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'NHL 21 Review': Slick Controls Help Create A Corker Of A Hockey Game

Dan Wilson

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'NHL 21 Review': Slick Controls Help Create A Corker Of A Hockey Game

Featured Image Credit: EA

Since my younger years when I used to partake in the occasional weekend slapshot for my local team, ice hockey has long held a special spot in my heart. That being said, I haven't got stuck into a hockey console game since NHL 96, so the prospect of putting in some hours on NHL 21 filled me with joy. Due to the pandemic and all that 2020 has to offer, like most things these days, the release of NHL 21 was pushed back. Available on Playstation 4 and Xbox One with the opportunity to play them on next-gen via forward compatibility in November, NHL 21 brings a whole host of improvements to the franchise.

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NHL 21 / Credit EA
NHL 21 / Credit EA

The main improvement to the series is the updated career mode which brings you an expanded interactive, cinematic experience. You build your own custom player and guide them through a career in either the Canadian or European hockey leagues. The detail of the character customization is impressive and I found myself spending a lot of time trying to get my guy looking just so.

Interactive dialogue options go a long way in making the experience all the more engaging. Story points play out through cut scenes of interactions with your team, talks with the coach and chats with the hockey media. Like other sports game career modes, your dialogue choices instigate whether you increase your popularity with the coach, fans or media and lead you down the Team or Star paths.

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NHL 21 / Credit: EA
NHL 21 / Credit: EA

Overall, the look of the game is fantastic and attention to detail is spot on, with the visual presentation edging ever more close to live TV coverage with flash animations, PA announcements and commentators bouncing off each other making each game more realistic.

A few minor graphical oddities exist here and there during gameplay with some unrealistic on-ice reactions from players and weird character model animations, but note that this barely ever happens and doesn't affect the actual flow of play itself.

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Having not played a hockey game for a while, I was unsure about the recommended skill stick system controls. However after working my way through the training camp, it now feels intuitive and easy to master the wide variety of moves available. Sliding the puck from side-to-side and hammering in slapshots using the analogue controls now feels like second nature.

NHL 21 / Credit: EA
NHL 21 / Credit: EA

What's a game of hockey without a good ol' punch up eh? Fighting has been a part of the sport for decades and it takes me back to the days of playing NHL 96 on the Sega Mega Drive when I was a young fella, and getting the surprise of a quick exchange of fisticuffs during a game. It became a kind of self-imposed side mission to get into one and I was happy to find that fighting was still very much a part of the game in NHL 21. Here's a handy guide to how to get stuck in (cheers Gamepur!).

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Along with the Be A Pro upgrade, comes the addition of HUT Rush mode. A fast paced arcade style mode which sees style of play at the forefront. You obtain the highest score by linking skill moves together for multiplier points, which gives you the chance to put said skill moves to the test. With the option of open air environments and alternative ways to play, HUT Rush offers a style-focused alternative.

Overall, NHL 21 is a brilliant hockey game combining excellent controls, an engaging Be A Pro story mode and the quickfire HUT Rush arcade mode - as well as the opportunity to engage in the odd scrap to let off steam. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a newcomer to Ice Hockey, NHL 21 will most certainly tick all the boxes.

8/10 - Great

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Pros: Engaging Be A Pro mode, details character customisation, new HUT mode.

Cons: Some character movement oddities, lagging menus

For fans of: NFL, NBA, FIFA series.

NHL is out now on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. PlayStation 4 code for review supplied by the publisher. Find a guide to GAMINGbible's review scores here.

Dan Wilson
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