Doug Jr. mate face it your pretty limited in what you can do with ten guys on a small frozen pond...what exactly do you think another dev could do lol?
NHL 2K did things different, and alot of the time they where succesfull. There's allways rooms for different versions like arcade, simulators, adventure etc.
I really hope 2K Games would start competing with EA's NHL again. It would be some what risky but if 2K would ever make a hockey game again, I'd definitely buy it. EA then should start putting more effort to this franchise.
And this is what happens when you have no competition. Complete and utter laziness from EA year after year cause there is no other game on the market to challenge EA. Wish 2K would come back and make a great hockey game, similar to the NBA 2K games. EA is running out of ideas and just took stuff from NHL 2K10, which already had a mini rink mode very similar to the NHL Threes Mode and the defensive skill stick is the exact same. EA really needs to upgrade to the frostbite engine because the series is getting really stale.
NHL 14 is way better than 17. NHL 17 feels so predetermined in the way the players interact with one another. Everyone in 17 feels like they have a force field around them and the physics are either non-existent or ridiculous.
Shawn White I really like 16 just loaded it up and compared it to 18 I feel like 16 graphics aren’t as cartoonish as 18 and I feel the goals and checking is more realistic in 16 like when you check someone they don’t always get like steamrolled like in 18 but the upsides of 18 is defenitly the franchise mode is better and menu is more responsive
EA don't give a damn about the single player stuff these games like FIFA have become a platform to sell you online cards that is where they put all there effort every year
Kate Ground From what I see they focused a lot more on franchise mode, 3s mode (both online and offline features) as well as adding to the single player aspects of HUT
Well at least FIFA runs on Frostbite, this PoS doesn't ! They are trying to do their games more arcade-like for occasional players, but thats the way to fu.k everything up. If NHL 19 isn't changed I'm done with EA - even if that means I'll have to play only Eastside hockey manager :D
alex leyden eh fifa and madden both got the story mode treatment and has a better marketing team. This is probably due to football being more popular in America than nhl and fifa is a worldwide sport
more like nhl 15 when they jumped to the ignite engine. nhl 14 is by far the best nhl game iv played since like 2004 or 2005. it seems that nhl deliver every 10 year between 2014, 2004 and 1994. so we have to wait some years for another great nhl game....
Franchise mode got a bit of an update with a new cup winner animation, in season contract renewals, plus the expansion stuff. Make an NHL version of Longshot please EA
If it was coming to the Switch I definitely would have bought it. I haven't played a hockey game in quite awhile now. The whole thing about not being that much of an update to last year's wouldn't be a problem for me. I wish they'd realize a lot of us Nintendo fans want our sports games too.
The gameplay doesn't feel like hockey... Skating in the game is a joke. I feel like playing the NHL series, it's more of a boat simulator than controling a hockey player... Considering it's easier to skate in real life than as NHL quality players is kind of weird... Like, why is a video game toned down compared to real life? Wouldn't you want it to be better than real life or even be a simulation? I used to be a big fan of this series in the NHL09-11 years. It's really lost its way.
NHL 17 was horrible. Actually, this gen of NHL games is terrible. The deking and skating is so broken compared to last gens it doesn't feel you're in control of your player whatsoever. I'll stick with NHL 15 on PS3 again.
Brendan I hope you see this ASAP before black friday is over so you can give my advise. I used to love the NHL starting with the one with Ovechkin on the cover in the white/blue Caps jersey. I think 2007. It was the first one where they let you deke with the right thumbstick. Then I bought every one for the next couple years, 08, 09, 10, maybe even 11 I think might be the last one I got? They weren't perfect but the gameplay was very good for the most part, except online it was like the dev team kept randomly changing the game. There would be an exploit to score on wraparounds one week, then not the next week, then it would come back. It was weird. Anyway, I stopped getting them since then. Now I want to get back into it. Which one should I buy? I own PS4, PS3, and PC. Is 15 the best one? 14? 16? 13? I want to be able to play online too. Please advise!
I'M A HOCKEY FAN BUT I FEEL LIKE GLASS SHOULD BREAK ON BIG HITS BLOOD WOULD BE COOL HUGE BOARD HITS GOALIE FIGHTS AND INTENSE SCRUBS INFRONT OF THE GOALS IT WOULD BE COOL AND INCREASING THE SPEED
I got it and actually really enjoy it! My major gripes are the poke checks are so op and they players can feel a little slow. But overall I find it really fun
Every year I check back on this franchise to see if the game has had any development since 2008 when I last played it. But every year I'm more or less disappointed. It looks exactly the same apart from the graphics being a little bit better each year. The player animations are the same, the skating looks overall terrible, especially when changing directions, interactions between players are insignificant, goalies and their animations look the same as they did back in 2008. I mean, why not just raise the money to remake the franchise into something better? New engine, new motion capture for animations, maybe even some new innovative controls. A great example of this was EA Skate which put the Tony Hawk-franchise in the dirt.
EA needs a mode similar to FIFA's "the journey" mode. I think it would be extremely fun to play as a kid going through the juniors (not like how it is in be a pro, but with a real story) or through the NCAA and get signed/drafted to the NHL and then play through like a whole career or something like that. Maybe have the option to retire from NHL play and go off into the European leagues. That or do a ref mode (which would be really hard to make realistic), but what ever comes first I guess!
