NHL 17

 PlayStation 4
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 132 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 132
  2. Mixed: 36 out of 132
  3. Negative: 45 out of 132
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  1. SellingBlahBlah
    Feb 4, 2017
    5
    On standard PS4.

    Be a pro mode is ridiculous now. I don't know why they felt like making the player suck by default but I was surprised to keep seeing a green good timing or well aimed shot only to be followed instantly by toss up or poorly aimed shot. It's like there is a new algorithm that says, "check player skill level" before it allows anything to happen. Giving all the ties to the    On standard PS4.

    Be a pro mode is ridiculous now. I don't know why they felt like making the player suck by default but I was surprised to keep seeing a green good timing or well aimed shot only to be followed instantly by toss up or poorly aimed shot. It's like there is a new algorithm that says, "check player skill level" before it allows anything to happen. Giving all the ties to the AI is annoying but what makes me angry is the minus skill points and the negative coach feedback. So the game is going to default everything to the AI and then punish my pro for it?

    Then there are the usual complaints from EA NHL games.

    The timing is way off on everything just a fraction of a second between hitting the button to when the player does what you want. By the time the action actually happens it's too late. Miss a lot of openings, shots, and passes just because it happens to slow after pressing the button.

    The AI on your team are stupid and therefore do stupid things like passing across the front of the net through traffic. Half the goals against are because the AI on your team did something stupid.

    The "Hit Stick" EA's favorite development in their sports game. I admit the hit stick was a good idea unfortunately, now they've begun mapping everything to that stupid stick. EA would be happy with a joystick and no buttons. If you nudge the stick at the wrong time you will screw yourself up by trying to body check, switch your grip, aim a shot, shoot, aim a pass, etc.

    Of course the worst thing about this and all EA games is the incredible, long, load times. EA requires everything you do to be tracked on their server and that adds to Playstation's already long load times.

    The few points I grant this game is that it's better than NHL 2015 which was truly the worst hockey game with no features. But 2016 fixed most of that stuff and was also better than 2017. I suggest picking up 2016 on the cheap if you want a better experience. Although, none of the last three years has been much fun because of all the problems the games have had.

    All this said. Storage space has become a commodity and while this game isn't awful it doesn't deserve the hard disk that it takes up.    … Expand
  2. Oldtimer75
    Oct 7, 2016
    5
    Played all the NHL games since 91-92? Then follow me!

    This year's version is a mix of the original NHL game where you can out speed the goalie with lateral moves easily and NHL 2000 where the deflections were coming out of nowhere. Except this time, you will lose the puck for no reason, you will be poke checked and hooked and lose the puck without even seeing where it came from (no    Played all the NHL games since 91-92? Then follow me!

    This year's version is a mix of the original NHL game where you can out speed the goalie with lateral moves easily and NHL 2000 where the deflections were coming out of nowhere. Except this time, you will lose the puck for no reason, you will be poke checked and hooked and lose the puck without even seeing where it came from (no animation needed, just a 3 feet radius when the CPU is around and that's it).

    The animations are nice, game looks nice, but gameplay is far from the 93,94 and 98 versions of the game. If you dare play in the junior leagues on be a pro, be prepared to miss the net 4 out of 5 times, even on close range. The checking system is meh, the fights are the same as previous years (Mindscape Faceoff in the old PC days still have the best ones imo) and the contact physics are so buggy that you won't really have a chance to be creative on the powerplay.

    If you really want to invest 80$+ on a game, you should really consider NBA 2K instead.

    EA needs competition in the hockey market again, just like for Madden...    … Expand
  3. elsiphono
    Sep 18, 2016
    5
    I can't give more than a 5 to that game. Why ? Let's start with the positive: good graphics and sound effect. The gameplay is good and they improved the hitting (like the hipcheck). The Franchise Mode allows to relocate and manage your team budget... Ok, they don't get any points for "bringing back" something that was in previous NHL games (managing the budget). Create a Team is back, butI can't give more than a 5 to that game. Why ? Let's start with the positive: good graphics and sound effect. The gameplay is good and they improved the hitting (like the hipcheck). The Franchise Mode allows to relocate and manage your team budget... Ok, they don't get any points for "bringing back" something that was in previous NHL games (managing the budget). Create a Team is back, but again, EA doesn't get any points for that because they were no reason to remove it in previous installment from the first place. But, they do get points for allowing us to customize the arena of our created team.

