Xbox One
NHL 20 is the team that has not delivered a pre-season for their current players and is adding free-tier agents. After going well last year with a new skating and physics engine, the NHL 20s are starting to bounce back with a focus on renewal and slow development. The result is a better gameplay, but the change – or in some cases its lack of it – in basic modes leaves a lot to be desired.
Though not a complete reboot, the gameplay still looks and feels better than before. The addition of the signature design by the star and star performers makes all the difference. Not every player looks the same for a photo wrap, and now players are turning facts too far, such as going with one knee to swipe or leaning forward on a stick for more power to snatch. This adds some much-needed variety to the on-ice action and makes the setup play more enjoyable. It all feels more natural, especially the one-timers and the throwing of a stick at the center for dirty purposes. However, I have found scoring much easier than in the past, leading to high scoring games.
One part that feels closed is exploration; Sometimes out of place, players get a lot of pressure, allowing them to sort, ridiculous checks. I wish the formation of the battlefields would be in battles like a real board, an area that requires work. Awareness of players on the ice will also be enhanced; you can still see them turning past boats or retreating into defense when they have to fight the park. Also, while I would be impressed with the new height photos they had that make for extraordinary savings, I can't say the same for A.I. coming up. self. While the goggles follow the puck better, they have yet to let go of the player's tendencies, they bite similarly in the same movement.
Everyone will always be attracted to different approaches, but expect refinement rather than radical changes. Become Pro players were once again left in the dust in exactly the same way as last year and in desperate need of new blood. The EA Sports Hockey League also remains very similar, with its sports sections, features, and expertise that require new options. Unfortunately, this also means things like A.I. defenders jumped into stores at the wrong times. The NHL 20 also features signs of alumni anointing, though they feel like they are being used to discuss questions, such as the Anaheim Ducks nomination that included Jarkko Ruutu, Niklas Hagman, and Bryan Allen (201 Franchise Games), while remaining Francois Beauchemin and Paul Kariya ( 1198 franchise games).
Click the thumbnail images to view the larger version
This may seem disappointing, but a slew of alternatives makes it good, albeit small, in addition. Arcade-focused Cobs features a couch co-op, allowing you to play as Star NHL players against friends. The Ultimate Team introduces group battles, a one-player competitive mode in which you compete against and control A.I.-controlled teams created by the HUT community, which gives players an easy way to earn rewards. The World of Welsh adds new side-by-side lubricants and weekly challenges to get special seasonal jerseys and hats (though they still fall short compared to other games on the market).
The most uplifting mode is the Franchise, where you pull the strings from behind the scenes by taking on the role of general manager, and building a path to the cup. You now have many ways to strategize by hiring coaches for their programs and finding the right players to break into it, or to shoot your coaching staff when it no longer works. I like the idea, but this mode is complicated and will probably take some time for EA to release the buttons. Franchise's new commercial finder is ineffective, often ineffective or ineffective deals. Signing coaches is a very frustrating process, because they are very selective if your franchise is not 100 percent, which requires you to throw money at them, and even then, sometimes they can't be fooled. And it seems that EA has forgotten the option of filing you for goalie coaches, which means you won't find any potential candidates that you want to interview.
I love that players and coaches come to you for interviews, but it goes at the same time as you can even call them to talk about change or poor performance. The bad thing is that you don't always have the means to meet their needs. For example, when a player asks for more minutes, you have no way of communicating this to the coach without trying to play through them in the other row and hoping that the coach will rely on that other. To the Franchise's credit, the player readiness category in scouting helps a lot in planning the upcoming rosters. Also, players who request appropriate compensation for contracts based on their stats and the season they have are a welcome development. The mode undoubtedly needs a shakeup, and the ideas are promising, I just wish it was in better shape.
The NHL 20 is an uneven thing. One minute I feel the height of setting up a very good game and seeing the puck world behind the net, but then I hit my stick on the ice frustrated with disappointing features in all its ways. Seeing the same issues recur over year after year will be hard to forgive for a long time, but it's still the only way you can feel the excitement of being on the ice, and at the very least, it holds that well.
Score: 7.5
Summary: NHL 20 offers better gameplay, but more effort would have gone into developing its various modes.
The idea: Build on a new skating engine last year by making games and shooting look and feel like you are exploring the many popular ways
Drawings: Not much has changed in this department over the years, but the new photos and promotions are amazing. Real-world matches for astronauts will go a long way
Audio: The dictionary is getting much needed change, thanks to new duo James Cybulski and Ray Ferraro taking the sound. The two add new energy and life to the ice act
Play: The game certainly plays better than the NHL 19, but many approaches lack the development they desperately need
Entertainment: NHL 20 gives hockey fans lots of fun ways to spend and spend their time, but there are a few disappointing things out there
Play again: High
Click to buy