‘NHL 22’ really takes a big stride forward in the franchise.
Ah yes. Hockey season is here and alive! One of my favorite times of the year where I break out my Giroux jersey, sit on the futon and scream my guts out at my team. I’ve been a diehard hockey fan since 2010 and of course, I’m going to be all over the year NHL releases. Now it is time for both you and me to grab our skates, get your mouthguard ready, and hit or be hit as ‘NHL 22’ is now available. How does this new and exciting NHL game fair to the prior in ‘NHL 21’ though. Honestly, pretty stinking well.
The first major difference is we are now in the next-gen world compared to last year. Let me tell you this game on PS5 is a totally different experience. This game flies down the ice and you feel the game on a deeper level. As you skate down the rink, you feel the pulsing of the controller as your legs move. If you attempt a pass, but there is no lane you feel the tension on the trigger, but when the lane is open it moves like a breeze. I’ve mentioned in several reviews that the PS5 controller really helps a games feel, but nothing like this. It’s genuinely incredible and adds a deeper level to the game.
Overall gameplay is skilly smooth like a good flow out on the ice. The best it’s felt ever. There has been a steady increase and improvement since ‘NHL 15’ (we don’t talk about that dark time though). Even looking back to last year’s edition, there was still a noticeable blocky feel to moving on the ice and making plays. ‘NHL 22’ is super slick and feels effortless as you pull out the deke and hit a top-shelf wrister or get a poke check at the last second to stop a shot. One of the newest features for this year is the ‘Xfactor’ for some of the NHL’s superstars. This is one of my favorite features for 22. This allows for highlighting players around the league. Sure you get the Ovi, Sid, McDavid, and others but highlighting guys like Jamie Benn, Dougie Hamilton, and Selkie Winning Flyers Center Sean Couturier (yeah Flyers fan showing his bias). Seeing those players get highlighted for their skills was really great to have.
Visually, ‘NHL 22’ continues to keep the bar moving forward as well. I think the biggest thing that caught my eyes was their new Augmented Reality. In-game broadcast graphics are being broadcasted on surfaces like the glass along the boards or even on the ice. Not gonna lie, but this was cool as all hell. Normally in years past, I would just set bored and skip these bits of the in-game broadcasts just wanting to get back to the action. These add so much to the gameplay. I have been a huge stats nerd my whole life and seeing the detail that’s broken down here is awesome for someone like me. Even if this isn’t your cup of tea, ‘NHL 22’ is still such a great game visually to take in. Just in the Be a Pro mode, the cutscenes involving your players are really well crafted and made. There are a few graphical hiccups here and there, but nothing too horrific. I did have one point where my game did freeze up and crash in a transition between plays, but other than that nothing too major.
The worlds of EASHL and CHEL also continue to grow a get more and more exciting. CHEL is now so much easier to get through and figure out as compared to 21 and years prior. The HUD has been cleaned up and is ready to get you out on your skates faster than ever. Xfactor is also going to come into play for your characters. NHL Threes is also just a blast. There’s a level of chaos and insanity that is just so much fun. Watching Tommy Hawk come out on the ice and try and score on the ‘Fridge Raiders’ is just so comical and out there that makes it so much fun. It feels like a pickup game, but with the most famous players and mascots in the world.
‘NHL 22’ really takes a big stride forward in the franchise. Having it on a PS5 is a big part of what makes the difference in some ways. The haptic feedback really gives the game another level. NHL games have gotten stale in years past (15-18 come to mind in some ways). Over the past few releases, EA Vancouver has taken it to newer heights and this is a leap in a great direction. I haven’t been this excited to try and run a franchise into the ground because I have no idea what I am doing, or go pro and take on the greats for the cup.
