If you’re a fan of the series and you’ve been digging up information over the past few days, you’ve probably heard that some things are missing from NHL 16 on the new consoles… a lot of things actually. I can confirm that the list at Operation Sports is accurate, and it’s a big list. The day before this review was published, EA posted information about a series of free post-release content patches that will add in a number of the missing modes and I’ll mention them as we go. Before we break that down however, let’s talk about the good parts of the game because really, if you sold your PS3 and/or Xbox 360 and you really need to scratch that NHL itch, you’ll want to know if the game is worth it, gimped as it is.
What I can say about NHL 16 is that it’s a good-looking game. The new UI system is really attractive and simple to use, similar in a way to the UI from the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil game. The new presentation style of the games is fantastic. The NBC Sports broadcasting team have recorded over 35,000 lines of commentary, so you are not likely to get bored with the same old quotes as with previous games. Each arena feels alive now with 9,000 individual crowd models that react to every play on the ice, there’s even that one guy in the corner that always jumps out of his seat and bangs the glass every time the puck comes near him. When it comes to video game hockey, there is only one game in town - EA Sports’ NHL series. I don’t even know if other companies even bother with other hockey games anymore - after 24 odd years of dominating the market, what would be the point?
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For the uninitiated, NHL 16 is the next game in a long line of hockey themed video games that EA Sports has been releasing since 1991. It’s also the first attempt by the NHL development team to make a game on the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. I interviewed the game’s Producer, Sean Ramjagsingh, recently about the game and you can read that full interview on the CGM website; however, I would like to quote something he said; “The new consoles had a lot of unexpected technical hurdles that we had to overcome. The great thing is that when you overcome them they open up a lot of new things that you can do, but sometimes the hurdles take a lot of time and a lot of resources.”
As a result of these “technical hurdles” the game has launched with a number of modes and presentation elements missing. Like Destiny, this year’s virtual hockey experience comes off feeling like a much smaller experience when compared to contemporary games and even other games in the NHL franchise. Some of the various game modes have been scaled back drastically, while others are no longer present at all. The online leagues (EASHL) have disappeared, as has the option to play a normal season or the popular Winter Classic games. It took a downloaded update to reveal playoff mode, and even then it didn't function properly. GM Mode has major flaws in what you can and can't control with your team, the immersive Live The Life mode is gone, and the Be A Pro career option is half the game it used to be with players no longer having to work their way up through the minor leagues to make it to the top.
Thankfully, the lack of features is really the worst thing about NHL 16. The gameplay has seen some noticeable improvements over the last few iterations due to the increasing usage of real-time physics and updated AI. NHL 16 continues that trend by adding player physics to all players on the ice, including the goalies. In addition, the puck also utilizes a new physics system making it more realistic than ever. Now, while this is a good thing, it can also cause some serious frustration in gameplay due to the puck being unpredictable, which of course is realistic so that frustration is warranted. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve missed a puck in the game thinking it’ll just snap to my stick like past games, it’s something that you’ll really have to get used to, and while it’ll endlessly piss you off, you’ll appreciate the realism when you really think about it.
