NHL 21

 PlayStation 4
User Score
2.3

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 159 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 159
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 159
  3. Negative: 126 out of 159
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  1. Jaredc324
    Aug 16, 2022
    5
    I would say the game has some saving graces (it's playable and enjoyable to an extent), but if I want to start a gm or play a real NHL game I'll go back to their PS3, Xbox 360 models they had back in 2013/2014. The much more embodied the look, the feel and overall gameplay of modern NHL hockey.

    BUt NHL 21 is focussing on the wrong things. It's all about trying to be a superstar, and    I would say the game has some saving graces (it's playable and enjoyable to an extent), but if I want to start a gm or play a real NHL game I'll go back to their PS3, Xbox 360 models they had back in 2013/2014. The much more embodied the look, the feel and overall gameplay of modern NHL hockey.

    BUt NHL 21 is focussing on the wrong things. It's all about trying to be a superstar, and every player and every play is something out of Mario Lemieux's highlight reel. Unrealistic. The online feature is great, and the game does the job. But it's arcade level compared to what EA NHL used to be.    … Expand
  2. Lumic
    Mar 3, 2022
    0
    don't mix politics and games, how do you treat us the way we treat you, now I know what kind of company you are and how you deal with players, I will never buy your games again
  3. Rct8787
    Jan 29, 2022
    0
    Please EA just release a PC version so the modding community can come up with a game that's worth a damn
  4. reoJIor
    Sep 22, 2021
    0
    Игра не создает атмосферу игры она нацелена что бы ты постоянно психовал и тратил свои нервы. Одни и те же шайбы залетают ни какого разнообразия. Удивляет одно что кто то же покупает ее за полную стоимость. Удивляет что нет конкурентов по этой игре. Сыграл матчей 20 и удалил 19 NHL по интересней будет. Жалко что там уже в онлайн не кого не найти.Игра не создает атмосферу игры она нацелена что бы ты постоянно психовал и тратил свои нервы. Одни и те же шайбы залетают ни какого разнообразия. Удивляет одно что кто то же покупает ее за полную стоимость. Удивляет что нет конкурентов по этой игре. Сыграл матчей 20 и удалил 19 NHL по интересней будет. Жалко что там уже в онлайн не кого не найти.
  5. Dsteve2
    Sep 17, 2021
    3
    Same old bouncing puck. Same old clueless defensemen. Same old “Chel”. This game is fun to pick up and then quickly put back down.
  6. Swebber18
    Jul 27, 2021
    0
    Gameplay has not changed since 2015. Don’t bother buying if you’ve played since then
  7. Aaronkloss
    Jul 4, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Garbage game if you like paying for same **** every year buy this garbage. NHl 22 will feature the same garbage as this garbagd… Expand
  8. MrShava97
    May 30, 2021
    0
    Та же самая 20. Ничего нового. Те же проблемы. Ea - этим все сказано.
  9. Tattednerd510
    May 19, 2021
    0
    I literally created an account just to rate this game. I have played every nhl game since '07 because I'm clearly a masochist. EA yet again proves that they could not care less about any sort of realism or playability. Every year is a copy/paste of last year with SLIGHTLY better shading and a roster update. At least this year I don't have to hear snoop Dogg regurgitate the same flaccidI literally created an account just to rate this game. I have played every nhl game since '07 because I'm clearly a masochist. EA yet again proves that they could not care less about any sort of realism or playability. Every year is a copy/paste of last year with SLIGHTLY better shading and a roster update. At least this year I don't have to hear snoop Dogg regurgitate the same flaccid lines every 3 games. I refuse to play hut or any of these other loot box forward money grabs that the game is very clearly designed around. I play for be a pro and franchise, and it's just more EA trash. Sim engine is at BEST nonsensical. How does my flawlessly designed team with +3 chemistry on all forward lines, an all elite defense, and two elite goalies get shutout for 5 games straight? MAKE IT MAKE SENSE EA. They won't, and never will. Because they know they don't have to. If literally any other company got the rights to making sports games we might get AN ACTUAL GAME. They don't care, and have never cared. It comes through pretty clearly. Don't be like me, avoid this game and any game by EA. Just stay at home and punch yourself In the face repeatedly, you'll get similar results.… Expand
  10. Jtcps4
    May 19, 2021
    0
    EA is a cancer to gaming, rinse and repeat is their motto and I've been dumb enough to buy in. They wouldn't know sports if it hit them in the face. Where most developers focus on realism, they focus on the opposite. They have a patent for dynamic difficulty adjustment. You get punished for trying to play real hockey. Top 500 in the game do the same thing....why? Cause it's broke.EA is a cancer to gaming, rinse and repeat is their motto and I've been dumb enough to buy in. They wouldn't know sports if it hit them in the face. Where most developers focus on realism, they focus on the opposite. They have a patent for dynamic difficulty adjustment. You get punished for trying to play real hockey. Top 500 in the game do the same thing....why? Cause it's broke. Cross creases are very unrealistic. I have to stop before I throw up, end of story, EA sucks!… Expand
  11. Deathmetalhippy
    May 19, 2021
    3
    They really should do is release the game and then you could spend 9.99 for a yearly upgrade.

