NEWSLETTER
Well, it’s that time of the year again. As the new NHL season creeps closer, I spend my final weeks playing the soon-to-be outdated version of EA Sports’ “NHL” franchise. After the biggest improvement to the NHL21 installment was a brand-new, redesigned “Be A Pro” mode (which became stale very quickly), the newest version in “NHL22” has a lot on which to deliver.
The biggest upgrade that many fans of the game were looking forward to is a new motions engine in the game with the change to the Frostbite Engine, with which fans of the Madden and FIFA franchises are already familiar.
While details of the game and most of the updates are still to come from EA, we got our first look at the newest installment today with the gameplay reveal trailer. First, speaking of things being familiar, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs dons the cover of NHL22 this year…
Back again 🔥 @AM34 is your #NHL22 cover athlete! 💪
Pre-order now 👉 https://t.co/JF65PnliKE pic.twitter.com/IiTjcZxoSI
— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 19, 2021
Matthews, arguably one of the most recognizable NHL players in both the U.S. and Canada, will be on the cover for the second time in three years, after being on the cover of NHL20 just two years ago. Of all the superstars in the NHL, EA decided to re-up with Matthews again? Seems like they could have been much more creative.
Anyway, here is the gameplay trailer…
Get ready to experience breakthrough hockey in #NHL22 🏒🎮
Pre-order now 👉 https://t.co/yZi5eDMasf pic.twitter.com/rI36Y049RT
— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 19, 2021
Here are a few details on the upgrades to NHL22 from EA’s website:
Visual Upgrades – The Frostbite engine delivers huge visual upgrades that dramatically enhance realism throughout NHL 22. From overhauled player likenesses to all-new eye animations that track and react to the action around them, the superstars of the NHL have never felt more alive.
Superstar X-Factors – This game-changing system lets you unleash unique player abilities that make stars feel like stars as they influence games in new ways. Reserved for and inspired by the league’s most elite players, Superstar X-Factor abilities separate the best from the rest in tangible ways that you can feel when they’re on the ice.
Sounds snazzy.
A few of the “X-Factors” that players can have include:
• “Make It Snappy” – Get a huge boost to power and accuracy when taking snap shots while skating.
• “Quick Pick” – Snatch the puck from anyone in the blink of an eye. Increase puck interception rate and range.
• “Tape To Tape” – Handy ability to auto-saucer, and get increased backhand accuracy and reduced power penalties on passes within your vision. See everything, be ready for everything.
I would imagine superstars, like mega superstars in the league will have more than one “X-Factor” ability.
The gameplay in the trailer looks great, but it’s all cinematic, so of course it looks great. I’ll be interested to see what the actual gameplay looks like. And as someone who doesn’t have the “Next-Gen” consoles, my hope is that EA does not have content in NHL22 that will only be available on the “Next-Gen” versions of the games and leave those of us with Xbox One’s and PS5’s with a recycled version of NHL21, like they did with the NHL15 installment.
Hey look, Seth Jones!
Seth Jones with the #Blackhawks in the #NHL22 trailer
(🎥@EASPORTSNHL) pic.twitter.com/ZvkJYgDtUJ— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) August 19, 2021
With Kevin Lankinen in net? I would assume this was all pre-produced before the Marc-André Fleury trade, otherwise that seems like a mistake by EA.
I’ll hold full judgement on the game until we see much more than the reveal trailer and when I’m able to play it. For now, I’m still optimistic that the game will be an improvement both in gameplay and presentation from NHL21, which was a step forward for the EA franchise.