I completely agree! And if it was possible to "start" your be a pro career in a european league and then get drafted to nhl which is the way a lot of europeans get drafted. Tho i kinda understand that they are professonial leagues but as a finnish person, i grew up watching finnish elite league so i really couldnt care to play for a canadian junior leagues.
How the hell is this a 7.4? The gameplay (specially passing) it's still garbage, every player feels the same and the only things new in the game are 3-on-3 EASHL, NHL THREES, the Golden Knights and the new Adidas jerseys. $60 for that? No thanks. I give this a 4,3/10, because EA did absolutely nothing and they still demand $60 for this crap.
How much money does EA make off the micro transactions of this one game alone? EA reminds me of governments, gobble up endless amounts of money and spit out a tad here and there to keep everything barely running and nothing else all the while lining thier pockets. Monopoly at it's finest.
Every player skates the same and are similar in NHL 18. It doesn't matter if you're Mcdavid or some 4th line player, they feel the same. I was really hoping that NHL 18 would be different from NHL 16(the last NHL game I bought) but it doesn't look that it's any different
For NHL 19, EA should use frostbite, then for be a pro and franchise mode you can say whatever you want in a press conference, throw an illegal check or checks, be eligible for suspension for those checks and teams can retaliate on you and your team. Can you imagine the fun us fans would have, with just those ideas?
Just one question!!! I've never bought a NHL game I live in Greece and not too many people watch hockey. I found this game at 40 bucks. Is it worth it??
Be a Pro needs to be like The Journey in FIFA. The Journey was amazing. It was also the first FIFA game I ever owned and played. I'm glad Madden took that leap into story telling. I hope NHL will do the same.
Aside adding more animations, what more could be added to EA NHL? Having players tie their skates with a combo of buttons before each game? Let it go folks, it's still a solid game.
Keep giving the announcers new things to say and update constantly so we don't have to listen to them say the same 5 phrases over and over. Also make it easier to buy a contracts pack in HUT. Have it available right from the edit lines screen, and have some kind of "quick contracts" button or something that will just send your contracts to all the players who need them so so we don't have to waste time so much time we could be playing on that.
After some 150+ games in HUT, the only thing I can say is... Microtransactions. This game I rate 5/10, simply because of micro's. A players ratings has a higher impact in these games compared to previous games. This makes buyers of packs the winners in the rink. The sad part is that people continue to buy player packs. The whole system is perverted.
It's definitely time for 2K or someone else to start taking a crack at sports games. EA having a monopoly on sports games (besides baseball) is really getting old. It's the only reason EA doesn't have to make drastic changes game to game. I promise you as soon as someone else comes up and shows off a new NHL game or NFL game, EA will realize what needs to be done.
A career mode with a story like the journey in FIFA or NBA 2k but NHL is the last priority of EA after FIFA Madden and NBA live so we'll never see this in the game... same with frosbite due to the lack of budget
Get HNIC crew to do the announcing. NBC announcing is no good. What is a "pass back ahead" or "glove hand save" it's a pass ahead or glove save. This is why I play NHL with volume down and play music
If you keep buying it they will keep putting the same thing out. I bought almost ever game from 93 - 16 missing probably 3-4 in that span I make sure now to wait and check reviews looks like another skip.
I gotta say, I LOVED when NHL 17 came out after playing NHL 15 for two years. I still love it. I play it all the time. I will not be buying NHL 18 however. It feels like the same exact game as 17, so why the hell would I waste $60? You'll have to do better if you want our money, EA
Can we talk about this game in 2017 with games on blu-rays that this game still has generic faces on 85-90% of the entire freaking league? Unacceptable with today's tech.
Tommy Poledna The poke checks are what ruined it for me last year. As soon as I got into the opposition's end or got near the opposing players, I'd immediately get poked checked. It was bullshit, since their stick was nowhere near the puck when I'd do an instant replay. If this year's game is just as bad, then I don't want it.
As someone who plays nothing but Defense, pretty much on a daily basis, I call BS. You have to poke with great precision to get the puck away. Not to mention if you are too close, you trip the player almost every time. There are also many ways to avoid the poke check, the ones that seem to work best on me were when people would change their speeds and protected the puck well. Also quick passes with a great team on your side.
swiss34 But when playing against the computer, it tends to over poke check to the point where it's annoying. Their players are no where near mine and the puck is immediately poked checked. That's how it was in NHL 17. It makes it impossible to set up plays or control the puck properly. I tried setting it on an easier mode but then I'm scoring 10+ goals a game because it's too easy. Passing the puck wasn't much better. Instead of passing to my players, it would either shoot it down the ice or pass to the other team. It's a frustrating game. I've been playing this series since it first came out and the bugs makes it difficult to enjoy the game anymore.
