NHL Console Games

[Haunted]

I know we have a gaming forum but I feel like I’ll get better answers on this specific question here.

I used to love NHL console games. From the old Nintendo ICE Hockey through Blades of Steel to NHL 93, 94 and 97 on the Sega Genesis to NHL 2001ish for the PS2. I have not bought one since and I miss it!

I have an Xbox One X and I’ve looked into the current NHL games but my god the reviews are uniformly terrible. Bugs persisting through multiple years. In-game cut scenes that are literal commercials.

What say you, RMPS. How is NHL 23? Is it worth it?

 

[Scott Cooper's Grand Slam]

Are you an Xbox Game Pass subscriber? The Ultimate tier includes "EA Play," which gets you NHL 22, NHL 23, and NHL 94 Rewind. Of the three I like NHL 94 the best, and it's available for $10 to non-subscribers.

Edited to add: NHL 94 Rewind is NHL 94 gameplay, sounds and graphics with 2021 rosters.

 

[bsl394]

Really not a fan of NHL 23 - but in all honesty I've never been a fan of many of the newer generation NHL games. There are a lot of "additional" features that require one to master both control sticks (on my PS5). I liked the older, "arcade style" games better where there were single shot, pass, hit buttons. I think there's a way to play this mode in NHL 23 but I never got into it. Got about 25 games through my Bruins season before I decided to blow up the team and rebuild (which is much more fun )

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

Theyre all basically the same over the last few years.

I will say that this iteration has finally included cross-platform play, so waiting in lobbies is much better. They also finally put it on the frostbite engine, so its definitely smoother.

If you like the NHL franchise, pick it up. Its not reinventing the wheel, but its a good iteration of the franchise. At least on the multi-player 3v3 and 6v6 level.

 

[LogansDad]

Really not a fan of NHL 23 - but in all honesty I've never been a fan of many of the newer generation NHL games. There are a lot of "additional" features that require one to master both control sticks (on my PS5). I liked the older, "arcade style" games better where there were single shot, pass, hit buttons. I think there's a way to play this mode in NHL 23 but I never got into it. Got about 25 games through my Bruins season before I decided to blow up the team and rebuild (which is much more fun )

You can change the control scheme, I use hybrid, but I think there is a straight button option, too.

That said, I have not played 23 yet. I liked 22, but don't have enough time to actually get good right now, so I don't even bother anymore.

 

[MiracleOfO2704]

Near every review I’ve come across says that if you have a current-gen console and access to NHL 22, 23 is essentially just a roster upgrade and this year’s reverse retros. EA has been neglecting its NHL/NHLPA license for a loooooooooooooooong time (NHL 15, with St. Patrice on the cover, was a horrible first game on the XBOne, and the series has been trending on the floor since then). It doesn’t help that retail for the game up here is ~$100 out of pocket, and what little they invest in the series is entirely in their micro transaction-heavy HUT. I refused to give EA full price for a long time, but I made it clear to the wife and kid that I didn’t even want them spending on it as a gift, even if discounted.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

Near every review I’ve come across says that if you have a current-gen console and access to NHL 22, 23 is essentially just a roster upgrade and this year’s reverse retros. EA has been neglecting its NHL/NHLPA license for a loooooooooooooooong time (NHL 15, with St. Patrice on the cover, was a horrible first game on the XBOne, and the series has been trending on the floor since then). It doesn’t help that retail for the game up here is ~$100 out of pocket, and what little they invest in the series is entirely in their micro transaction-heavy HUT. I refused to give EA full price for a long time, but I made it clear to the wife and kid that I didn’t even want them spending on it as a gift, even if discounted.

Again, it depends what youre in it for.

If you like competitive 3s/6s, theyve done a little bit of overhauling this year. New server in central US to help ping, better host servers for games, frostbite engine, cross-platform play, etc.

If youre just in it for the offline stuff, then it probably doesnt matter if you get '23 or '20.

 

[Haunted]

Thanks all. I have an Xbox one x and absolutely no interest whatsoever in online play. I’m a “get high on the couch after work and pretend life isn’t stressful” player and I don’t have the energy to worry about getting beaten 23-0 by some 13 year old with a better connection.

I don’t have game pass, but I’m intrigued by nhl 94………

 

[Scott Cooper's Grand Slam]

I don’t have game pass, but I’m intrigued by nhl 94………

It's an all-time great for couch co-op. If you've got friends to play with, it's a no brainer. Single player gets old fast.

 

[DisgruntledSoxFan77]

If you liked old-school NES Ice Hockey you should check out Super Blood Hockey. It’s basically NES Ice Hockey but with pixelated blood. It’s pretty entertaining

 

[bsl394]

You can change the control scheme, I use hybrid, but I think there is a straight button option, too.

That said, I have not played 23 yet. I liked 22, but don't have enough time to actually get good right now, so I don't even bother anymore.

I changed my settings to this and it's much more enjoyable. Still, once you play for a while you figure out where you can score, or what combo of moves will give you a high chance of scoring, which means you can dial up goals almost on demand. I've never played online - never got into multiplayer for sports games - but playing the computer really gets old after a while.

 

[DavidTai]

Does any of them have the Goalie Hug? (Yes , I'm easily swayed by unique celebrations)