

While it moves away from realism a bit, it feels like it balances defensive play against the offense in a much better way than previous entries. Things may have become easier on that front, but it also makes playing defense easier and more effective than in previous titles. Penalties occur far less often, making defensive plays less of a risk factor. Sticks no longer clip into bodies or the boards, so you can steal the puck from an opponent by skating through their stick and pushing it aside. In previous games, it was possible to not hit any part of an opponent's body but still incur a tripping penalty. You can expect the same overall experience, with some vital tweaks to stick physics, so it finally matters where you hit a player or the puck with your stick. Overall, the controls and the skill stick to freely dribble the puck are still here, and they work as well as they always did. Once you get into a match, the gameplay feels somewhat different and mostly in the right ways. I hope that this year's iteration is the foundation for more significant visual improvements in future installments because this simply cannot be it. The switch to the Frostbite Engine feels more like a name-drop than a substantial overhaul of the visuals and physics. The details on textures and models have also increased in the next-gen versions, and if you focus on that, it looks sharper and more detailed across the board but not to a degree that immediately declare that NHL 22 is the superior-looking game. The ice surface shows more detail as players skate across it and reflects more vibrantly and realistically. The rest still wear the same misshapen mugs they always have, which makes them stand out. For the star players of the league, character models and faces are better animated and detailed. Without a direct comparison to last year's version, the difference in visuals is very slim and often inconsistent.

While the Frostbite engine brings noticeable improvements to some visual aspects - e.g., body checks, puck physics, and especially stick interactions - the game largely looks the same. It hasn't and doesn't need to change since it handles pretty well, so improvements are marginal. If you've played every title in the past five years, you're likely more than a little burned out by the perpetually repeating selection of modes and gameplay. NHL games have been stuck in a rut for years, offering few gameplay tweaks and the occasional extra mode to tide fans over for yet another year. While it is the best NHL version to play, it amounts to little more than another familiar entry. The biggest talking point this year is the long-overdue swap to the last-gen Frostbite engine, which brings some graphical and technical improvements but lacks the feel of a true generational leap - or even half of one. NHL 22 now faces a similar predicament, except that it didn't cut any modes and instead offers very few additions on all fronts, including its visuals. The last time an NHL title was released on the Xbox One and PS4, it was a major letdown there were noticeable graphical improvements, but most modes were cut and slowly added back in subsequent releases. This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items, including a random selection of virtual in-game items.EA's NHL games don't have the strongest cross-generation record. EA SPORTS NHL 22 is an all new game for a new generation, giving you more ways to play and compete than ever before. From HUT to World of Chel, Superstar X-Factors brings new class based strategy to every game mode.

Authentic to real player skill and style, the stars of the NHL truly come to life in EA SPORTS NHL 22 making their time on ice more influential than ever.

Superstar X-Factors lets you feel the personality and power of NHL superstars with an all-new ability system that unlocks the unique skills of the league’s most elite players. For the first time ever, experience EA SPORTS NHL on one of the industry’s most powerful game engines bringing unrivaled visual detail to every hit, deke and shot. Powered by Frostbite™, EA SPORTS NHL 22 gets the superstar treatment.
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Be A Pro X-Factor Slot Unlocks (2), XP Boost, and Bonus Trait Points 5 World of Chel X-Factor Zone Ability Unlocks (Instant) HUT X-Factor Power-Up Starter Pack (Instant) HUT X-Factor Player Choice Pack (1 of 25) Purchase EA SPORTS™ NHL® 22 X-Factor Edition and receive:
