A Shallow Bench | NHL 15 Review

NHL 15 was launched with quite the controversy this year. People were looking forward to the first NHL game on the new generation only to learn that NHL 15 was stripped of almost all its modes. A questionable move on EA’s part and one that caused many people to cancel their pre-order. In fact, it even made me hesitate picking it up, but I love hockey too much. I can certainly confirm there are a lot of modes missing, but I can also say without a doubt I am still having a blast with NHL 15.

The first thing to notice with this installment in the NHL franchise is the reworked presentation. Needless to say the game looks beautiful on the PS4. The player detail is astonishing and brings a new lifelike feel to the game. Until the camera zooms over the crowd that is, then things start looking a little worrisome. When you see two identical people only a couple seats away doing the same motion with their hands you can’t help but lose some of the entrapping atmosphere. Then again, it isn’t so much the looks that keep your mind in the world of hockey, but all the sounds like the puck ringing off the pipe or hearing it slam into the boards on a wide shot. Hearing a skater’s blade make a sharp cut gives you an urgency of hustle. It is always the sounds that I love in the NHL series.

The best part of NHL 15’s presentation is the new commentators: Doc Emrick and Eddie Olczyk. While I’m personally not a huge fan of Emrick’s commentating in real life, the NHL video game series needed a big refresher in that department. The same comments were being uttered for several years to the point where I could hear those lines in my dreams. Hearing Emrick’s voice makes the game feel even more real, but it isn’t as smooth as it could be. It doesn’t always feel like the commentator is watching the game. Only sputtering out bits and pieces of sayings. Technically that’s what it is, but you don’t want it to sound that way. Other times, the dialog doesn’t match up with what’s actually happening. My Be A Pro character was a small offensive sniper, but I managed one big hit, and was rewarded with the commentators talking about what a defensive powerhouse I was. Believe me—I’m not.

Speaking of Be A Pro mode, I am happy to say that it is in NHL 15. That shouldn’t be necessary to say, but as many people know, multiple modes did not make a return for NHL 15. The reason seems to be that the game wasn’t ready for release, but instead of delaying the game, EA wanted it publish it while regular updates to fix the issues. That may not be the best way to go about things, but it is what we have to deal with. In fairness, the game was updated last week with some changes, so NHL 15 is being updated. I won’t give a whole list of missing modes, because you can find those plastered on the internet like this one Here.

NHL 15 does feel lacking. There are still modes to experience, but inside those modes there are little piece still missing. Some big ones are: not being able to SIM when you’re on the bench in Be A Pro, no individual draft in GM mode, no 94’ anniversary mode, and no online Team Play. These are big things to leave out! The first two will be patched in, but I doubt the other one’s will (you can read about the patch notes Here).

Even with those modes added into the game, it will still seem stripped. For example: in Be A Pro you no longer play any AHL games, or take interviews. Admittedly the interviews was a little gimmicky, but it made you feel like a star, which was part of the fun. Not playing in the AHL feels cheap. In previous NHL games I worked hard to get to the starting position on the first line. Starting in small rinks to playing in giant arenas felt like I seriously progressed. I worked my way up. In NHL 15 I started on the third line, and by the eighth game in the season I was on the second line. The only real progression are my stats, and I’m thankful for that, but my favorite mode has lost many of the elements that made it my favorite in the first place.

I started a GM mode for the purpose of this review, but I find it not nearly as fun when I don’t get to personally draft my players. Once that patch rolls out I know I will start over so I can truly experience GM mode. There are plenty of fun things in the GM mode still with the added bonus of a salary cap to deal with. Trading players and sending them up and down is always tortuous fun. The Ultimate Hockey Team is still fun, but you cannot play against friends—only randoms. Worst of all (to me) there is no more custom music or personal playlists in menu. Navigating all the options in GM takes time. Having entertaining music made it enjoyable. Now, you are stuck listening to the background music that is as dull as elevator music.

That’s about what NHL 15 comes down to. There are some modes that are completely fine, and others that have been stripped of many aspects that made them great. You may want to check before purchasing NHL 15 that the mode you play the most hasn’t been touched. I know what you’re thinking though, you’re thinking why bother with this game at all if it is missing so much? Because it is still highly enjoyable to play.

The gameplay is better than ever. A new physics engine makes colliding with players a blast. You don’t even need to use the hit-stick. Line up the hit and you will nail the person. This includes your own players. It makes for crossing lanes even more dangerous and I’ve given the other team breakaways before by missing the hit and taking out my teammate instead. Luckily my A.I. teammates can’t reach through the screen and strangle me. The players still have some awkward interactions, but not nearly as much as they did in previous games. When my player flops on the ice to soak a shot, my opponent will flip over me instead of bumping into me awkwardly. The same goes for cutting too close to the goalie. I was sprinting at the goal only to flip over him when he made the save. His teammates didn’t like that and the gloves came off. Anyone who has played a sport knows you protect your goalie no matter what, and it was nice to see that in this game; albeit, a little over the top.

There are other realistic moments that make NHL 15 incredible fun. Like when I was down a goal in the 3rd and saw my teammate open on the crease. I zipped a pass to him and he was able to bury it in the net. A surge of joy filled me until the ref came out crossing his arms. Doc said the play was being called back and was under review. Apparently my teammate didn’t put it in with his stick, but his foot, which is only acceptable if there isn’t a blatant kicking motion. So I had to sit and wait – much like a real hockey game – to see if the goal was good. Luckily, it was, and we were able to tie the game. A simple extra moment like that makes NHL 15 that much better.

Those extras aside, the core, basic gameplay makes NHL 15 great. The stick play and shooting is as wonderful as ever. I never had any issues with the controls. I could deke around as much as I wanted, and I could feel that warmth of success when I sent the rubber into the net. Everything technical about the gameplay is perfect, and I had no issues in that regard. I had just as much fun – if not more – while actually playing NHL 15. It may be missing modes and still needs some work, but the gameplay is there and it is beautiful. In that way, you will be happy with this iteration. It is only a specific mode that will make you second guess your decision.

On the downside, I am disappointed in how idiotic the A.I. is still. They shouldn’t be this dumb anymore, and the only time NHL 15 frustrated me was from my foolish teammates. I could go on and on about every dumb thing they do, but I’ll save you the rant. Essentially, the completely idiotic A.I. takes away from NHL 15 in a big way, because it constantly feels like an unfair game when I play my best, but my teammates decide they want to clear the puck backwards instead of passing it to someone in front of them. Aside from that, my other major complaint is the slow loading times. I was hoping on the new generation things could move a little faster, but the menus still crawl by. I’m use to it from past games, so it isn’t a major flaw, just something I was hoping would change.

Minus how much I hate my computer teammates. I am loving NHL 15. Gameplay-wise there is almost nothing wrong. The games feel great, and I already am having a blast playing with my friends online and offline. That means NHL 15’s main problem is the missing modes. There are some other issues here and there, but people can’t get passed the lack of modes. While I certainly can’t ignore how bare bones NHL 15 is—I suggest you don’t cast it aside completely. It will be hit-or-miss for each person. If the one mode you really love isn’t in NHL 15 then you should pass. However, if NHL 15 does contain your favorite mode, don’t be afraid to pick it up. NHL 15 had a shakey start, and I don’t think it will ever be perfect, but if EA does truly update it, then NHL 15 is a serious contender for hockey fans this year.

This review is based on a retail copy of the Playstation 4 version of NHL 15 developed by EA Canada and distributed by EA Sports.