Phantom Of The Nuthouse It's like i said, there are many ways to avoid the pokecheck, even against the CPU. I've never encountered this ghost pokecheck that you are describing, so i really don't know what else to tell you
gotta disagree with the reviewer and many commenters. the general gameplay, arenas and crowds all add up to an authentic "rink atmosphere". there is really not that much tweaking necessary or possible with the current gen consoles. the poke check may be a bit op'd but in online play, i saw many a poke check penalties per game. even amongst very skilled online players. so from that perspective, the powerful poke checks get deterred by the potentiality of going to the box. creating a bit of balance so players are not using it seemingly every chance presented
Do people still remember Blades Of Steel....wow that was a great NHL game for it's time....I couldn't stop playing that game...I used to fake being sick every day just to stay home and play it...and there wasn't no such thing of internet..it was just playing season after season....that game was the thing that got me loving hockey so much I made it my favorite sport till this day...I still play ice and roller
EASHL is the crown jewel, but its treated like a red headed step child that no one cares about. But EA is the type of company that doesnt really try when they dish out the same nonsense year after year. without a legit remodel, nhl by ea will always be the same
Got to admit.. I bought this yesterday after a 3/4 year break from it... it's exactly the same game. Just updated rosters. I don't notice ANY difference. 6/10
Soo.. last NHL game I bought or played was NHL 13, which I loved. Is this as good or better than that version? If so, I’ll get it.. it’ll all feel fresh to me
Give us an option to shorten the season! Hardly ever get through multiple seasons in franchise mode because of the 82 game season. Who has time for that
Everything he said is right I love NHL to pieces, bought it but they need to make it more authentic, there is never just two guys in a celebration. The intro cinematic is NOTHING like real hockey.... every other sports game EA does at least has realism to it. NHL is fun but it is time to graduate it's been the same since like NHL 07
Everything he said is right? He tried to claim that 17 added more to the game than this year's version in terms of gameplay. So a singular gameplay addition of net battles in 17 is more than the defensive skill stick, the new dekes, the deke modifier, the new animations, and the A.I. that feels ten times better than the last three years? This guy never touched 17 if he can claim that.
I'm the one who reviewed it. The point being made was that last year at least addressed some mode and feature shortcomings, adding EASHL creation features, Draft Champions and Franchise. There were also some gameplay tweaks. I agree that this year's defensive stick upgrade and AI changes are better (see full review for that), but the presentation was untouched. EASHL was untouched. Draft Champions was untouched. HUT had a couple of tweaks. Be-A-Pro remains uncompelling, as it has for years. The gameplay loop has revolved around end-to-end hockey and the poke check for a long time. Yes, cycle play is still possible, and I enjoy some of the passing aspects (I've played the game every year that it has existed), but the core concpets could use a re-jig. They developers (who I respect a lot) need to find some new approaches if they want to keep people energized about this brand.
I stopped buying NHL titles after NHL 15 ended up being a $79.99 CAD tech demo with almost no features to actually enjoy the tech. It feels like year after year the features that get reintroduced into the game are additions you'd see being sold as DLC for a more complete game, for $20. Instead EA charges us $80 to beta test their titles while they slowly creep to making the game what it was on last generation. I'll be spending my money elsewhere on yet another NHL game.
I'm done with EA. Because they make more money with the big NBA and NFL Games, they just spit out 1 or 2 changes per year. Like Madden has live the life, NBA has a really cool single player mode (Not sure what it's called), Fifa also has live the life (and the commentary is gold), and MLB has so many good options! NHL? Well You can trade now! And for those who have trouble with money and don't want to spend it on Online gameplay? Sorry nothing new for you! IM DONE!
Gameplay does NOT feel like the previous years. The computers this year is extremely improved from 17. They are beatable but most of the things you would expect the computers to do they don't. You can't do certain moves on breakaways against computer Goalies cause they improved it a bit. You can't sit here and tell me your first few games you couldn't score like before on breaks. I still have trouble with them in EASHL 3v3 drops and HUT games. You obviously didn't play 17 long enough to know that poking was weak and sometimes useless. 18's poking is good and shouldn't be fixed. Guys in 17 would constantly (even me) would hold the protect the puck button and do some dangles and not get poked and get a breakaway. They could make a combo of 2 classes in EASHL but that would be OP and more people would pick that certain class. Sure bring back the old system where you level up your guy to max rating. Don't get mad when everyone passes through you and act like your guy could of made that poke or hit when your obviously a lower and or weaker class than them. Most of the people who play NHL games are 22 years and older who don't play 24/7. Having these pre-made player classes allows people who don't have time to actually play with a class that they like as soon as they get on the game. I clicked on this by accident cause reviews a week or the day of release means nothing cause your new to the game. A few months after release is good
Completely agree. As soon as they said 'Compared to NHL 17, which added some new ways to play and meaningful feature upgrades', it became incredibly clear that this guy never touched 16 and 17. The ONLY gameplay addition to 17 was net battles. That's it. At least this year added the defensive skill-stick, the new dekes and the deke modifier, some new animations, improved A.I., et cetera. If someone claims that 17 introduced more than 18, you know they're full of it and have no experience with the series at all.
The game needs to lose it's mojo to build itself back up. I know it's not a big deal to alot of people but presentation is a big thing to me...like entrances and slow motion replays so you can actually watch the replay of your goal. Madden and FIFA seem to advance while NHL seems rushed.
Im extremely good at this game, ive ranked in top 100 in a couple of EAs NHL titles in the last 5 years, but no longer play because their servers are absolute trash. Im not going to waste my time playing online modes when im beating some kid 10-0 then i get disconnected from the servers.
