NHL 16

NHL 16 came in way above my expectations. To see this classic title returned to its former glory is both relieving and wildly exciting.

With feedback from the ‘GameChangers’ community, NHL 16 not only makes strides ahead for fans of the video game adaptations, but for fans of the game of hockey as a whole. A middle ground has been reached between realism and fun that is wholly surprising. NHL 16 isn’t just a step in the right direction, it’s the game hockey fans have been waiting for.

This is as complete an NHL experience as I think you can possibly get in a video game. With so many ways to play, it is almost like you are getting 4, 5, or more games for the price of one.

This is a grand simulation of ice hockey. But it while it shows off a few improvements the big significant changes are still missing.

A very enjoyable game rich with well-designed modes, none of which feels forced or redundant. [12/2015, p.55]

A fun and elaborate hockey game that manages to be both accessible to newcomers and challenging to veterans. Online you'll definitely encounter a couple of hick-ups, but none of them are bad enough to ruin the experience.

After the last year slight disappointment you can enjoy a real hockey experience. NHL 16 doesn’t miss an excellent playability, good presentation, all popular modes with minor improvements and mascots.

NHL 16 can be grateful to have such a faithful community who help to improve the quality of the gameplay. The game is more complete this year with the LHESA mode.

This new iteration of NHL recovers from last year’s sizable stumble by reinstating the excised features and making improvements on them which make them more enjoyable and easier to get into.

There is still room for improvement, but now the title is more than a foundation - it is a full game with a great deal for hockey fans to appreciate.

NHL 16 is the type of game NHL fans wanted last year. Full access to game modes and a welcoming execution for newcomers makes NHL 16 an essential purchase for anyone interested in the game of hockey. With the small issues aside, hockey has never been better than this.

EASHL is fulfilling and even addictive, shootouts are an absolute blast, the On-Ice Trainer is an excellent addition for newcomers, and the gameplay is smooth in some places, and rugged and powerful where it needs to be (feel that hit?). It just needs some sprucing up in regards to basic control; i.e., passing and general movement, and the off-ice interface could be a lot better.

Some of the game modes feel underdeveloped in key areas, namely Be a Pro, but the variety on display and the hook of online multiplayer make NHL 16 an easy recommendation.

The On-Ice Trainer is an awesome alternative to tutorials, and it makes me hope that other companies, not just those making sports games, will find a way to implement similar tools. NHL 16 is a huge improvement over NHL 15 in every way, and it makes me optimistic for the future of the franchise.

NHL 16 is a huge step towards restoring faith in EA Canada and EA Sports. The game saw huge improvements across the board, with Be a Pro, Be a GM, and EASHL all being better entries than in previous years. It’s not without its issue, as menu and online play lag is somewhat frequent and the added practice mode could use so much more attention, but the product is as crisp as they come.

There is a little too much variety for my taste, but there is a niche for everyone to find their comfort zone and stick to it for the next year to come.

NHL 16 is a triumphant return to form. After the debacle that was the razor-thin NHL 15, EA has restored all of the beloved modes to the game and they’re better than ever. More still, the game itself is simply better than ever before with slick mechanics, fantastic visuals and incredible detail to individual arenas.

Strong on-ice gameplay and terrific multiplayer are offset by a lack of innovative modes. While this is a solid rebound from a shaky next-gen debut, NHL 16 still has work to do to regain greatness.

NHL 16 is definitely a return to form the NHL series, now I think I’d like to see them break that form and come up with something different. The features are there, the graphics are amazing, now the gameplay needs to catch up to the rest of the game.

When played by yourself or with a friend on the couch, NHL 16 is a fast, sharp-looking, and fun hockey sim that (unlike last year’s game) includes enough modes to keep veterans happy while doing an admirable job of welcoming newcomers as well. It still suffers technical problems with online play.

EA had a tall task in recovering from the letdown of NHL 15, which makes NHL 16 an even more admirable return to form for a beloved sports series. But the rigors of the genre's annual schedule entail that "better than last year" is a minimum requirement — and in this case, that wouldn't be saying much anyway.

Like a third-line grinder, NHL 16 does most of the little things right. The improved on-ice play make this a hockey game a viable option for puckheads, but the lack of mode depth and standout features ultimately keeps this year’s installment from earning more ice time.

NHL 16 might be a more complete game than NHL 15 was, but the series still lack the possibility to play good defense, and still struggles with its AI. NHL 16 is a good hockey game, but could be so much better with only a few changes.

When you come right down to it, NHL 16 is an improvement over last year's release in virtually every department. Unfortunately, that isn't exactly saying a lot.

EA Canada has worked diligently to bring back almost all of the features that were missing last year, with Be a Pro and EASHL being notably improved. The presentation has also received a really nice bump, and the gameplay on the ice is smoother and more exciting than ever.

New and better attempt – NHL 16 is NHL 15 how it should have been. Is this praise or a curse? That's for you to decide - depends what NHL game you purchased last time. [Issue#257]