As it has been for the last few years with Digitalchumps, we have been privy to an EA preview of the latest NHL game. This year’s preview was mighty impressive, as the good folks at EA Vancouver showed us what they have in store for the October 14th release of the latest hockey experience in their NHL franchise. NHL 23 looks improved in several categories including gameplay, visuals, HUT, crossplay, and a few other items of interest. For me, EA Vancouver rates up there with Sony San Diego Studio, where each year there is actual development and improvement of a sports franchise. These aren’t just bells and whistles, rather EA Vancouver and their NHL franchise have been perfecting the player experience, which is important when keeping a sports game relevant.
On that note, let’s dig into it.
Gameplay is vital
While our resident hockey reviewer, Ben Branscum, could add more context to how the NHL franchise has steadily evolved over the years, I’ve always had a firm appreciation and understanding on how the game series concentrates on the minuet gameplay details when trying to bring something special to players. The gameplay for NHL 23 is bringing last chance puck movement, enhanced goalie AI, an updated X-Factor system, and some fine-tuning. So, there is plenty to look forward to with improved elements.
Starting with the last chance puck movement, players are now able to react to the puck during a stumble or fall to the ice. This could come in the form of hitting the puck into the goal or passing it to another player to try and make the most out of a bad situation. Since I first played the NHL series back in 1996 on the Sega Genesis, getting hit while you have the puck simply meant you are no longer in control of the puck. Once you were hit, then that was it. While I can’t believe it has taken this long to get the series here, last chance puck improvement is a welcomed addition to the gameplay structure. It makes sense within the context of the actual game and will add an additional gameplay element to the entire process. It’s so simple and yet such a major change in how fans of the series will play out a game, especially against each other.
There are also improvements in the X-Factor system, specifically in the AI department. One of the brighter spots of Madden NFL 23 this year was the way your AI team would react to your efforts on offense, something I enjoyed watching as linemen would hit their blocks when they should or wide receivers would break their route to get a block on a defensive player. EA Vancouver seems to have gone this route by improving the AI in NHL 23. The AI has a better sense of the situation in this year’s hockey game, where they can take more chances and figure out whether to pass or take a shot when the situation calls for it. Getting more cooperation out of a computer player can sometimes be a chore, but the improvements announced seem like the AI has a sharper look at the action. Anytime the AI can work in your favor during a game is a beautiful thing. Activision, please take note of this for your Call of Duty series.
Moving on, with the emergence of two athletes, Sarah Nurse (Team Canada) and Trevor Zegras (Anaheim Ducks), on the cover of NHL 23, they are more than just brand managers. They bring their own specialties to the gameplay. Nurse brings the ability to do more during unbalanced hockey gameplay moments, something that plays into both the AI design and the previously mentioned ice stumble improvements. Zegras brings more aggressive lacrosse-style movements, passes, and shots. It’s neat there is flavor from both athletes and it’s especially neat that women in hockey are being taken more seriously and having their imprint left in the series gameplay design. This must be normalized. EA Vancouver appears to be heading in that direction.
Staying with specialties and gameplay design, the game also features more improved power play (PP) and penalty kill (PK) strategies. This year the playbook is expanded and offers up a customizable set of strategies for more experienced players. It was also noted at the preview that this portion of the gameplay also features a friendly, educational path for new players who are budding hockey fans to learn more about PP/PK. This is something I’m particularly looking forward to in this year’s game, as I don’t know squat about hockey, but I do enjoy playing it. Anytime you can create a friendlier version of a complicated game to draw more interest into your efforts, well, that’s a helluva day in any developer’s book.
Living Arenas and Atmosphere
I’m a huge fan of the atmosphere in games, especially if it’s a sports game. I think that it just adds to the ambiance of the experience and gets the player engaged more when you have a stadium full of fans (virtual or not) shouting like hooligans. For this year’s game, EA Vancouver worked on crowd awareness, which entails rowdy chants, countdown chants when teams are ahead, and anticipation of shots with ‘ahs’ and ‘oos’. The game also features boos, which is realistic as heck when things don’t go right. Maybe it puts the pressure on the refs, but probably not, though. Maybe work on that next year?
The developers also focused on celebrations with players and fans, including big win moments and hat trick sequences. The latter of which features hats making it to the ice, regardless of if it’s the home or away team. The game also features improved visuals with skin/hair and work on facial features including eyes that have been extensively and accurately improved. There is nothing worse than a dead-eye sports figure. There was also improved visuals on a micro level with lighting improvements, ice resolution showing finer scratches from skates, and ice build-up that gathers over time. Visually, there is a lot going on with NHL 23, and the preview we saw was a step up from last year’s game.
Other odds and ends
Other items of interest that were mentioned in the preview included:
- Franchise mode this year increases the number of teams and conferences/divisions. You also get the ability to play with the salary cap, and playoff formats, and create an extensive experience that is customized through your own efforts. There is also the ability to share rosters with NHL 22.
- HUT Competition has been improved as well. You can compete in 10 new game themes, get rewards immediately with win-based challenges, and get higher-value rewards for elite-level positions.
- The IIHF Women’s National Team has been integrated into Ultimate Team in NHL 23. This also includes the rating system of players within UT, which is now balanced and evenly matched regardless of who you add to the team.
- Lastly, there is cross-platform play, even with generations, but not co-op on the cross-gen. Apparently, the latter is being worked on, but won’t be out at launch.
Conclusion
EA Vancouver is set to have another hit on its hands in October. They have made progress in all the right areas, and I hope they keep going the direction it sounds like they’re headed – up.
We’ll keep you in the loop and keep reporting the goods.