The game is trash... still going to waste my money on it, but there hasn't been anything significantly new about the franchise since 2007. They need to update be a pro, bring back gm connected. And get out of the cookie cutted animations. No one skates the exact same way nor shoots. Also the gameplay is terrible as always, AI is terrible. It's like EA never watched a NHL game. This series could be so much more if EA listened to their fans and had competition in this market. This is a game series you love to hate
I don't want to use some default tool for a career, story mode like some 2k games or whatever else uses the same type of thing.. but I do like the road to the show for mlb the show 17. I just want a better be a pro. And I get it, the game comes out yearly so don't expect much e.i. changes to the game.
Damn I was excited for this coming out tomorrow. Now I probably won't get it at first and play 17 longer. Everyone wait till Black Friday, it'll be on sale for $39.99 I guarantee it!
I hope there will be competition, like between FIFA and PES, because this NHL series is worse with every new annual release. It is getting more into arcade gameplay, than hockey simulation and the AI is still dumb - for example, you can see that when opponent solo-attacks your goalie and he doesn't even shoot on goal. The graphics outdated, even FIFA runs on Frostbite - why NHL doesn't? But thanks for letting me realize that from your review :)
I think it is a good review. The 3 VS 3 can add some fun with friends. The rest it is still really too much a copy of 17. But in fact, they dont sell enough copies to bring a new motor and a big change. It will be the same every year, I enjoy it ! Not play it everyday but I come back few times during the year to play with friend in coop
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Can we PLEASE get another Dev to make a hockey game!?!
Doug Jr. mate face it your pretty limited in what you can do with ten guys on a small frozen pond...what exactly do you think another dev could do lol?
NHL 2K did things different, and alot of the time they where succesfull. There's allways rooms for different versions like arcade, simulators, adventure etc.
I really hope 2K Games would start competing with EA's NHL again. It would be some what risky but if 2K would ever make a hockey game again, I'd definitely buy it. EA then should start putting more effort to this franchise.
2k hockey games were garbage
Isn't Frostbite taking over in 2019?
And this is what happens when you have no competition. Complete and utter laziness from EA year after year cause there is no other game on the market to challenge EA. Wish 2K would come back and make a great hockey game, similar to the NBA 2K games. EA is running out of ideas and just took stuff from NHL 2K10, which already had a mini rink mode very similar to the NHL Threes Mode and the defensive skill stick is the exact same. EA really needs to upgrade to the frostbite engine because the series is getting really stale.
Geek Entertainment yep and 2k needs to get back into football. They made a superior football game Too bad EA keeps a monopoly on things. Bs
TheCR1T1CALM4SS they can't I believe ea and 2k signed a contract
Could've just said same old same old and been done with it
well then people would complain and whine that he didn't go through everything properly. Goddamn humans.
They still use none existing players in national teams?
never played it, I'm just making the point that he needs to make sure to explain what is the same and why. And that people complain either way.
what´s the point of making a video then? also for new players it´s good info!
The series died when it went to PS4, Xbox one gen.
Old gen was soo much better
Bushmonster12 16 and 17 were definitely decent games but nothing has changed.
Bushmonster12 I totally agree with you am still playing hockey on the old gen.
NHL 14 is way better than 17. NHL 17 feels so predetermined in the way the players interact with one another. Everyone in 17 feels like they have a force field around them and the physics are either non-existent or ridiculous.
Shawn White I really like 16 just loaded it up and compared it to 18 I feel like 16 graphics aren’t as cartoonish as 18 and I feel the goals and checking is more realistic in 16 like when you check someone they don’t always get like steamrolled like in 18 but the upsides of 18 is defenitly the franchise mode is better and menu is more responsive
EA don't give a damn about the single player stuff these games like FIFA have become a platform to sell you online cards that is where they put all there effort every year
except expansion draft this year, and in fifa the story mode with alex hunter. yeah they don't care about singleplayer at all....
Kate Ground From what I see they focused a lot more on franchise mode, 3s mode (both online and offline features) as well as adding to the single player aspects of HUT
I hate fifa
Well at least FIFA runs on Frostbite, this PoS doesn't ! They are trying to do their games more arcade-like for occasional players, but thats the way to fu.k everything up. If NHL 19 isn't changed I'm done with EA - even if that means I'll have to play only Eastside hockey manager :D
I agree. there is no focused single player. Everything EA does is half-assed. I do not think they care about profit anymore.
2k needs to make nhl games again
nhl 2k was the equivalent to ea's nba live. just bad.
Nba live 18 is hektic
nah we need that NFL 2K
iamFUTURElegend agreed
but they can't sadly because of ea
I don't think the lack of new content is EA being lazy, I think it's because nhl doesn't get nearly the same amount of funding as madden or fifa
JWilson1 Yeah, its possible, but they have made the same games for the last 5-8 Years Sooo. I dont see where their budget is going
JWilson1 madden and fifa produce the same game over and over as well.
alex leyden eh fifa and madden both got the story mode treatment and has a better marketing team. This is probably due to football being more popular in America than nhl and fifa is a worldwide sport
Same old Same old I gave up on this franchise. I used to buy the game since 93 for the Genesis now I am done!
I still play the nhl 93. One of the best sports game ever.
Dilton Intruder 125 ..... You like 93 over 94 ?
