that will allow both new and old players of the franchise to enjoy the game. Although NHL 10 improves on the formula even more, NHL 09 is still a solid game from start to finish.
In addition to the normal Dynasty Mode that is incorporated into practically every sports game, NHL 09 has a new "Be A Pro" mode which allows a user to follow a player (either a created player, or an NHL player in the "Be A NHL Pro" mode [yes, "A NHL" is used]) through seasons, earning points and accolades and working toward becoming a hockey Legend. Starting with a custom player is a bit harder, yet more rewarding, as it forces you to start in the AHL minor leagues and work to be promoted to the NHL.
The gameplay is fluid and dynamic. There are a number of ways to customize your experience through various sliders (akin to other games). The Be A Pro series also rates your performance from game to game, and over time you find yourself playing your chosen position better simply by following the arrows on the ice telling you where your position is, and working harder to improve your game.
Of course, you could always choose to max a player's stats through customization or choose to play a top-notch player through the Be A NHL Pro mode (like Sidney Crosby), but playing through games as an average player and learning skills in order to increase your attributes is also rewarding.
The achievements are grinding: achievement hunters, this is not your game. While there are several that you can earn basically through a game or two, the majority will require you to play through several seasons or even several careers in order to attain them. Oddly enough, there isn't even an achievement for winning the Stanley Cup; rather, EA has decided to encourage you to improve your skills through the Be A Pro modes to earn your points, for the most part. Online achievements are also prevalent, and are no longer possible due to EA's server closings.
In short, this is a great game to play, but the achievement hunting is maddening since over half are online-related. I hate to drop it a star when the gameplay is so incredible, but since this is TA, I feel the need to knock it down for the grinding nature of the achievements in an otherwise dazzling game. On the other hand, if you're a hardcore hockey player, this game has very few flaws at all.
4.0