NHL 22

Yearly releases for sports games tend to be pretty popular, even if in many cases changes from one year to the next are pretty small. And while EA publishes some of the most popular games around almost simultaneously every year, one of its game series tends to live in the shadows of the other bigger ones, we are talking about NHL, of course. This year NHL 22 releases in October, and while it's still under-looked by many, it is a pretty important release for the series.

But what makes NHL 22 an important title for the series? Why is it different from the previous entries? Well, let’s talk about it.

About the game

In NHL 22 you can play and make up the most intense matches and extreme plays, with a special center of attention put into the superstars. As usual, it is a hockey game where you can play as your favorite teams and play the best matches you can think of. And of course, play as the biggest superstars in this incredible sport on ice.

There are new Zone Abilities and Superstar Skills too, where you can activate special moves depending on how you play your match. Of course, the superstar skills are only reserved for the top 50 best players in the ranks. This is something completely new and unique, and while it changes the style of the game from a more realistic sports simulation to a more arcade game.

The superstar energy is also important for the team chemistry in the career mode, as they'll help in the build-up of team morale and make your team generally stronger. But don't worry, it doesn't really mean it will make the game unbalanced, well, no more than it would in real-life hockey.

What’s the big change?

Just like FIFA 22, NHL 22 introduces some tweaks and changes to the game formula. As they usually do in yearly releases, these changes aren't really that massive, nor do they affect too much the game experience that much. Fans of this genre want new elements, but they also like the comfiness of picking up the controller and knowing exactly how the game will react to their commands.

The biggest change in NHL 22 comes in the technical aspect, as the game is taking the step into completely changing the game engine. The game now runs in the latest version of the Frostbite engine, developed by DICE -this is the engine used in Battlefield games- and it's the first time this, or any of EA sports game series uses the Frostbite engine.

NHL 22 is a nice next step for the series, and even though it tends to pass as an under-the-table game, this one is sure to catch some new fans' attention. The visuals they achieved with the new Frostbite engine look simply incredible, realistic, and full of life.

Pros:

• Great visuals
• Nice Gameplay
• Interesting new mechanics

Cons:

• Still short
• More modes would be appreciated