Didn't they remove the blood when you knocked someone out in 94? That was the deal breaker for me :)
Ricky J Sports offense play are always overpowered over defensive play, balance is what needed in the series. Stop playing for this reason,
They are literally using the same engine since NHL 13
more like nhl 15 when they jumped to the ignite engine. nhl 14 is by far the best nhl game iv played since like 2004 or 2005. it seems that nhl deliver every 10 year between 2014, 2004 and 1994. so we have to wait some years for another great nhl game....
Franchise mode got a bit of an update with a new cup winner animation, in season contract renewals, plus the expansion stuff. Make an NHL version of Longshot please EA
CrewysIsDead Gaming no don't longshot isn't even fun. I'd rather have something like road to the show
Gladiator Toast disagree..long shot is quite enjoyable imo. The only thing it lacks it the ability to continue to the pros
If it was coming to the Switch I definitely would have bought it. I haven't played a hockey game in quite awhile now. The whole thing about not being that much of an update to last year's wouldn't be a problem for me. I wish they'd realize a lot of us Nintendo fans want our sports games too.
Metalpug79 2k18 NBA!!
The gameplay doesn't feel like hockey... Skating in the game is a joke. I feel like playing the NHL series, it's more of a boat simulator than controling a hockey player... Considering it's easier to skate in real life than as NHL quality players is kind of weird... Like, why is a video game toned down compared to real life? Wouldn't you want it to be better than real life or even be a simulation?
I used to be a big fan of this series in the NHL09-11 years. It's really lost its way.
Nicholas Wilson the series was great until 15 when HUT microtransaction garbage became priority. New gen is absolute trash
NHL 17 was horrible. Actually, this gen of NHL games is terrible. The deking and skating is so broken compared to last gens it doesn't feel you're in control of your player whatsoever. I'll stick with NHL 15 on PS3 again.
Brendan Hryciuk exactly
Brendan I hope you see this ASAP before black friday is over so you can give my advise. I used to love the NHL starting with the one with Ovechkin on the cover in the white/blue Caps jersey. I think 2007. It was the first one where they let you deke with the right thumbstick. Then I bought every one for the next couple years, 08, 09, 10, maybe even 11 I think might be the last one I got? They weren't perfect but the gameplay was very good for the most part, except online it was like the dev team kept randomly changing the game. There would be an exploit to score on wraparounds one week, then not the next week, then it would come back. It was weird.
Anyway, I stopped getting them since then. Now I want to get back into it. Which one should I buy? I own PS4, PS3, and PC. Is 15 the best one? 14? 16? 13? I want to be able to play online too. Please advise!
PunchFor Pound get nhl legacy for ps3. most recent one for last gen and will have the most people online
Hryciuk965 .... I like NHL 11 PS3 ! I also enjoy NHL 15 on the PS4, but NHL 11 is better ..
I agree but at least 17 let you play 6 vs 6 online which was the only reason why I played the damn thing after a few hours of single player.
NHL 18 makes you feel like batman
DeadFoxy Gt how would hockey do such a thing
Dunkey fan?
@DeadFoxy Gt More like *Bettman
How did anyone at EA think it was a good idea to make it so we can’t see what team the other person chose
I'M A HOCKEY FAN BUT I FEEL LIKE GLASS SHOULD BREAK ON BIG HITS BLOOD WOULD BE COOL
HUGE BOARD HITS GOALIE FIGHTS
AND INTENSE SCRUBS INFRONT OF THE GOALS IT WOULD BE COOL AND INCREASING THE SPEED
no reason to even review sports games. people seem to love $60 roster updates
Sad to see very few upgrades
jeff peake They can't radically change the game every year, but they can make improvements and additions to modes.
I got it and actually really enjoy it! My major gripes are the poke checks are so op and they players can feel a little slow. But overall I find it really fun
NHL team needs to be fired. The game is so flawed and has been for so many years...
Thank you for the honest review.
Hockey, the only sport that matters.
Every year I check back on this franchise to see if the game has had any development since 2008 when I last played it. But every year I'm more or less disappointed. It looks exactly the same apart from the graphics being a little bit better each year. The player animations are the same, the skating looks overall terrible, especially when changing directions, interactions between players are insignificant, goalies and their animations look the same as they did back in 2008. I mean, why not just raise the money to remake the franchise into something better? New engine, new motion capture for animations, maybe even some new innovative controls. A great example of this was EA Skate which put the Tony Hawk-franchise in the dirt.
they should just release one every other year, and make actual leaps between the titles
Yung lean Can't, there is no way EA would allow that.
Just gonna put this out there, no one cares if you are first, we are here to watch a review. The sooner this bullshit trend stops the better!
first...to read your comment
1st. ...to read YOUR comment
LIKWID 3rd to read ur comment
LIKWID preach
Youre just mad because you werent first
EA needs a mode similar to FIFA's "the journey" mode. I think it would be extremely fun to play as a kid going through the juniors (not like how it is in be a pro, but with a real story) or through the NCAA and get signed/drafted to the NHL and then play through like a whole career or something like that. Maybe have the option to retire from NHL play and go off into the European leagues. That or do a ref mode (which would be really hard to make realistic), but what ever comes first I guess!
I completely agree! And if it was possible to "start" your be a pro career in a european league and then get drafted to nhl which is the way a lot of europeans get drafted. Tho i kinda understand that they are professonial leagues but as a finnish person, i grew up watching finnish elite league so i really couldnt care to play for a canadian junior leagues.