    But there is no upgrade. This game has actually gotten worse. Yeah they added a couple dekes for the kids to Master, but the game is just trash. I think NHL 94 was better. 2019 was smoother. People float around like they are on stilts. The goaltending is absolutely horrendous . Most of the    They really should do is release the game and then you could spend 9.99 for a yearly upgrade.

    But there is no upgrade. This game has actually gotten worse. Yeah they added a couple dekes for the kids to Master, but the game is just trash. I think NHL 94 was better. 2019 was smoother. People float around like they are on stilts. The goaltending is absolutely horrendous . Most of the games score is 8 to 7 game or 9 to 8. If you don’t use a human control goaltender the game isn’t even worth playing because the goalies are so stupid. They have no rebound control the same exact goal scores every single time. LOL even within the same game they don’t learn. You can score of the same go for or five times in a row. Even when you win it’s boring. The goalie doesn’t learn from his mistakes within the same game! I don’t know how a game actually gets worse year after year but somehow they managed to do it.

    Yeah let’s just make the computer ridiculously stupid so humans have to play. This game is worth 9.99 at best    … Expand
  12. vmiet
    May 1, 2021
    0
    First time writing a review to anything but I have to relief my frustration somewhere so here we go.

    I have tried most of the game modes and realized with HUT very briefly that it is unplayable again due to the pay-to-win scene but that was expected and that did not bother me that much. Next up was the career mode which was fun for a while but there are still so many annoying things    First time writing a review to anything but I have to relief my frustration somewhere so here we go.

    I have tried most of the game modes and realized with HUT very briefly that it is unplayable again due to the pay-to-win scene but that was expected and that did not bother me that much.

    Next up was the career mode which was fun for a while but there are still so many annoying things that haven't been fixed that ruin the game mode for me. For example the coaching system is still terrible. Be a pro was kind of fun for a while but seems unfinished and gets repetitive very quickly.

    My main problem with the game is the general gameplay and the AI. Both of which haven't seen major improvements since 2014. This is a subject that I could rant about for days but I'm guessing most of players of this series know what I'm talking about.

    Too bad there are no other options as I love hockey but EA won't probably never deliver a proper ice-hockey game for us to enjoy.    … Expand
  13. Zeitgeistler
    Apr 23, 2021
    2
    Somehow they manage to copy the same game they released previously whilst still making it worse..kudos not an easy feat. Announcers make me want to play on mute, and gameplay "additions" are garbage. I'm done, won't buy another NHL game until it's noy produced by EA.not
  14. Indigo1022
    Apr 18, 2021
    0
    NHL is not a fun game. I decided to take a 2 year break from EA NHL since the games would put me in such a bad mood. I come back to NHL 21, and it is no different. Online play lacks any real hockey sense, and the single player AI goes from insanely easy (Rookie to Pro), all the way to "YOU WILL LOSE AND YOU WILL SCREAM" (All-star and Super-star).

