❘ Published: 2022-10-20T09:54:29
❘ Has been updated: 2022-10-20T10:00:27
EA SPORTS NHL 23 is NHL 22 with a few new additions and not worth the money if you own last year’s entry. In fact, it’s almost an insult that the game is full price.
Big-budget sequels appear regularly in games, aiming to build on the basic learnings from their predecessors and make them bigger, better, and more bombastic. , sports games were a bit of an exception to this rule of annual releases, with less than a year to overhaul and fix for the next game. But NHL 23 is good enough.
The NHL series may not be EA’s most popular game, but it has some of the best gameplay and has been around for years. Sadly, resting on its laurels makes the same gameplay feel corny.
Some of the upgrades to core momentary action the series has received in NHL 23 are simply not robust or enough to excite me.
NHL 23: Key Details
- Developer: EA Vancouver
- price: $59.99/£49.99
- Release date: October 14, 2022
- platform: PlayStation, Xbox, PC
NHL 23 Trailer
Minimal enhancements and shaved ice
When loading NHL 23 for the first time, a menu listing all of this year’s installments “new” will quickly overwhelm experienced players.
A big addition to the gameplay on ice this year is in the form of “Last Chance” moves, allowing players to play very frantically, just like in real life.
NHL 23 will not lift a trophy this year.
Additionally, NHL 23 includes several new animations, including highlight reel saves.
I remember playing a game where the opposing goalkeeper made a grab save. The problem is that he didn’t get the highlight he reeled in the highlight he was a save. Play nothing. No chance to relive the epic moment from another angle. nothing.
NHL 23 is basically the same broadcast package as NHL 22 and NHL 21. Miraculously, somehow, it feels like the broadcast presentation has seriously deteriorated over the years.
Same commentary, basically the same gameplay, everything. It’s like playing on ice that hasn’t had a Zamboni in years. The new Stanley Her Cup celebration and the female players are just icing on an old cake set in the sun.
NHL 23 has some new animations, but not much else.
Not that kind of X Factor
After the Last Chance Pack move screen, EA SPORTS touts two new X Factor additions. This is a special player attribute that gives the player special skills such as unique shots.
In my review of last year’s NHL 22, I mentioned how NHL 2004 implemented something similar to X-Factors years ago.
X-Factors is certainly an enhanced version of the NHL 2004 variant, but it wasn’t a big deal when it was reintroduced in NHL 22, and was even more underwhelming in NHL 23.
This time, fans are given two more X Factors! This accesses co-cover star Trevor Zegras’ ‘Skilled Up’, which allows players to execute lacrosse-style goals, and Sarah Nurse’s ‘Relentless,’ which improves shooting and passing abilities while off balance. It means that you can now.
These are incredibly minor additions, and the fact that they’re hailed as number two on the “what’s new” screen is very significant.
Limited customization in franchises
NHL 23 also has a “Historic” level of customization in Franchise mode, allowing players to change things like the number of teams in the NHL, the playoff format, and more. However, its customization is limited.
NBA 2K now allows players to change the length of the season to any number of games over the years, but the NHL is only doing this and has minimal to offer.
NHL 23 feels like NHL 22.
For example, you could choose different overtime formats, but not just 3 on 3 for 5 minutes. A shootout was required to follow. As someone who isn’t a fan of shootouts, why couldn’t it be removed?
Nor could it replace any team in the league. I tried to make a league with only 12 teams, but for some reason on PS5 the rest of the teams were fixed except for the user controlled ones.
On another occasion, when they wanted a 40-team league, various European clubs were drawn into the NHL, but were also unable to replace them. I don’t know if this is a bug or not, but it really affected the custom his options in the new franchise mode.
Apart from this, at least, I was able to choose the playoff format I wanted for every round. A most welcomed addition with absolutely no reason to take this long to implement.
NHL 23 Misses Playoffs
After all, NHL 23 irritated me.
The only good thing I have to say about this year’s version is the crowd noise.
Everything else is minor or, like crossplay, feels long overdue given the current gaming environment.
At some point, EA will have to change the way it approaches this series. I honestly value everything “new” in this game. kind $10 total. NHL 22 owners should be willing to pay that much for this game. Oh, it’s full price.
Verdict – 6/10
If you are not familiar with the EA SPORTS NHL series, you will enjoy this one. It cannot be denied. Even if you haven’t touched the series in years, there’s a lot to enjoy, but veteran players will feel significantly left out by this year’s title.
Review on PS5
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