‘NHL 25’ is a good game. Don’t get me wrong. The work and progress that the team has put into this year's release shows itself,,, However, I just don’t know if this is enough of a step or leap forward to justify it for the average NHL fan or game player.
Maybe it’s because of how fun the Flyers were last season, maybe it’s because we had a seven-game Stanley Cup Final that was a true thriller to the last moments, or maybe it’s because I miss going up for two-dollar beer nights at the Cincinnati Cyclones games. Either way, my body has been itching to get hockey going again. Every year, the drought seems to get longer and longer, mostly because my love for the sport grows and grows.
Like most off-seasons, the only thing to really cure the cravings is EA Sports NHL games. Now, ‘NHL 25’ is officially here, and the latest installment of the yearly franchise looks to continue to grow the game. However, small movements forward this year don’t mean a lot in the grand scheme.
The team on ‘NHL ‘25’ really worked on gameplay this year and honestly, it really shows. ‘ICE-Q’ is part of the new skating models. Let’s all admit that if you’re a hockey fan, the game is so much different than it was 10 years ago. I’ve been watching old Flyers games and it’s wild how the game has evolved. The on-ice play has a new feel between the Next-Gen Vision Control, new empowered AI, and reactive active animations. Last year’s release compared to this year’s feels almost night and day in some ways. Last year, things felt loose and free. It was as if you were always skating on ice with a 40-pound weight on top of you. Slow to stop, corner, or change direction. ‘NHL ‘25’ however makes things feel tighter and more nimble. Your top speed feels slower than last year’s, but it’s made up for by being able to make more precise movements and motions.
I tend to play right up to the net when I get a breakaway. Trying to out-move and deke the goalies out of position or to drop down earlier. I’ve always had to make moves earlier than I’d like in my attack to the net. Now though, it feels like I can get right up to the paint and still have that last second to make a stick handle and try top shelf. Playmaking feels tight and crisp and there is more opportunity. There are way more chances for deflections from the point on the way into the net or even rebound chances. While both the AI and player mechanics have gotten an overhaul, at the same time they feel more human and natural like an actual game real-life situations. Even goalies don’t feel as robotic as in years past. I’ve noticed they are way more likely to have rebounds come off them, or even scramble for saves as compared to just being on point like years past. In-game play and competition are definitely taking a step this year in the right direction.
Another part of the game that has seen some love is ‘Franchise Mode’ which honestly cooks. Running through a season and building the 33rd franchise in hockey is such a fun and satisfying feeling, as it was in years past. A lot has been and is pretty similar to years prior, but there have been tweaks. The hub for franchise mode is slimmed down and sped up which makes for it to be easier to take in information. It also feels like there is a ton more trade offers that come in as compared to years prior. It adds excitement and a level of interest to the game. Breaking down what players on your team are valuable not only to you but to the league as a whole. GM roles also feel like they have more of a say in the on-ice product now with talks to the coaching staff.
Visually, there is a lot of good here. There aren’t as much of sticks going through boards, or goalies getting stuck in the net as in years prior. It really feels like a lot of smaller bugs that have plagued gameplay are really gone. However, that is kind of where the good feels like it ends in some ways.
If you’re coming at this as someone who already owns ‘NHL 24’ then honestly, I can’t say this is for you. The updates to gameplay and overall are steps in the right direction, but I can’t recommend it. There isn’t enough to reason a full-price game just for small things from last year to this. ‘Be A Pro’ mode continues to stay the same as it has been for a while, lacking the depth players like I have missed since before ‘NHL 12’ and games prior. HUT and CHEL continue on their normal moves and ways too.
‘NHL 25’ is a good game. Don’t get me wrong. The work and progress that the team has put into this year’s release shows itself. There have been a lot of quality-of-life improvements to the in-game product that make me feel good. To me, this feels like the first time this has been as close to real as possible. There are a few things that feel out of place, but overall the improvements are there. However, I just don’t know if this is enough of a step or leap forward to justify it for the average NHL fan or game player.