    #1 - Where is the physicality of Hockey?    NHL is not a fun game. I decided to take a 2 year break from EA NHL since the games would put me in such a bad mood. I come back to NHL 21, and it is no different. Online play lacks any real hockey sense, and the single player AI goes from insanely easy (Rookie to Pro), all the way to "YOU WILL LOSE AND YOU WILL SCREAM" (All-star and Super-star).

    #1 - Where is the physicality of Hockey?
    Hockey is a unique sport. It involves full contact hitting, and also allows fighting. Why the EA team decided that hits mean nothing, and (if you're playing online) you can simply lean back during a fight to result in a "tie", is beyond me. I'm in an online game. Its 2-2 in the third. Most stats are pretty even...but then you notice the hits: 45-4 (and still their stamina is all in the GREEN). In any game of hockey where hitting is allowed, Bantam all the way to the NHL, if you outhit your opponent 10:1 you will win that game 95% of the time. in NHL 21, this is not the case. Not even slightly. Often times, you will obliterate a opposing skater, you will then attempt to skate to the puck, get tangled in the downed player, and somehow lose the race to the puck, despite nearly killing the opposing skater. Hitting has little to no impact on the game, which is why the top NHL 21 players average less than 5 hits a game. The only time hitting does impact the game in a major way, is when there is asinine charging penalty, which if you are a heavy hitter, will happen about twice a game. Hitting must be completely redesigned, and offer some sort of reward. Easiest way, each check the opposing team makes against you (and you them), your stamina will take a hit. This will greatly affect the 3rd period, and incentivize players to hit more.

    #2: The AI is incredibly flawed
    AI controlled teams, especially in HUT is down right broken. Play on Pro, you will win 6-1. Play on the next difficulty up, Super-star, and you will likely lose in heartbreaking 3rd period fashion, or get completely blown out 10-3. The AI for the computer is incredible (except when they are incredibly dumb, such as when they skate all the way back from center ice to behind their net if you are pursuing them), when the AI for your own team plays like 5 year old mite level hockey players. Friendly AI constantly gets in the way of the human controlled skaters, and rarely takes the most obvious route during a forecheck. The AI doesn't need to "charge up" their pass in order to ring it around the boards or make a high speed pass to a teammate. For obvious reasons, this really tilts the rink in favor of the AI. Numerous times throughout the game, there will be open ice scrums with 3 friendly AI players, and 1 opponent AI player. The opponent will come out of the mess with the puck 3/4 of the time. If you take control of one of these players and attempt to poke check the puck for possession, you will likely trip the opponent for a penalty.

    This bring me to my next point;
    #3 - Poke Checks in General
    When playing the AI at a Superstar+ difficulty there are 2 poke checking outcomes. They pokecheck it off your stick directly to their teammate, or you poke it off the AI's stick directly to their teammate.
    The spamming of pokechecks in online play is aggravating at best. As I said above, if physicality made more of an impact, pokechecking frequency would drop.

    #4 - Cross crease one timers
    I would estimate about 80% of all goals in NHL 21 are cross crease one timers. Sniping is rare (except for the AI).

    #5 - HUT Card Packs
    DO NOT spend your hard earned Puck Currency on packs. Purchase individual players in the auction, and only open reward packs. I have opened and purchased roughly 300 packs and my highest player rank has been an 83. Not sure if I am incredibly unlucky, but I am still waiting for my superstar player.

