A traditional year without significant innovations.
The NHL series is one of the long-standing staples of Electronic Arts’ portfolio, which is largely supported by sports games with its substantial sales. However, in this regard, virtual hockey cannot be compared to brands such as EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA), Madden NFL or College Football, which, thanks to the massive popularity of the sports themselves and the associated significantly larger player base, reach diametrically different numbers in terms of sales.
On the other hand, however, all the mentioned brands, including NHL, are sold at full price every year, which depends on a certain level of player expectations in terms of quality and partial novelties and innovations. How is the new year 25 doing in these areas?
- Platform: PlayStation 5 (reviewed version), Xbox Series X/S
- Release date: 4. 10. 2024
- Development Studio: OF Vancouver (Canada)
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Genre: sport
- Czech localization: yes (subtitles, interface)
- Multiplayer: again
- Cena: CZK 1,999 (Alza)
Only for the current generation of consoles
Even before the actual release of NHL 25, the announced omission of players on the last generation of consoles in the form of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One attracted attention. Although both devices were introduced more than a decade ago, they are traditionally the sports games that come out every year and are among the last to leave them.
The developers focused on the behavior of artificial intelligence.
For example, the mentioned EA Sports FC or NBA from Take-Two was also released this year on older consoles. Omitting weaker hardware can, of course, free up developers’ hands to a large extent, especially from the technical side and optimization point of view. But at the same time, the players themselves somewhat expect more significant progress in the field of graphics, which may have been hindered by the limitations of old consoles.
In the case of the new NHL, however, definitely do not expect any revolution in this direction. The changes in the area of audio-visual processing are carried out in a cosmetic spirit, and without a direct comparison with the previous works, you would hardly notice them. Of the few new items, I can mention the slightly more detailed equipment of the hockey players, led by the jerseys, which easily float or get dirty during play thanks to the ice flying off the skates.
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Developers from the EA Vancouver studio also teased more realistic faces before the release. Although I have noticed a few changes, the virtual hockey players still only remotely resemble their real counterparts. And this also applies to the biggest stars of the NHL itself, such as Connor McDavid or David Pastrňák.
Effort to improve gameplay
The new edition brings a little more innovation in the field of gameplay. The developers focused primarily on the behavior of artificial intelligence, which has made a decent step forward in recent years. This applies not only to computer-controlled opponents, but especially to teammates, who can better respond to the chosen strategy and your specific playing style. For this year, the authors also aimed to improve skating, loops and contacts between players. The revised system for the shot from the first (golf ball) also deserves a mention.
Definitely don’t expect any simulation.
Although it is not a huge change in this direction, it is an imaginary next step towards a more believable treatment of hockey. Despite everything, definitely don’t expect any simulation. In short, virtual hockey bets mainly on accessibility and rich options in the field of control settings and difficulty, thanks to which the title, like other sports games from EA, is relatively easily accessible even for newcomers.
Unfortunately, certain improvements are accompanied by traditional errors and shortcomings. For example, while playing, I very often shook my head at senseless fouls, which the game rarely evaluates correctly through the animation. So, in many cases, you will think about what you actually did wrong during your imaginary trip to the criminal bench. The game rarely shows you this. In addition to the still problematic animations and occasionally not quite working physics, I can also mention the archaic-looking battles, the processing of which seems really undignified these days.
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Unfortunately, even the overall presentation did not receive the necessary improvements, which also does not have the most modern impression. We are talking about various pre-match animations, goal celebrations and all the imaginary sauce that should draw you into individual matches. In all these aspects, a limited budget is clearly visible, which cannot match the aforementioned sister brands from EA. Unfortunately, the result has been telling for many years for the NHL. A clear exception in this regard is the solid soundscape in stadiums and the traditionally very successful use of the DualSense controller functions.
A plethora of licenses
Looking at the list of game modes, you are greeted with a completely traditional menu, which is well known from the older installments and other sports games from Electronic Arts. The core is the multiplayer Hockey Ultimate Team, in which you create your own team. However, you have to expect quite aggressive microtransactions that will encourage you to buy paid packages. Another popular mode is the career mode called Be A Pro, in which you will focus on the career of one player. An alternative to Be A Pro is the lighter World of Chel.
The title also features national teams.
The Organization mode is also a traditional part of the NHL series. In it, you will be able to take on the Stanley Cup as a manager or try your luck with your own hockey league. As expected, the overview also includes traditional game modes such as quick match or season. Although the offer of game modes itself is not bad, it again lacks any significant news that could motivate players to invest in the new year.
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
Source: Daniel Jarocký / Zing.cz
If there is one element that I have long praised in the NHL, it is the licensing offer. In this area, EA did not skimp in any way, while it was also able to undoubtedly take advantage of the dominant position that the NHL series has as the only reliably processed game from the hockey environment. In addition to the best NHL hockey league led by the new team from Utah, you can also enjoy lower North American leagues such as the AHL and ECHL, which are complemented by several European leagues led by the Czech Extraliga. There are also various junior leagues such as the OHL or WHL or specific tournaments in the form of the Spengler Cup and the hockey Champions League. Women’s hockey has also had its place in the game for several years.
Too much to be sure
Along with the mentioned leagues, clubs and players, the title also contains national teams. Thanks to the license of the International Ice Hockey Federation, in recent years real national team jerseys and realistic rosters from past world championships have been added to the game. So if you want to repeat the golden path of the Czech team from the last championship, the new NHL should offer you a rich service in this direction.
Regular players of the series would deserve more significant news.
NHL 25 is, in all respects, a completely routine part that does not surprise with anything significant. The developers focused primarily on partial gameplay improvements, led by artificial intelligence and more realistic player movement. However, in the field of game modes and graphics, you would look for any significant innovations in vain. Above all, thanks to the abundance of licenses, the proven range of game modes and the fun gameplay at the core, it is still a solid title that can keep hockey fans entertained for hours.
However, it is indisputable that especially regular players of the series would deserve more significant news in terms of content, graphics and gameplay due to EA’s pricing policy. In some important areas, the NHL has been lagging behind other sports titles for a long time. However, it is questionable whether something can change in this direction, taking into account the very limited player base. For the same reason, the series has long neglected PC players who won’t be playing the NHL this year either.
Verdict
Despite the omission of the previous generation of consoles, the continuation of the NHL series does not bring any revolution. In all major areas, this is a standard new year that brings partial improvements, up-to-date rosters as well as old problems and shortcomings.
What do we like and dislike?
A large number of licenses including the Czech extra league and national teams
Artificial intelligence improvements
Immersive spectator scenery in stadiums
Rich use of DualSense controller functions
The range of game modes will definitely not offend new players in particular
The technical side is lacking compared to other sports games from EA
Skewed animations and weird fouls
Some game modes would deserve a refresh after years
Poor presentation and processing of faces
Overall, a small amount of major news