    Neutral: World Cup of Hockey. It's a tournament, but nothing special there. The Tournament mode in previous games let you create your own "world cup" in the past. So nothing new here.

    The Bad (please note that I use the Default Sliders of the game to review the game as shown by EA Sports and I play on Superstar difficulty): The soundtrack... the kind of music in menus are not the kind that you associated with hockey. Please, please remove the commentators from NBC ! They are just awful ! Bring back Jim Hughson. Still a buttload of problems from previous games that are still present in this game: if you do a lot of hitting in a game you will get a video at each stoppage of play showing the 3 last hits of the game all the time (gets on your nerve after the 3rd stoppage of play), unnatural AI (I'll get back on that), Tilted Ice system still present, players attributes still doesn't have a lot of effect against AI opponent, the goalies are worst than last year (especially yours) and LOTS of BS moments in game. For exemple, the opponent goalie makes a bad pass in the center of the ice (very slow pass that stays on the ice, easy to intercept), I put my player directly on top of the pass (stick, body and everything) the pass just goes right through your player 95% of the time (again, I'm playing against the AI here) ! I have Carey Price in my franchise (the best goalie in the NHL), I sim most of the games and play the important divisions one. I am mid-2nd year of the franchise and Price having difficulties putting an above .900 save percentage (which is ridiculous !), when a nobody like Marek Mazanec gets an above .930 save percentage (what the hell ?!?). In a non-sim game, he will allow some very bad goals all the time: unscreened wrist shots from the blue line, will get away from his post on wraparound, moves to the wrong side of the net (a shots goes on the right of the net he moves to the left) and the list goes on. Something I notice too, AI defenders can backskate as fast as your fastest skater, which gets extremely annoying because my team is build around a good mix of speedy scorer and power forward. Zdeno Chara can backskate as fast as Dylan Larkin in that game. On Superstar difficulty (I play that difficulty because All-Star is extremely easy), it is extremely difficult to pokecheck or lift the stick off the opponent. That's ok, but when you are clearly touching the puck with your stick on a pokecheck (I watch on Replay) and the AI just keeps going likes nothing happened, it gets frustrating. That goes with unrealistic puck physics. I'm going full speed ahead with a player, gets pushed in the back... where does the puck goes ? Does it follow your forward momentum like it should ? Nope. It stops dead in the ice or backspin behind to the opponent (still trying to comprehend the logic here). Same goes with pokecheck, you pokecheck an opponent from side, the puck should go sideway... Nope. The puck will: stay on the stick on the opponent like nothing happened or will go backward to another opponent or sideway only if an opponent is near (Tilted Ice ?). Others smalls annoying gameplay problems: quasi-impossible to one-time a puck on a rebound from the goalies (might get it one time out of ten) it seems more appropriate to try to deposit the puck gently in the net. The height and weight of your players doesn't have any effect. I have Brian Boyle in my team and he gets easily pushed around by players like Mats Zuccarello, David Desharnais and Tyler Ennis.