    #6 - This game is just not fun
    I used to play NHL and have a good time, win or lose (NHL 17 and prior). Since NHL 18, even when I do win, I am rarely in a good mood after. The expoitantions the AI and online players use to win the games plague every inch of HUT and online PvP. There is a reason this is one of EA's worst sports franchise, and why on average of only 1000 people in online matches. There must be a major overhaul to NHL for next year, and what a better time to do so then with this next console generation. It will likely just be another copy/paste since EA will make billions on all their other sport franchises.    … Expand
  15. Bauer66
    Apr 1, 2021
    1
    Ive been playing nhl since 2010 and this game, is getting worse and worse by the years.
    Scripted, ice tilt, call it what you want. This game is trash, not going to buy nhl22 thats for sure
  16. 1268
    Mar 12, 2021
    0
    This game is so bad that it can't even be described so you can imagine it. It's a random win generator, unless you become the master of the craft of using algorithmic errors in the online world. Of course, the connection to the server determines your winnings, and when you have a better connection, you win even if you are a total beginner. Nothing works there, the passings go to otherThis game is so bad that it can't even be described so you can imagine it. It's a random win generator, unless you become the master of the craft of using algorithmic errors in the online world. Of course, the connection to the server determines your winnings, and when you have a better connection, you win even if you are a total beginner. Nothing works there, the passings go to other sides than you aim. And the goalkeepers are probably there just for the fun of the rabbits.… Expand
  17. Capitals2018
    Mar 9, 2021
    0
    This is the worst f**king game I’ve ever played. The AI just stands around 90% of the time being absolutely useless. Half the time, the AI has the skill of a U6 pee-wee hockey team. They have no idea where the puck is, and literally just stand there waiting to get the puck passed to them instead of being useful. Also, the goaltender sometimes also doesn’t know where the puck is, and justThis is the worst f**king game I’ve ever played. The AI just stands around 90% of the time being absolutely useless. Half the time, the AI has the skill of a U6 pee-wee hockey team. They have no idea where the puck is, and literally just stand there waiting to get the puck passed to them instead of being useful. Also, the goaltender sometimes also doesn’t know where the puck is, and just stands there like he’s asking himself if he left the stove on. There is no way in hell I’m buying NHL 22, unless it’s discounted for $1, and then maybe I’ll consider buying.… Expand
  18. Oneill212321
    Oct 28, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Awful. Same thing as last year but you cpu player is even worst when playin gm 3v3 world of Chel. Absolutely awful. The menus are slow per usual. Forced to watch highlights. In be a pro mode you have to talk to the coach during the game after the game, all this stuff that could be done so much faster. A couple new dekes, new hits and dumber cpu players. Waste of money… Expand
  19. KJG1135
    Feb 16, 2021
    1
    Terrible addition to the EA NHL series. I've been playing this series since NHL 94. The game has been progressively getting crappier. The game designers are more focused on ridiculous goal celebrations and terrible music tracks instead of making the game better and more like an actual NHL game. The commentators are annoying as well. I wouldn't recommend this game to anyone, very disappointed.
  20. GamingMess
    Feb 15, 2021
    3
    A copy and paste version of NHL 2020 with a few annoying changes. The most annoying of these changes is the AI and the way it spams poke checks. Regardless of the AI position relative to your position, including behind you, the AI will always manage to steal the puck from you! It's as if the AI has sticky hockey sticks. This becomes old very fast and draws no penalties either when thereA copy and paste version of NHL 2020 with a few annoying changes. The most annoying of these changes is the AI and the way it spams poke checks. Regardless of the AI position relative to your position, including behind you, the AI will always manage to steal the puck from you! It's as if the AI has sticky hockey sticks. This becomes old very fast and draws no penalties either when there should be a tripping penalty when it's done in this manner. Speaking of penalties, every time the AI goes on a power play they are almost guaranteed a goal against you. This was on Pro difficulty which translates to about medium difficulty.
    I own NHL 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Save your money and get NHL 2020 if you want a better experience because NHL 2021 is inferior in so many ways. The only things NHL 2021 has to offer are new moves, updated roster, crappy music and player modes that don't qualify for a brand new game, but rather an update for an already existing one. I definitely regret buying this game and WILL NOT be buying anymore EA NHL games until they put in new actual content and rework the gameplay. Until then I'm stuck with a digital copy of a game that I don't even want. What a complete disappointment as I should have listened to the negative reviews.    … Expand
  21. rusreh
    Feb 14, 2021
    1
    I've bought every EA NHL entry since sometime around 2002, but no more. I've deleted the game and won't be returning until some things are fixed that have plagued the game for far too long.
    I played this game mainly for versus and eashl. Good luck finding a game where players aren't trying cross crease one timers all game long. And if you do, good luck with your goalie making basic    I've bought every EA NHL entry since sometime around 2002, but no more. I've deleted the game and won't be returning until some things are fixed that have plagued the game for far too long.
    I played this game mainly for versus and eashl. Good luck finding a game where players aren't trying cross crease one timers all game long. And if you do, good luck with your goalie making basic saves. Also, don't dare pass to a player going to the bench, because the AI will just ignore you. Also, don't expect to be able to switch goalies between periods, you need to burn your only timeout to do that.
    I think this is my first ever game review, but this game is just infuriating. They keep adding new dekes and fancy skating animations. Avoid until it has it's real problems addressed.    … Expand
  22. HappyTendy
    Feb 5, 2021
    2
    I've played every single NHL since the late 1990s and they've always had the same issue since online was a thing, I'll give you an example. I've been buying some packs, and playing quite a bit and I haven't had much luck in getting good cards my best player is an 87 McDavid and 87 Crosby everyone else is under 87 and when I try and matchmake I'm always paired up with these 1995 overallI've played every single NHL since the late 1990s and they've always had the same issue since online was a thing, I'll give you an example. I've been buying some packs, and playing quite a bit and I haven't had much luck in getting good cards my best player is an 87 McDavid and 87 Crosby everyone else is under 87 and when I try and matchmake I'm always paired up with these 1995 overall teams it's not fair with 90 overall Gretzky's and every line has a 90 how is that fair when they're skating around you. This game needs to work on matchmaking and take your overall team rating and pair it against another team with the same overall it's not fair when I'm an 85 overall against the 93 overall team

