NHL 14 Review (360/PS3)

[RaychelSnr]

The biggest challenge facing NHL 14 is co-existing in the same release window as several other big sports franchises which will be debuting on the new console hardware. The team at EA Vancouver told me that they felt this allowed them to focus on gameplay balance while watching how other dev teams discover the idiosyncrasies of the new hardware. As I've written before, there are also business realities to why this is the case for the NHL franchise, but either way, this current-gen version of NHL is the only way to experience a dedicated hockey product this season.

The good news is that this approach has paid off in terms of NHL 14's gameplay, as it's arguably the most satisfying and playable version of the game in several years. While the new modes offered do feel a bit thin, the gameplay has benefited greatly from some added physicality, better skating, improved goal variety and a whole host of tweaks and changes.

Read More - NHL 14 Review (360/PS3)

[huntt26]

Any deals on this game? I'd like to pick it up, but with GTA coming out next week, I don't think I need to spend $60 on it.

I am really enjoying the season ticket release. Haven't bought an NHL game since NHL 10

[Retropyro]

Any deals on this game? I'd like to pick it up, but with GTA coming out next week, I don't think I need to spend $60 on it.

I am really enjoying the season ticket release. Haven't bought an NHL game since NHL 10

I'd say wait about 4 to 6 weeks and the price will either drop or there will be sales for $39.99.

The gameplay does feel great this year.

[Fiddy]

Re: NHL 14 Review (360/PS3)

i mean, this game is more of the same. smoothed out skating from NHL 13 is a huge plus, but everything else? i honestly dont see what brings the casual gamer to this game anymore. very small changes year to year.

just dont get it.

i love the NHL and this series, but its so far away from being the "most realistic" game they promote it to be.

this has a lot of great base elements to make this a very solid simulation type game, but to them, its just not "fun"! that says all ya need to know about their actual passion for hockey. these guys are passionate casual hockey fans making an NHL game and it shows. thats a good thing, but not for the normal or die hard fans.

with that said, nice write up, enjoyed reading it.

but IMO, NHL 14: 6.5 (below average)

[Bleak5170]

I'd say wait about 4 to 6 weeks and the price will either drop or there will be sales for $39.99.

The gameplay does feel great this year.

Where do you live? Here in Canada the NHL games don't go down in price until a couple of months before the next version comes out.

[stlstudios189]

NHL is always solid but, as a casual gamer of hockey I can't pay $60 for this either. I am still working on NHL 12 next year with the new system I will upgrade

[Moose Factory]

Good review. Pretty much how I feel about it. The visuals, audio, and half baked modes need a total overhaul come next gen. Now that the gameplay has been refined I hope NHL15 is redefined with a whole new presentation.

[SteelersFan09]

Where do you live? Here in Canada the NHL games don't go down in price until a couple of months before the next version comes out.

Black Friday sales(Day after Thanksgiving) NHL as well as many other games that come out around the same time sale for about 40 dollars at sotres like Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and so on. As well even Gamestop does a buy 2 get 1 free on Black Friday and the next 2 days after.

Canada could be different as the game is so popular up there there is no reason to put it on sale. Here in the US the same might not be able to be said.

[Bleak5170]

Re: NHL 14 Review (360/PS3)

Black Friday sales(Day after Thanksgiving) NHL as well as many other games that come out around the same time sale for about 40 dollars at sotres like Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and so on. As well even Gamestop does a buy 2 get 1 free on Black Friday and the next 2 days after.

Canada could be different as the game is so popular up there there is no reason to put it on sale. Here in the US the same might not be able to be said.

Yeah true. They know hockey-starved Canadians will buy the game no matter what. Heck it wasn't all that long ago that the NHL games were $69.99 up here.

[CigarCityBandit]

Played the demo and honestly it felt as though they ripped out that skating tech from 13. I felt I had to Learn how to skate in last years game which was actually a good thing to me. Now while the Checkings been addressed, it feels as though its back to skating like before 13. Might just be my inexperience with the demo admittedly - Ive only played several games in it.
For me even given the fighting which is much much better than its ever been, Im skipping this until next gen.
Sucks because I thoroughly enjoyed the EASHL...Best online fun in a sports game Ive ever had.
But given the lame presentation and the rest of the poor lighting and completely lacking visuals for so long,
I wont give them my$
I think EA missed the boat in a HUGE way with this series.
When you consider the fan base thats much smaller than FIFA and Madden, and the many aspects of the NHL series that drastically need improvement, EA shouldve gone Next Gen ONLY and really wouldve WOW'd people.
I think when they do hit next gen next year for NHL 15 it will be the biggest leap for any of their sports games, and almost single handedly because of all of the presentation and visual upgrades that NHL hasnt given us in SEVERAL years of nhl games.
So, they could've made hockey fans out of people who probably wouldn't have even considered buying it if they had put the effort toward PS4/XBone this time around.
Oh well. Most probably wont agree with me but Ive been playing it since the Genesis days and I can just wait.
There are so many games that are going to be able to take attention away from this one that I won't even miss
it until we get into summer next year

[jyoung]

Re: NHL 14 Review (360/PS3)

The only deal going on in America this week is at Toys R US.

They are giving away a $10 gift card if you purchase NHL 14 at full price.

[Nomah5]

Madden is already 49.99 this week at target so it will be reduced soon enough.

[13whitebread]

I'll get It I am a hockey fan what else would I do hockey manager? I did like the write up especially about the presentation that's how many of us feel but we have been hearing next time for a few years now but I am sure next gen will have what I am looking for. It's only 365 days and the info will come out even sooner. I will pick it up tomorrow go RED WINGS.

[DJ NEO]

I cant see much new in NHL 14 I cant do in NHL 13 with sliders. That said NHL 14 is a solid game (on hardcore settings), but I feel like I already paid for this game last year.

[Retropyro]

Where do you live? Here in Canada the NHL games don't go down in price until a couple of months before the next version comes out.

Kitchener Ontario. Most releases right now are seeing a drop with in 1 to 2 months for at least a short while. They get the rush of the games release and then when sales have slowed down they are doing a sale or price drop pretty quickly. Same as every other end of cycle.
Not saying it will be 100% chance for NHL, but it's very possible. And if you have GTA V to keep you busy for at least a month, why not wait and see.