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Gordie Howe and Mario Lemieux named as final NHL 12’s legends; How will they be used in game?

Mario Lemieux

Pittsburgh Penguins co-owner Mario Lemieux answers a question at a news conference before the start of Game 1 between the Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL Stanley Cup finals hockey series in Detroit, Saturday, May 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

AP

After today’s video announcement, we now know the nine legends who will appear in EA Sports’ upcoming game NHL 12. Gordie Howe and Mario Lemieux round out a group that also includes: Wayne Gretzky, Ray Bourque, Chris Chelios, Patrick Roy, Jeremy Roenick, Steve Yzerman and Borje Salming.

At this point, you might wonder how those former stars will be integrated into a game that involves modern NHL players and teams. EA Sports covered that subject in their NHL 12 blog about a week ago, stating that the nine legends would be available in the main game modes: Play Now (the regular exhibition mode), Be a Pro, Be a GM and the card game-inspired Hockey Ultimate Team mode. The inclusion of “ultra-rare” legends cards in the HUT mode is perhaps the most interesting integration of the legends since that would allow people to use one or more of those players against online opponents. It might be difficult to calculate the amount of griping that will take place after a digital Patrick Roy gives someone an “unfair advantage” in a heated match.

Here’s the video of Lemieux and Howe, which includes rather startling visions of Lemieux in a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform and Howe as a member of the Minnesota Wild.
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There are a fair share of people who are griping about some of the player selections (or even more specific folks who are complaining about the equipment being used), but for the most part, it seems like the inclusion is generating a lot of positive anticipation for the game. Personally, I’d be delighted if EA Sports decided to make other legends available, even if it’s through the controversial cash grab method of downloadable content. There’s an almost endless list of additional choices who would be captivating, from long-ago icons such as Maurice “Rocket” Richard and Bobby Orr to more recent standouts like Mark Messier and Dominik Hasek. Then again, maybe EA will save some of those other legends for NHL 13.

For those of you who are clamoring to play the game as soon as possible, there are two dates that are worth keeping in mind. A demo of NHL 12 will become available on August 23 while the title will be released on September 13. These video games might not be the real thing, but they’re a nice way to hold fans over until the (well-covered) 2011-12 season begins.