First thing EA should do with this game is to release it on PC. It's 2017, it's time!
NHL your killing me your games continue to be disapointing year after year
sakic19rules It's more EA then NHL
Old gen was sooooooooo much better. And where is 2K they were so good at this
5.8/10 Not enough fights.
Then go change sports and watch NFC and MMA.
When the whistle blows if you have the puck shoot it at their net and guaranteed fight
Very lazy release IMO. I have fun with NHL however I don't think EA deserve my money with this offering.
How the hell is this a 7.4? The gameplay (specially passing) it's still garbage, every player feels the same and the only things new in the game are 3-on-3 EASHL, NHL THREES, the Golden Knights and the new Adidas jerseys. $60 for that? No thanks.
I give this a 4,3/10, because EA did absolutely nothing and they still demand $60 for this crap.
How much money does EA make off the micro transactions of this one game alone? EA reminds me of governments, gobble up endless amounts of money and spit out a tad here and there to keep everything barely running and nothing else all the while lining thier pockets. Monopoly at it's finest.
Every player skates the same and are similar in NHL 18. It doesn't matter if you're Mcdavid or some 4th line player, they feel the same. I was really hoping that NHL 18 would be different from NHL 16(the last NHL game I bought) but it doesn't look that it's any different
For NHL 19, EA should use frostbite, then for be a pro and franchise mode you can say whatever you want in a press conference, throw an illegal check or checks, be eligible for suspension for those checks and teams can retaliate on you and your team. Can you imagine the fun us fans would have, with just those ideas?
"Long time fans will find only a few twisted knobs and minor gameplay changes."
So it's like every new yearly sports game?
Just one question!!! I've never bought a NHL game I live in Greece and not too many people watch hockey. I found this game at 40 bucks. Is it worth it??
The last nhl game i played was probably one of the nhl 2k games on the ps3.
I dont have an nhl game on ps4 so is this a worthy upgrade?
Be a Pro needs to be like The Journey in FIFA. The Journey was amazing. It was also the first FIFA game I ever owned and played. I'm glad Madden took that leap into story telling. I hope NHL will do the same.
Aside adding more animations, what more could be added to EA NHL?
Having players tie their skates with a combo of buttons before each game?
Let it go folks, it's still a solid game.
Keep giving the announcers new things to say and update constantly so we don't have to listen to them say the same 5 phrases over and over.
Also make it easier to buy a contracts pack in HUT. Have it available right from the edit lines screen, and have some kind of "quick contracts" button or something that will just send your contracts to all the players who need them so so we don't have to waste time so much time we could be playing on that.
I have no idea how a company with so much money can have a game that looks the exact same as NHL11 (The last time I bought this copy paste crap)
Stop with the unskippable ads
After some 150+ games in HUT, the only thing I can say is... Microtransactions. This game I rate 5/10, simply because of micro's. A players ratings has a higher impact in these games compared to previous games. This makes buyers of packs the winners in the rink. The sad part is that people continue to buy player packs. The whole system is perverted.
That moment when the new Detroit arena is literally called Detroit Arena
UchihaItachi1986 That moment when it's not even Little Caesars Arena and won't be until NHL 19.
UchihaItachi1986 😂😂😂
I just got this on sale, and I cant quite remember why I stopped loving/following hockey. Better late than never I suppose.
It's definitely time for 2K or someone else to start taking a crack at sports games. EA having a monopoly on sports games (besides baseball) is really getting old. It's the only reason EA doesn't have to make drastic changes game to game. I promise you as soon as someone else comes up and shows off a new NHL game or NFL game, EA will realize what needs to be done.
Legit question, what exactly can you add to a Hockey game to make it that much more exciting and the same for any annual sports release really?
A career mode with a story like the journey in FIFA or NBA 2k but NHL is the last priority of EA after FIFA Madden and NBA live so we'll never see this in the game... same with frosbite due to the lack of budget
Branden Holden it's not an annual game
I feel the only way to nerf the poke check is if you can't just push the rb or r1 button and you have to use the defensive skill stick
Get HNIC crew to do the announcing. NBC announcing is no good. What is a "pass back ahead" or "glove hand save" it's a pass ahead or glove save. This is why I play NHL with volume down and play music
If you keep buying it they will keep putting the same thing out. I bought almost ever game from 93 - 16 missing probably 3-4 in that span I make sure now to wait and check reviews looks like another skip.
I gotta say, I LOVED when NHL 17 came out after playing NHL 15 for two years. I still love it. I play it all the time. I will not be buying NHL 18 however. It feels like the same exact game as 17, so why the hell would I waste $60? You'll have to do better if you want our money, EA
Is it worth getting on sale tho?
They need to update the rendering engine already
The cloth still just looks like a basic diffuse shader.
MAKE IT LOOK LIKE CLOTH
despite the mixed reviews. It does feel more polished and smoother.
7.3?????? 😂 i would have gave it a 4.0
Weird, I played NHL18 for a few hours and never saw the announcers. Where are they? Is there a setting that needs to be on? (PS4)
Can we talk about this game in 2017 with games on blu-rays that this game still has generic faces on 85-90% of the entire freaking league? Unacceptable with today's tech.
