NHL 22 review: Hockey simulator on Frostbite engine
Pros
- New Frostbite engine
- New visual effects
- Changes to the physical model and new Skill Stick control model
- Introduction of X-Factor abilities into many of the game’s systems
Cons
- Few new cut-scenes and dialog in Career Pro mode, few interesting interactives
- Current innovations can quickly bore “old” players
- No PC version
The first game in EA Vancouver’s NHL series was released back in 1991, and for the past 30 years EA has been delighting hockey fans with a simulation game based on the sport. Monopoly? Perhaps, but note that hockey itself is not as popular as, say, soccer, so the likelihood of major competitors is extremely low, because it is not easy to compete with a licensed game.
But let’s go back to 2021. Now we see a new version of the hockey simulator NHL 22, which was officially released on October 15. Unfortunately, the rumor that passed not so long ago that NHL 22 will be presented on the PC platform did not come true – the game continues to be an exclusive for the new and previous generation consoles – Xbox and PlayStation. Therefore, PC players have to “play on youtube” or still purchase a console and the game, which at the moment may even be a better solution than waiting and saving up for a new graphics card, not to mention other “iron” components. However, at the time of writing, next-gen consoles are in short supply in many stores, so it’s not easy for gamers to get them. But that’s another story. However, there are virtually no visual differences between the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 versions of NHL 22.
So, what new things are waiting for us in NHL 22, or is it just an improved version of NHL 21 without any special features? The absence of a major competitor clearly makes itself felt, because the well-known “myth” that the last parts of hockey simulator are copied, reaches the PC-boys.
A significant change in NHL 22 is the transition to the new-old Frostbite engine. Ignite, on which the game has been released for the last few years, according to the developers, is already quite outdated and it is already quite difficult to develop new options and “features” on it. That’s why Ea Vancouver decided to transfer the game to Frostbite and, let’s say, it only added to the beauty of the whole hockey simulator.
New highlights on the ice, new highlights on hockey players’ visors, new animations of throws, animations of hockey players’ eyes, facial expressions and clothes, hockey sticks that bend when hitting, smoother polygons – all this immerses the player even more in the process of enjoying a hockey match. In addition, the broadcast has augmented reality elements – important game statistics and other indicators are projected on the ice surface.
But don’t get excited. With the transition to a new engine EA will have to fix the first few months of pop-up bugs and flaws, “catching” which falls on the gaming community. Whether they will fix them all – only time will show. Therefore, in the near future we advise you to follow the release of patch notes and immediately update the game when updates are released.
Among the changes in the physics engine it is worth noting the redesigned system of passes and puck reception (players should now pay attention to the strength and accuracy of passes and their reception), updated stick physics (players can more effectively use the strength and positioning of the hockey player’s body), new systems of rebounding, reflex intervention of defenders, puck protection, going to the goal and blocking shots and passes. However, it can take months to thoroughly study the smallest changes, and you need a lot of experience not only in NHL 22, but also in previous installments, so don’t jump to conclusions.
In NHL 22 a new control mode – Skill Stick – has become available. The new mode gives the player the ability to control the shot on goal, control the player’s body on defense and in general a great variation of control of any hockey player in the game. This mode takes some getting used to, as it is quite different from the other control modes, so you will need some practice and time to learn the new control modes.
The second major innovation of NHL 22 is the introduction of the X-Factor system. This innovative system allows you to utilize the unique abilities of your players. NHL 22 will now feature two levels of X-Factor abilities: game-changing zone abilities and enhanced superstar abilities. Each player in the game gets one zone ability and an additional set of superstar abilities, and the ability level can be improved depending on the type of ability – zone or superstar. It should be noted that not all teams in NHL 22 have players with the X-Factor star ability. A full list of stars with X-Factor is available here, and a detailed breakdown of abilities can be read here.
In Pro Career mode, the player progression system now also contains X-Factor superstar abilities – keep this in mind when developing your player. X-Factor abilities are unlocked by completing quests (some have a seasonal completion period) and by negotiating with management or coaches for specific abilities.
Franchise mode also adds X-Factor to all of the current systems in place, from pro and rookie scouting, to interacting with teammates, to signing them as free agents. In addition, you can start Franchise mode with a new Seattle Kraken team (rookies of the current NHL season) or create an entirely your own, which will be 33rd in the league. X-Factor has made it to the World of Chel mode as well, with zone abilities and superstar abilities available to all 12 classes.
Now let’s talk about the changes to the Hockey Ultimate Team mode. New Power-Up items for 50 players with X-Factor abilities can be upgraded as the season progresses with new synergy slots, optimization and ability unlocks. In addition, Power-Up items have the lowest rating at the very beginning of the season, and lower than the player’s base item, but they can be increased by +1 OVR as the season progresses. These items can be upgraded by coins and special Power-Up collectibles.
HUT has the synergy slots we mentioned above, so now you need to plan your team building to effectively implement links on the ice. Normal players have 1 synergy slot each, but with Power-Up items the number of slots can be increased to 3.
The top 100 HUT players in the ranking will now be formed by the number of wins. If players have the same number of wins, the ranking will be determined by their ranking. Player awards outside the top-100 will be given out based on the number of wins. In addition, period time settings: 2-4 minutes. Battle Points and coins will be scaled by period time. There will also be no game windows – you can play whenever you want. You can choose when to upgrade your opponents. Up to 8 upgrades per season to play about 36 games, plus games against the team of the week.
In general, for newcomers who have never played hockey simulators before, NHL 22 will seem to be a fresh and interesting game, while the old-timers may get bored with the familiar modes with minor changes over the course of several months. It’s a huge plus for the developers that they decided to transfer NHL 22 to a new engine, which improves the visual component of the game.