    I can go on and on with all the problems in the game. I can't give it something below 5, because it's still a decent game. But I cannot give it something over 5, because they are still a LOT of work to be done to get a GOOD NHL game and I don't think EA is the answer. I suggest waiting and buying it when the price drops under 20$. At full price, it's a ripoff... like most EA games oh snap ! (I'm glad my friend just give it to me for free because he had an extra copy).    … Expand
  4. lunaris76
    Sep 22, 2016
    5
    After 2 really horrible years (I use to play k's of game per year, and i'm buying it since the 1993 super nintendo version!! last 2 years I played like 100 total before I sent the game back to store. I even had pre-ordered and didnt opened like 20 packs of HUT... just to show how much I was disgusted), I decided to wait and finally borrowed a game from a friend to see what it worth.After 2 really horrible years (I use to play k's of game per year, and i'm buying it since the 1993 super nintendo version!! last 2 years I played like 100 total before I sent the game back to store. I even had pre-ordered and didnt opened like 20 packs of HUT... just to show how much I was disgusted), I decided to wait and finally borrowed a game from a friend to see what it worth.

    First of all, the good point. It's a huge step from last year. Dynamics feels more like real hockey.Goalies, who couldnt stop a beach ball last year, are way improved, They could still get better, esoecially ours who have tendencies to give soft goals.

    Hitting is back. And it's a good thing. You can again knock opponents off the puck. No more figure skating in opponent zone.

    The parts they didnt improved are still quite... unpleasant. Penalties taken from lifting the stick prevent anyone to ever try to use this option. We cant really control our sticks with the buttons. So please if you add an option, make it that players use it wisely and dont slam their stick in your opponent's face everytime. Same goes with poke check, who seems to too often makes opponent trip.

    Also, players ratings still doesnt mean that much. Whenever you play as Patrick Kane or an obscure junior 4th liner, the difference isnt really felt on ice. Which is quite sad.

    I havent tried all the other features to be honest. I just wanted to see how the game was played on ice. (New modes are always cool but if the on-ice play isnt good.. all worthless).

    My verdict is that even if the game is way better than last ones, keep your hands of from it. With a bit of luck, EA will listen to us and next year's version will worth the price. Or if you really wanna buy it, get a used copy (which are already sold ) or boxing day's rebates.    … Expand
  5. lizardking420
    Oct 13, 2016
    7
    Needs a otp kick vote for s*** like Jordanbrak. Eashl and online is where it's at. Sports game don't care gbghu8i66666666666666666666666666666666666666666788898862122i.
  6. inthecrease31
    Oct 4, 2016
    7
    Good game, but not great. Best NHL on next gen, but that's not saying much because 15 was awful and 16 was average. Still not as good as NHL 10-15 on last gen.

    EA continues to release unfinished NHL games with massive first day patches. Buy it used or when the price drops on Black Friday.
  7. TatsMcGee
    Sep 8, 2018
    5
    What sport is it?

    Its a hockey game. Was it fun? No, huge disappointment. Are there any similar games? Yea, its like the other hockey games Would you play it again? I keep trying to play it and like it but I just don’t. Any complaints? Yes, I hate the skating engine in the game. Its like you’re skating in molasses, you can’t stop easily, it takes way too long to    What sport is it?

    Its a hockey game.

    Was it fun?

    No, huge disappointment.

    Are there any similar games?

    Yea, its like the other hockey games

    Would you play it again?

    I keep trying to play it and like it but I just don’t.

    Any complaints?

    Yes, I hate the skating engine in the game. Its like you’re skating in molasses, you can’t stop easily, it takes way too long to initially get moving and good luck turning.

    Now onto my next complaint, the passing. The passing engine doesn’t work well either. If you’re lucky, 70% of the passes go to the right person. Sometimes the passing, locks onto the wrong player and sometimes and does its own thing. What annoys me is that, I have turn assist off but its still obvious that it is still on.

