As the next-generation systems continue to give video game developers more and more tools for re-creating entire universes, the newest sports titles draw closer and closer to making their simulations as realistic as possible.
Best Sports Video Games of 2008
Here are the titles that most faithfully recreated their individual sports this year on video game consoles.
NHL 2009
The NHL video game series by EA Sports was a huge hit back in the proverbial day on Sega Genesis, especially with the always-popular arcade-style NHL 94, but eventually the fast-paced, high-scoring game play that was a bit devoid of strategy began to wear thin.
The problem was that EA Sports didn't get the memo until last year with NHL 2008. NHL 2008 added much better puck physics and more strategic game play like a real NHL hockey game.
NHL 2009 takes that realistic, organic-feeling game engine and improves upon it by tightening things up even more while adding some solid new features.
The Be a Pro mode with its third-person graphics and addictive online multi-player game play is one of the best reasons to play this game and even non-hockey fans will most likely enjoy it.
NCAA Football 2009
Adding more of an emphasis on the big play was one of the development team' main goals for NCAA Football 2009 and they succeed in this game, although perhaps a little too much. Defense is extremely hard to play in this game and that it makes it a very flawed engine.
But it's still loads of fun and games are still balanced and competitive for the most part, and the new online dynasty is a college football fan's dream as up to 12 players can compete against each other online for recruits, wins, and bowl game invitations.
Madden NFL 2009
The new AI that reads your tendencies and reacts is an interesting idea but it may need some more tweaking.
Madden 2009's overall game play is seasoned to perfection, however, and the inclusions of a new broadcast team so we finally don't have to hear Madden's canned phrases any more as well as online franchises take this popular series to new heights.
NBA 2k9
Its main competitor NBA Live hasn't quite caught up to the simulation style sports gamers prefer like the NHL series has, and NBA 2k9 has surpassed it in just about every way.
The computer AI is tough in this game but that's a good thing because it forces the player to learn how to play like an actual basketball team would and to actually run plays and share the ball instead of just taking over with star players or launching threes all day.
The "Association" franchise mode is about as deep and engrossing as sports games get in NBA 2k9 and something other games would do well to take a few ideas from.
MLB 2008 The Show
The MVP franchise is long gone but this is easily the best baseball video game on the market now. The "Road to the Show" mode is a classic first-person style mode as players take their created future star up through the minors to the big leagues.