    And the easel has its own problems the big glitch goals the one-timers crashing the net there's no way you can stop the puck even when I'm Square some rest shots from the point are so slow but when you're the goalie you can't even catch it and make a save even when you're Square doesn't make sense it's like you're a minor league player in the NHL they need to strengthen goalies.

    The gameplay is fun and I'll probably continue to play it but not competitively because it's just not fun when I got to play against a Gretzky and all these vintage superstars on my team isn't there yet but yet the matchmaking puts me against these guys not fun.    … Expand
  23. Frank_Ginsberg
    Feb 10, 2021
    1
    I created an account here just so I can write this review for this highly disappointing game.

    First off, I would advise against buying this game if you have any previous edition since 2013. If for some reason you need to buy NHL 21, please don't pay extra for the premium versions that include HUT packs. I decided to pay $5 extra for the Great 8 Edition since it was on sale. This edition    I created an account here just so I can write this review for this highly disappointing game.

    First off, I would advise against buying this game if you have any previous edition since 2013. If for some reason you need to buy NHL 21, please don't pay extra for the premium versions that include HUT packs. I decided to pay $5 extra for the Great 8 Edition since it was on sale. This edition was supposed to include 16 premium packs to help me kickstart my HUT experience, however it's been over a week and I still got nothing. Because of this, I have now discovered that the only thing more frustrating than NHL 21's gameplay is dealing with EA's customer service. They can't give a straight answer and no one wants to fix this issue. It now looks like I will never get these packs due to a "bug".

    The silver lining is that I don't think I'll actually need these packs since I'm pretty much done with the online gameplay of NHL 21. I've been playing EA NHL games since 2001 and I used to love this franchise. Win or lose, the online games were fun. Fast forward to 2021 and the only way to score a goal online is by using the one-timer. It's almost impossible to win a game without abusing one-timers.... where's the fun in that? It's to the point where players will brake on a a clear breakaway just to wait until there's an opportunity to pass and shoot. Oh and remember when you can lay out a huge body check on the opponent? Nope! That's 2 minutes for charging. Why would there be so many charging calls in a video game?