    Finally, I hate the momentum based system. It makes come backs very difficult. A lot of fighting games have systems, to give the player a chance to come back with Marvel, “X” Factor or the V-Trigger system in Street Fighter V but with the NHL series, its difficult because you may not have given up but the players you’re controlling clearly have. They’re skating slower than before, they’re hitting their passes and often times the AI is just standing around and watching.    … Expand
  8. SharkTankGamer
    Oct 5, 2016
    6
    Not good yet not bad. Extremely average. They didn't add much and just reuse assets from the last game. They did re-add create a team so that is a plus and everything else is just how it was before.
  9. Nel
    Apr 17, 2017
    5
    There has been some advances, but I still don't understand why they can't keep up with the FIFA games when they are both made from the same company... I mean the be a pro mode in FIFA is miles better than this where you can't even get traded... It would be nice if they included a mode where you could play in different leagues (sweden,finland, russia, nhl) and national team games.. justThere has been some advances, but I still don't understand why they can't keep up with the FIFA games when they are both made from the same company... I mean the be a pro mode in FIFA is miles better than this where you can't even get traded... It would be nice if they included a mode where you could play in different leagues (sweden,finland, russia, nhl) and national team games.. just like FIFA. Would improve this game by a mile.… Expand
  10. son-of-serpico
    Oct 29, 2016
    7
    At first I was impressed with this game but I am changing my glowing initial review. The more I've played it, the more I've realized it is lacking in many areas. Career mode is bush league when you compare it to NBA 2K or even FIFA 17's career modes. There is no story involved and the story is what makes any game -- even a sports game -- great. The hockey action is decent, a little betterAt first I was impressed with this game but I am changing my glowing initial review. The more I've played it, the more I've realized it is lacking in many areas. Career mode is bush league when you compare it to NBA 2K or even FIFA 17's career modes. There is no story involved and the story is what makes any game -- even a sports game -- great. The hockey action is decent, a little better than the last instalment, but they need to put much more effort into career mode if they want to keep up with the best sports titles. RIght now EA's NHL franchise leaves you hoping 2K will jump in to develop a hockey game at long last. Don't get me wrong, it's hockey and it's fun to play but it could be so much better. I won't spend another 80 bucks on this game next year if they do not create a revamped and much improved career mode.… Expand
  11. Iggyshow4351
    Nov 23, 2017
    6
    Thumbs in the middle. Had a lot more fun in the ps3 days .6666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666
  12. Bradley2323
    Feb 16, 2017
    5
    I play Be a Pro, and am really frustrated by the developers lack of hockey knowledge. I think there should be a rule that they must have played the game, to be a developer for hockey video games. My first season, I was leading my team (Edmonton Oilers....I was drafted 32nd overall after leading the league in scoring in the Memorial Cup) in scoring, by 12 points. 6 games left in theI play Be a Pro, and am really frustrated by the developers lack of hockey knowledge. I think there should be a rule that they must have played the game, to be a developer for hockey video games. My first season, I was leading my team (Edmonton Oilers....I was drafted 32nd overall after leading the league in scoring in the Memorial Cup) in scoring, by 12 points. 6 games left in the regular season and I was dropped to the farm team in the AHL. I was heading for the Calder trophy, as I was also leading all other rookies in scoring by a long shot. How can the team's leading scorer be cut from the team just as they were heading into the playoffs? Also, EA sports is not getting the nuances of hockey. There is no punishment for getting off the ice while the play is in your own end. Actually, you are rewarded with a positive coaches comment about wise use of quick-changes! Every hockey player knows, you never get off the ice, changing on the fly, while the other team has the puck, let alone, the puck is in your own end! Also, I get chastised by the coach for every penalty. In hockey, there is such a thing as a good penalty. Real hockey players know what I mean. For example, stopping the other teams best player from scoring....or sending a message. I guess these things are too much to ask. I could go on and on about how they could improve the gameplay on NHL 17. Not recommended.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

83
#83 Best PS4 Game of 2016
69
#69 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2016
82
#82 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Nov 21, 2016
    80
    NHL 17 plays and feels as great as always, but the improvements plateaued some years back and this year's gameplay tweaks...are welcome but largely inconsequential. [Dec 2016, p.80]
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Nov 7, 2016
    60
    One is tempted to cut & paste last year's verdict, but while the last year was fixing the mess, this one just polishes the well-frozen ice. [Issue#267]
  3. NZGamer
    Nov 1, 2016
    81
    Functionary and solid.
    Read full review
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