The new year saw the release of EA Sports’ most recent hockey video game, NHL 22, which was developed by the company. It’s easy for long-running ice hockey franchises to get stuck in the same development ruts that accompany the release of a new game every year, which can irritate fans. In addition, this is the very first time that the NHL series has been ported to a system from the current generation, such as the PlayStation 5 or the Xbox Series X, and the alterations that resulted from this transfer are readily apparent.

The new engine will be the first element that seasoned players in the NHL will see and take notice of. The Frostbite Engine, which significantly enhances the game’s lighting, has been incorporated into NHL 22 by EA Sports. Even while it might not seem like much, it makes a substantial contribution to the overall improvement of the atmosphere at each and every stadium. Every digital athlete has been updated to reflect their analogues who compete in the real world. Auston Matthews, the player featured on the cover of NHL 22, has successfully transitioned into the game while maintaining his trademark moustache. Although not every player in the NHL receives the same level of attention since there are other hockey leagues, the stars of the NHL have never looked more impressive.

In addition, EA Sports has included the brand-new X-Factor tool in NHL 22, which adds an additional degree of tactical complexity to the game’s most notable players and teams. These provide particular players with unique powers that set them apart from the rest of the competition and provide them an advantage. Their on-ice specialisations might be very different depending on their real-world attributes and could range from passing ability to a lightning-fast slapshot, for example. However, despite the fact that this is an incredible tool for determining the best NHL players, X-Factors are not a major selling factor. They instead provide a fresh perspective on what it takes to make it big in the National Hockey League.

The movement of the puck has also been altered in NHL 22, mostly with the purpose of making the game more playable. One of the improvements made to the poke check that is particularly helpful is the reduction in penalties. The flow of the game as a whole gets better, while defensive zone play and puck retrieval in the other team’s end become more manageable at the same time. As a consequence of this change, passing the puck in NHL 22 is slightly more difficult, which is more reflective of how the real sport is played. These changes, taken as a whole, are favourable since they constitute an upgrade over the previous system and make it possible for there to be more mistakes and chances while the game is being played.

With the release of NHL 22, it is clear that the fundamental gameplay elements of the NHL franchise will undergo more refinement in future instalments of the series. However, as a result of this decision, players are no longer able to take part in any additional gameplay possibilities. Nothing else compares to Madden’s “Face of the Franchise” or GM Connected in this regard. Instead, there has been a significant improvement made to both the gameplay and the aesthetics, which is fantastic, but it does not provide little much to entice returning gamers.

Thankfully, the fact that the NHL franchise from EA Sports is not for everyone will not be changed by NHL 22 in any way. It is for this reason that the Frostbite Engine and new, more powerful technology will offer a new level of realism to the franchise for all fans, regardless of whether or not they played NHL 21. In the end, NHL 22 is the game that sets the bar for other hockey simulations, proving that the efforts put in to improve upon the existing product were not for naught.