Just buying one game per console generation from now on
completely disagree with the poke checks
Tommy Poledna The poke checks are what ruined it for me last year. As soon as I got into the opposition's end or got near the opposing players, I'd immediately get poked checked. It was bullshit, since their stick was nowhere near the puck when I'd do an instant replay. If this year's game is just as bad, then I don't want it.
how?
As someone who plays nothing but Defense, pretty much on a daily basis, I call BS. You have to poke with great precision to get the puck away. Not to mention if you are too close, you trip the player almost every time. There are also many ways to avoid the poke check, the ones that seem to work best on me were when people would change their speeds and protected the puck well. Also quick passes with a great team on your side.
swiss34 But when playing against the computer, it tends to over poke check to the point where it's annoying. Their players are no where near mine and the puck is immediately poked checked. That's how it was in NHL 17. It makes it impossible to set up plays or control the puck properly. I tried setting it on an easier mode but then I'm scoring 10+ goals a game because it's too easy.
Passing the puck wasn't much better. Instead of passing to my players, it would either shoot it down the ice or pass to the other team. It's a frustrating game. I've been playing this series since it first came out and the bugs makes it difficult to enjoy the game anymore.
Phantom Of The Nuthouse It's like i said, there are many ways to avoid the pokecheck, even against the CPU. I've never encountered this ghost pokecheck that you are describing, so i really don't know what else to tell you
gotta disagree with the reviewer and many commenters. the general gameplay, arenas and crowds all add up to an authentic "rink atmosphere". there is really not that much tweaking necessary or possible with the current gen consoles. the poke check may be a bit op'd but in online play, i saw many a poke check penalties per game. even amongst very skilled online players. so from that perspective, the powerful poke checks get deterred by the potentiality of going to the box. creating a bit of balance so players are not using it seemingly every chance presented
Actually ive played this game series since 2003. It has changed since 17.
EA NEEDS to bring back be a legend mode, had lots of fun working my way up to getting Wayne Gretzky. Was a great kinda twist on history game mode.
Do people still remember Blades Of Steel....wow that was a great NHL game for it's time....I couldn't stop playing that game...I used to fake being sick every day just to stay home and play it...and there wasn't no such thing of internet..it was just playing season after season....that game was the thing that got me loving hockey so much I made it my favorite sport till this day...I still play ice and roller
Tfw nhl 94 is a far better game
They call me Jojo 1 of my all time favorites
EASHL is the crown jewel, but its treated like a red headed step child that no one cares about. But EA is the type of company that doesnt really try when they dish out the same nonsense year after year. without a legit remodel, nhl by ea will always be the same
Know that your giving your money to the Devil when you support EA.
Got to admit.. I bought this yesterday after a 3/4 year break from it... it's exactly the same game. Just updated rosters. I don't notice ANY difference. 6/10
Soo.. last NHL game I bought or played was NHL 13, which I loved. Is this as good or better than that version? If so, I’ll get it.. it’ll all feel fresh to me
The last hockey game I got on my PS4 is NHL15 . Is it worth buying NHL18?
They should add actual physical interviews in be a pro too and maybe franchise mode for the gm
With a new engine they would be able to make this game better... but I guess they are too lazy.
Give us an option to shorten the season! Hardly ever get through multiple seasons in franchise mode because of the 82 game season. Who has time for that
I like that they have added elements to franchise mode that were desperately needed
2K should bring NHL 2K back to the console. That would be awesome.
I last bought nhl 16....for those who have it...is it worth the upgrade or wait for 19? thanks
I'd like to know what was the difference between nhl 16 and 17. Few new bugs maybe?
I'm here because I just watched the Goon movies. How good is the fighting in this game?
Everything he said is right I love NHL to pieces, bought it but they need to make it more authentic, there is never just two guys in a celebration. The intro cinematic is NOTHING like real hockey.... every other sports game EA does at least has realism to it. NHL is fun but it is time to graduate it's been the same since like NHL 07
Everything he said is right? He tried to claim that 17 added more to the game than this year's version in terms of gameplay. So a singular gameplay addition of net battles in 17 is more than the defensive skill stick, the new dekes, the deke modifier, the new animations, and the A.I. that feels ten times better than the last three years? This guy never touched 17 if he can claim that.
I'm the one who reviewed it. The point being made was that last year at least addressed some mode and feature shortcomings, adding EASHL creation features, Draft Champions and Franchise. There were also some gameplay tweaks. I agree that this year's defensive stick upgrade and AI changes are better (see full review for that), but the presentation was untouched. EASHL was untouched. Draft Champions was untouched. HUT had a couple of tweaks. Be-A-Pro remains uncompelling, as it has for years. The gameplay loop has revolved around end-to-end hockey and the poke check for a long time. Yes, cycle play is still possible, and I enjoy some of the passing aspects (I've played the game every year that it has existed), but the core concpets could use a re-jig. They developers (who I respect a lot) need to find some new approaches if they want to keep people energized about this brand.
Krizen Medina lol last gen's AI was better
I'm surprised they gave it a 7.4 as most people think it's a way better improvement on NHL 17
It's genuinely an update to 17, nothing more except the expansion draft.
I don't understand all the hate. This game updated more things than Iphone typically does. Its a solid game and I'm hooked.
I stopped buying NHL titles after NHL 15 ended up being a $79.99 CAD tech demo with almost no features to actually enjoy the tech. It feels like year after year the features that get reintroduced into the game are additions you'd see being sold as DLC for a more complete game, for $20. Instead EA charges us $80 to beta test their titles while they slowly creep to making the game what it was on last generation. I'll be spending my money elsewhere on yet another NHL game.
You should be able to upgrade your players in EASHL like FIFA... Having to choose a certain class blows...
EA Hockey back in 92 was the best. All downhill from there
The worst NHL ever made. I actually just messaged XBOX support and told them this game is garbage and was able to get a full refund lol
I'm done with EA. Because they make more money with the big NBA and NFL Games, they just spit out 1 or 2 changes per year. Like Madden has live the life, NBA has a really cool single player mode (Not sure what it's called), Fifa also has live the life (and the commentary is gold), and MLB has so many good options! NHL? Well You can trade now! And for those who have trouble with money and don't want to spend it on Online gameplay? Sorry nothing new for you! IM DONE!
Gameplay does NOT feel like the previous years. The computers this year is extremely improved from 17. They are beatable but most of the things you would expect the computers to do they don't.
You can't do certain moves on breakaways against computer Goalies cause they improved it a bit. You can't sit here and tell me your first few games you couldn't score like before on breaks. I still have trouble with them in EASHL 3v3 drops and HUT games.
You obviously didn't play 17 long enough to know that poking was weak and sometimes useless. 18's poking is good and shouldn't be fixed. Guys in 17 would constantly (even me) would hold the protect the puck button and do some dangles and not get poked and get a breakaway.
They could make a combo of 2 classes in EASHL but that would be OP and more people would pick that certain class.
Sure bring back the old system where you level up your guy to max rating. Don't get mad when everyone passes through you and act like your guy could of made that poke or hit when your obviously a lower and or weaker class than them. Most of the people who play NHL games are 22 years and older who don't play 24/7. Having these pre-made player classes allows people who don't have time to actually play with a class that they like as soon as they get on the game.
I clicked on this by accident cause reviews a week or the day of release means nothing cause your new to the game. A few months after release is good
Completely agree. As soon as they said 'Compared to NHL 17, which added some new ways to play and meaningful feature upgrades', it became incredibly clear that this guy never touched 16 and 17. The ONLY gameplay addition to 17 was net battles. That's it. At least this year added the defensive skill-stick, the new dekes and the deke modifier, some new animations, improved A.I., et cetera.
If someone claims that 17 introduced more than 18, you know they're full of it and have no experience with the series at all.
As someone who hasn't played since NHL 14, do you think it's worth it?
Artseys Yes
If you haven't played since 14, then absolutely, pick this one up.
NEW YORKS ELiTiST if only they would release a pc title
The game needs to lose it's mojo to build itself back up. I know it's not a big deal to alot of people but presentation is a big thing to me...like entrances and slow motion replays so you can actually watch the replay of your goal. Madden and FIFA seem to advance while NHL seems rushed.
I wish EA would do something like my park from 2k and put it on NHL and you get to play on frozen lakes or something with customized characters.
Im extremely good at this game, ive ranked in top 100 in a couple of EAs NHL titles in the last 5 years, but no longer play because their servers are absolute trash. Im not going to waste my time playing online modes when im beating some kid 10-0 then i get disconnected from the servers.
Boycott
The game is trash... still going to waste my money on it, but there hasn't been anything significantly new about the franchise since 2007. They need to update be a pro, bring back gm connected. And get out of the cookie cutted animations. No one skates the exact same way nor shoots. Also the gameplay is terrible as always, AI is terrible. It's like EA never watched a NHL game. This series could be so much more if EA listened to their fans and had competition in this market. This is a game series you love to hate
I hope they add a story mode like the way they did with madden
I don't want to use some default tool for a career, story mode like some 2k games or whatever else uses the same type of thing.. but I do like the road to the show for mlb the show 17. I just want a better be a pro. And I get it, the game comes out yearly so don't expect much e.i. changes to the game.
I hope 19 uses the Frostbite engine like Madden
They need to add the ability to line change (change player type) during intermissions. It will change up the online team / drop-in strategy.
Damn I was excited for this coming out tomorrow. Now I probably won't get it at first and play 17 longer.
Everyone wait till Black Friday, it'll be on sale for $39.99 I guarantee it!
moldyrefrigerator i'll wait till it's free on EA Access
George Khoshaba good plan
I hope there will be competition, like between FIFA and PES, because this NHL series is worse with every new annual release. It is getting more into arcade gameplay, than hockey simulation and the AI is still dumb - for example, you can see that when opponent solo-attacks your goalie and he doesn't even shoot on goal. The graphics outdated, even FIFA runs on Frostbite - why NHL doesn't? But thanks for letting me realize that from your review :)
All I want to know is do they have the Winter Classic or not!?
of course no. NHL 12 and 13 have it tho
I think it is a good review. The 3 VS 3 can add some fun with friends. The rest it is still really too much a copy of 17. But in fact, they dont sell enough copies to bring a new motor and a big change. It will be the same every year, I enjoy it ! Not play it everyday but I come back few times during the year to play with friend in coop
Re think the poke check, but let the goalies keep being exploited.