#Nhl 22 beta release date pro#
The Be a Pro “story” mode, however, is completely devoid of personality, giving the impression that EA might be ready to leave it behind in future releases. The annual NHL singleplayer modes all make a steady, if unspectacular return this year.įranchise mode is a little more accessible (with less micromanagement needed) than previous editions. The presence of X-Factors doesn’t harm the experience, but it hardly adds to it, either. While users will see occasional bursts in skills such as scoring prowess from odd angles or the ability to navigate the puck through crowded defenses, most of these boosts are short-lived and ineffective. One item of note - X-Factors (temporary, situation-specific performance boosts for elite stars) were a noticeable factor in how this year Madden titles performed, but they have much less impact on NHL 22. I’m guessing most gamers likely don’t put that much thought into hockey physics, but when compared to a real life team, they’ll see how ridiculously-detailed EA really was when developing this aspect.
#Nhl 22 beta release date series#
Goalies don’t feel as if they’re on rubber bands, and skater physics better align to the players’ actual physical traits, rather than a simple “fast,” “average,” “slow” series of archetypes. Play is both more responsive and better-paced, leading to one of the most accurate simulations of hockey to date. NHL22’s biggest improvements (thankfully) occur on the ice, where next-gen horsepower really proves its worth. Perhaps I’m expecting too much from a videogame, but then again, this is a new generation of hardware - maybe I’m justified in being disappointed? When the game returned to a faceoff, there was no acknowledgement that nine shots had been stopped by the goaltender in a matter of 25 seconds.
#Nhl 22 beta release date update#
While some clips are spot-on and replicate a real game’s commentary, there are plenty more that have little connection to the on-ice action, even evoking unwanted laughs on more than one occasion.įor example, during an intense series of near-misses in front of the crease, commentators Ray Ferraro and James Cybulski had trouble keeping up with the frantic pace, then inexplicably cut to rinkside reporter Carrlyn Bathe for an update on a player that was not involved with the play. On the audio end of things, the commentary remains stiff and disjointed, and before long it became a repetitive distraction rather than something to draw users into the experience.
Perhaps this is a nod to a new visual style coming down the road? It wouldn’t be the first time EA Sports has injected humor into its annual hockey offering. Sure, replays and closeups have a level of visual sheen never seen before in digital hockey, but at the same time, when watching the bird’s-eye view of gameplay, it’s difficult to get excited about light reflections and accurate ice-chip physics.Īlso, it should be noted that non-player avatars (such as fans and agents seen during the Be a Pro mode) have exaggerated, cartoonish features. That said, most of the presentation tweaks are pretty superficial. Coupled with the tried-and-true (but ultimately boring) top-down presentation, the series was long overdue for some extra polish in this regard. Though the previous generation’s graphics were nothing to sneeze at, player models still had their share of janky moments that took me out of the moment. NHL 22 is my third NHL review here at GameCritics and after spending time with this series and covering it fairly regularly, I’m confident in saying that this latest iteration is both more than an annual update, and less than the sum of its parts - in a nutshell, it’s a mildly underwhelming next-gen experience that still holds promise for the future.īeginning with the positive, diehard NHL fans will immediately notice the visual and presentation upgrades. WTF The single-Be a Pro mode has become a complete afterthought LOW X-Factors feel meaningless in the heat of gameplay. HIGH Next-gen polish brings new life to a tried-and-true formula.
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