NHL 21 Review - Off the Crossbar

[ChaseB]

Coming into this, I did not think NHL 21 would make a big impression on me...

Written By: Ryan

Click here to view the article.

[Sauce12]

Re: NHL 21 Review - Off the Crossbar

To be fair, Jumbo is not rocking the big beard anymore

[bransen]

Re: NHL 21 Review - Off the Crossbar

Good review Ryan. The legacy issues need to be fixed. Player faces are hideous. Look at the screenshot attached in this article as an example. The same “ping-pong” passing we’ve all grown used to in this series also still exists. It's end to end hockey with no real organization. Sometimes I question the people working on this game and whether they know what they're doing.

I haven't seen any real improvements over the years to warrant another purchase. This generation of hockey games from EA has been a HUGE disappointment. Let's hope EA brings it for next gen which is just around the corner.

[kariya05]

Roster sharing definitely needs to be added. Not having it completely ruins franchise mode. I'm literally unwilling to buy another NHL game until it's added. It's ridiculous that we still don't have it given how terrible the rosters are. By far the worst of any sports games.

[dandeb]

Re: NHL 21 Review - Off the Crossbar

As stated, roster sharing would add so much to this game, especially rosters from previous years. The AI is almost unstoppable when inside the blue line unless you adjust sliders to a ridiculous level while on the other hand, the user can hardly control the puck unless again, you adjust your sliders to an almost cheating level.

[Travolterjohn]

Re: NHL 21 Review - Off the Crossbar

A very good article. All is said point by point and showed the weakness of this Game since years.

[Sportsfan28]

Re: NHL 21 Review - Off the Crossbar

As stated, roster sharing would add so much to this game, especially rosters from previous years. The AI is almost unstoppable when inside the blue line unless you adjust sliders to a ridiculous level while on the other hand, the user can hardly control the puck unless again, you adjust your sliders to an almost cheating level.

I’m having great results with sliders. 1-0-1 first two games of the season, both Overtime. Including being down 2-0 with under 10 minutes to go in the 3rd against the Pens to win in OT


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[Shadak]

Re: NHL 21 Review - Off the Crossbar

well.. I was going to cave in and get NHL21 because I waited since 17. But after seeing the videos kf team mates AI, I just cant, thats just bad. Oh well, I will keep playing NHL98 for Sega genesis on my mobile phone I guess.

[MiracleMet718]

Joe Thornton has a beard.  He shaved it so they got rid of it.  You can edit the facial hair in the edit player to give him the big bushy beard.  That’s how he’s had it the last few seasons in the game.

[Travolterjohn]

Re: NHL 21 Review - Off the Crossbar

It seems that there are Bugs in Franchise mode like with the line Chemistry.

https://twitter.com/xtechhockey/status/1317580937786322944?s=21

[iaxy]

I knew I would relate to the review when I noticed that he had tweaked sliders and reduced speed to 0.

Even at 0, it is way too fast (I play in True Broadcast) and I will never understand why EA perseveres with this ridiculous speed - every year.*

Yes, the gameplay is improved , but it is still a largely recycled experience. I agree with the reviewer on lack of graphical improvements and I will add lack of new camera angles and lack of excitement.*

I played this straight after playing NBA 2k21 and it is night and day (or should I say day and night) in terms of graphics, depth and general enjoyment. Even after purchasing NHL 2k21 just 2 days ago I am struggling to keep my interest for more than a single match.*

This series is dead and buried and has been for at least 2 years now. Next gen can't come soon enough*

[Therebelyell626]

My biggest problem with this game is the incessant need EA has to make this game NHL Hitz. Any piece of incidental contact sends players flying all over the ice concusses. Last night I had a game (6 minutes, al star difficulty) where there was whopping six 4 on 4 power plays. I have seen way to many overall as well. The issue causing this to happens is when two players barely bump into each other it turns in to a bone shattering hit, causing one of my opponents or my own AI players to “seek revenge”. It really is getting a little ridiculous. It’s leading to very wide open hockey games against the AI that routinely finish anywhere from 10-17 goals combined every game.

[michi510]

Re: NHL 21 Review - Off the Crossbar

EA’s never going to include roster sharing. Put that in and there’s no longer a reason for even mindless fans to pay $60 for the poorly done roster update. This franchise is such a joke year after year with so many player likeness missing still. I’m still looking at the issue at EA. Increase the budget and give the devs a chance to give us a worthy nhl game, or scrap the series entirely and let some other company bring some fresh ideas to an nhl game.

[Sportsfan28]

Re: NHL 21 Review - Off the Crossbar

My biggest problem with this game is the incessant need EA has to make this game NHL Hitz. Any piece of incidental contact sends players flying all over the ice concusses. Last night I had a game (6 minutes, al star difficulty) where there was whopping six 4 on 4 power plays. I have seen way to many overall as well. The issue causing this to happens is when two players barely bump into each other it turns in to a bone shattering hit, causing one of my opponents or my own AI players to “seek revenge”. It really is getting a little ridiculous. It’s leading to very wide open hockey games against the AI that routinely finish anywhere from 10-17 goals combined every game.

Sliders are your friend...


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[babaracus88]

Re: NHL 21 Review - Off the Crossbar

EA’s never going to include roster sharing. Put that in and there’s no longer a reason for even mindless fans to pay $60 for the poorly done roster update. This franchise is such a joke year after year with so many player likeness missing still. I’m still looking at the issue at EA. Increase the budget and give the devs a chance to give us a worthy nhl game, or scrap the series entirely and let some other company bring some fresh ideas to an nhl game.

The problem with ea thinking that with roster sharing no one would ever buy the next game is that it isn't really true.

if you think about it the guys who made all the changes manually to fix the roster every year, like myself, spend a heck of a lot of time to make all the changes and get the players to where they think they should really be rated. It probably takes me 30 hours or more to make all the changes that I feel need to be made, and when it's done it feels like a completely new game that plays alot more realistic and more difficult to win. In my opinion the rosters are possible one of the biggest reasons this game sucks every year. But that being said it is one of the reasons i hesitate buying the next game when it is released because i don't want to have to make the changes all over again. So the newest game hast to have something really improved in order for me to buy the next game. Even then i still wait until the trade deadline to buy the new game because it then has the latest roster for me to use to modify ALL OVER AGAIN, every single year. I'm at the point where i am getting tired of making all the changes every year so I am even more selective on whether to buy nhl 21 or not.

So if they included roster sharing in the game then i would probably buy it every year cause there are a few roster makers on this site that enjoy making the rosters in the game and sharing them. And i am sure there are alot of people that feel the same as i do and don't buy the newest game every year cause of all the work editing rosters.

If you have never played the game with a fully edited roster you are missing out. The player separation makes a huge deal when you have McDavid rated 97 and he's out against the other teams 4th liners and they are rated in the low 70's and everyone doesn't have skating speed in the 80's and every players ratings don't average in the low 80's . no wonder goalies aren't good when everyone has 80 something for accuracy.

So maybe someone should point this out to EA as to why roster sharing might actually improve their sales every year.