As sports franchises go, EA Sports’ NHL franchise has long been one of the best out there for any sport, offering great gameplay and a bevy of ever-increasing features. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the most recent entry to the long-running hockey series, NHL 09, ups the ante with some great new features that help put you in the game as never before.

The biggest new factor in NHL 09’s formula is the Be A Pro mode. While this mode is omnipresent in most of EA Sports’ most recent franchise titles, it really comes onto its own in NHL 09. The Be A Pro mode essentially allows you to take control of one hockey player and build them up from playing in the minor leagues to professional stardom.

Beginning with their aesthetic features, you’ll dole out skills for their position, gaining more as you progress through the game, kind of like in a role-playing game. You’ll be restricted to their position for the entirety of the game, gaining special points that will allow you to beef up your character with better stats. You’ll also have to manage your character off the ice, building stamina during line changes in order to get back into the game as quickly as possible.

The Be A Pro mode also makes an appearance online, via the game’s EA Sports Hockey League. In this gameplay mode, each player on the ice is player controlled, using the updated stats earned in the single-player Be A Pro mode. The developers will host online tournaments, with special rewards given to champion teams.

The Be A Pro mode is a tremendous asset to the game, but it does have a few problems. The camera can be kind of a pain, since it adheres to an over-the-shoulder view that makes it difficult to gauge where other players are. Otherwise, there are some issues with the camera getting buggy and causing problems on the ice.

Aside from the solid Be A Pro mode, NHL 09 does a fine job of recreating the fantastic on-ice mechanics of NHL 08, with skating feeling natural and smooth and great puck controls rounding out some great gameplay. Additionally, last year’s franchise mode returns in fine form, albeit not too far removed from NHL 08.

Graphically, NHL 09 looks pretty good. While there are some framerate issues, particularly during the Be A Pro mode, the animations are spot on and the character models look great.

The music in NHL 09 is what you’d come to expect from an EA Sports title, with a varied mix spanning a variety of genres and musical tastes. The sound effects are great, with the roar of the crowd and on ice effects sounding great and adding a nice element to the action. The commentary is also very well done, featuring Thorne and Clement doing some very competent running dialogue.

NHL 09 is a great hockey title that does a fine job of putting you in the middle of the action like never before. While not perfect, the Be A Pro mode is tremendously deep and adds a ton of longevity for the game, especially online. Plus, the solid gameplay mechanics from last year’s entry return here in fine form, making this a must have title for hockey fans everywhere.

Gameplay: 9.0
Last year’s fine gameplay features appear in the game, including the right stick trick controls as well as the franchise mode. The new Be A Pro features are huge and deep, and should have hockey fans playing for a long time.

Graphics: 8.5
Aside from some occasional framerate stutters, NHL 09 features some great animations and player models.

Sound: 8.5
The soundtrack is what you’d expect from an EA Sports game, and the on-ice sound effect and commentary are great.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 9.0
Upping the ante with a robust Be A Pro mode, NHL 09 is a truly engaging hockey game.

Multiplayer: 9.5
The online hockey leagues allow for some of the deepest online hockey features ever implemented.

Overall: 9.0
NHL 09 is a great hockey title, offering some fantastic new features, a deep Be A Pro mode, and some awesome online features. Hockey fans should definitely pick this one up.