NHL 14

The core gameplay of the NHL series has not really differed much in the last few years. EA has been busy tweaking and adding from game to game to enhance the already fantastic feel. They have employed a “If it ain’t broke why fix it?” attitude. The results speak for themselves, as the series won over 26 awards last year including sports game of the year.

That means pre-game and post-game interviews, additional in-game tasks from the coaching staff, and community events. Besides adding some humor to the proceedings, the extra attention provides legitimate insight into the day-to-day of a professional athlete - a true first for the series. The in-game simming from shift to shift has been streamlined, but is still one of the more irritating (and at this point, it seems, necessary) loading loops.

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With much better collisions and a vastly improved fighting minigame, NHL 14 is becoming more gamey and less of a simulation, but that gives it a distinct and interesting flavor compared to its predecessors. Many long-standing complaints with the series have been addressed, though AI still needs work before it’ll stop embarrassing us on the ice. Between games, the new Live the Life additions give hardcore pro hockey players something to invest in, both online and off. Plus the NHL 94 Mode is a way better anniversary celebration than the weak loading-screen nostalgia of Madden NFL 25.

EA Sports takes its NHL series in a more realistic direction with a new skating system. While it's accompanied by some other authentic hockey features, it may turn off casual fans as they struggle to adapt to a slower game.

“EA Canada draws a minor penalty for lame fighting, but otherwise scores a goal with its latest pro hockey sim, NHL 14.”

NHL 14 is a very, very iterative update to a stellar franchise. While this review sounds somewhat negative, it has to be said that the game as a whole still represents relatively good value to fans of hockey. It’s the only show in town for console players, and that’s not a bad thing given that there’s plenty of playing time to be had. It’s just that when your big bullet-points for a yearly update are “collisions are a bit better” and “fighting is a bit better” when there were some relatively large issues with the older version of the game – mainly off-the-ice – then you haven’t done enough as ...

As sports franchises go, EA Sports' NHL is one that's consistently been delivering strong games for the last few years, keeping its take on ice hockey fresh with each new iteration, where it could otherwise be in danger of turning stale and hard, like a puck. Each and every year, a new NHL heralds the arrival of roughly ten million additions, refinements, and other bells and whistles, but this year – perhaps sensibly – it's been scaled back to a few immensely worthwhile new modes. NHL 14 ...

Online modes are plentiful and can be completed in matches on ice or against other General Managers in GM mode. For the outgoing current generation NHL is a great advocate for what has been a great series throughout the years but at the same time opens up the door for alot more opportunity in the next generation of consoles.