The reason for this is largely due to the fact there isn’t an easy way to misdirect the goalie since passing is not an option. One minor issue with this mode though is that goals are relatively small which can mean that the outcomes are decided rather quickly. The overall flow makes this mode the best to warm up with and learn an isolated form of hockey. Bouts are quick and the gameplay is simple to understand.
Some of the most fun I’ve had in a quick session outside of Be A Pro is Ones Now, where three players each compete against one another on a fraction of the rink to score. These are often seen in between outcomes which takes away from the best part of Be A Pro. These are essential in the mode as specific responses give metrics to improve performance but the options are very bland and they don’t flow naturally because they are segmented interactions. The frequency of dialogue is way too high and this extends to the response-choice conversation interactions with the coach, managers, teammates and more. Thankfully these longer sections can mostly be skipped in Be a Pro, but this sacrifices a lot of the immersion of the mode. The problem is that there is so much of it that at times it becomes headache inducing. They have a very clear tone and carry conversations well on and off the rink. The voice performances are very well done. The mode is still a nice-to-have, but desperately needs an expansion to its feature set. Where Be A Pro faulters though, is in the story that’s told through overwhelming commentary and bland interview style conversations. For someone who is new to this mode, this is leaps and bounds better than the training modes. Various skill trees have slight impact on performance though despite the noticeable jump in stat numbers. Focusing on one player and their role can help the game feel less overwhelming and there is a steady progression curve for your character throughout the mode. The prospect of creating your own player is appealing and the idea of guiding them through a season sounds like a great idea from a gameplay perspective. Faces still look rather on the uncanny valley side, but that’s often what you’re going to get when trying to mimic realism."īe a Pro returns with mixed results. "The most noticeable improvement is the clothing with better detail in the textures. Unfortunately, visual improvement doesn’t have much of an impact on the offering of gameplay modes. Animations look great too, a significant step from the NHL series’ days with the Ignite engine. Still, it was only a matter of time before NHL left Ignite behind, and the time has come. Faces still look rather on the uncanny valley side, but that’s often what you’re going to get when trying to mimic realism. The most noticeable improvement is the clothing with better detail in the textures. NHL finally joins FIFA and NFL in the Frostbite Engine, EA’s most used and adaptable development engine and there’s some neat additions to the graphical suite but mostly in somewhat minor details.
With this year’s release of the hockey series, EA looks to address some aspects from previous years’ entries and the result is a mix of some success with many more lingering disappointments. Other major sports franchises from EA get a lot more attention but there’s always a chance to turn things around to bring fresh life on the heels of a proper real-life season. Of the big-name sports game series, NHL often gets the cold shoulder.