    I'll be sticking to offline versions of this game, include Franchise Mode and Be A Pro. These game modes aren't perfect, but they manage to kill time. That's the only reason why I'm giving this game a 1 instead of a 0. I will not be buying another EA game until this franchise is fixed.    … Expand
  24. mjf80
    Feb 1, 2021
    1
    I have taken 2 years buffer between each purchase of NHL games due to obvious reasons* (*EA sells rehashed donkey dung every year). Previous one was 19. NHL 21 is shortly put....utter horror boxed inside a horse manure casing and coding done by legally retarded monkeys with learning disabilities. EA has gone so wrong with this series, I don't even know where to begin. But, here's my takeI have taken 2 years buffer between each purchase of NHL games due to obvious reasons* (*EA sells rehashed donkey dung every year). Previous one was 19. NHL 21 is shortly put....utter horror boxed inside a horse manure casing and coding done by legally retarded monkeys with learning disabilities. EA has gone so wrong with this series, I don't even know where to begin. But, here's my take on this turd EA has the nerve to call "hockey simulation" (*pffft* simlation, yeah right..):
    1. This game caters fully and solely to ringette lovers (a.k.a no-contact lady hockey)
    2. The controls have gone abysmal compared to 2 years prior (NHL 19)
    3. AI has more control over the game now than ever, meaning, DDA [dynamic difficulty adjustment] (which EA has a patent on, google it if you don't believe me) balances the game against you at every turn possible. Most obviously this becomes apparent during defensive situations (previously stated ringette style hockey, no-contact) where you end up hurling your controller against the wall in utter rage for not responding to buttons you thought were supposed to work in this...'game'.
    4. Changing difficulty is a pain in the ass. Go with rookie and you score at least 20 goals...in a 3 min/period game... Oh how realistic... Up the ante and put Pro, and it still gets surprisingly easy, cashing in on roughly 10-15 goals during same game time (3 min periods). But...here's the really retarded part...go up a notch to All-Star and start praying to God that you'll get one puck behind the goalies since the game goes from all-out-goal-fest to haha-you-never-gonna-score-now mode.

    Whoever makes these executive programming decisions at EA is apparently someone with very low IQ imo. And has zero knowledge about the sport of ice hockey. Sadly, this is not a simulation as advertized by Enema Ape Sports, but, in fact, an arcade ringette-simulator dedicated to all EA apologists & worshipers who eat all of HUTs and whatever-crap-modes they toss at them.

    This will be the last EA NHL game for me. Makes me wish 2K was still making hockey games, those guys knew what hockey was about..... Not ringette, I can tell you that much!    … Expand
  25. TiBander
    Jan 27, 2021
    0
    Straight garbage, always the same story; EA being lazy, players not looking like they do irl, boring robotic gameplay, ugly shapes and graphics. I would pay 5$ for this
  26. BroCody
    Jan 21, 2021
    0
    Gets a zero for not having a PC version. You make Madden and FIFA for it so why not add NHL? Just seems lazy. Then again didn't really expect EA not to be.
  27. beertelescope
    Jan 19, 2021
    0
    Same game as the last 5+ years (but worse). Incredible lack of attention to detail. You could play a game that's Arizona vs. Florida in the preseason and the stands will be full (including a sea of visiting team fans) and the announcers will let you know that "the city has been buzzing all day." Some teams have specific goal horns, songs and chants while others just have a generic horn.Same game as the last 5+ years (but worse). Incredible lack of attention to detail. You could play a game that's Arizona vs. Florida in the preseason and the stands will be full (including a sea of visiting team fans) and the announcers will let you know that "the city has been buzzing all day." Some teams have specific goal horns, songs and chants while others just have a generic horn. Some players have accurate faces while others look like a generic mix of Be a Pro options. No clear way to set your captains in franchise mode. Difficulty settings leap from "win every game by ten goals" to "good luck having five seconds of puck possession" with nothing in between. Slow and clunky menus, even when playing on a PS5. The whole effort just feels lazy and recycled. Most regretted game purchase of the last several years.… Expand
  28. ty92
    Jan 15, 2021
    4
    The game comes with the worst gameplay sliders ever. You have to play with these when playing against people. So the online is a 0/10
    Franchise mode is solid once you adjust all the gameplay sliders. Franchise mode is all I play and give it a solid 8/10. Check youtube for gameplay slider videos
  29. VALCAT97
    Jan 11, 2021
    1
    Надо было постараться сделать такое *****... Вратарём из года в год играть нельзя...вы пытаетесь убить интерес игроков к карьере за разных игроков? У вас получилось,лично я больше покупать ваше...не буду,спасибо,что открыли глаза :-) Вратарь сквозной,иногда бестелесный,бывает,что-то случайно ловит,при чём,на любом уровне сложности играть за вратаря невозможно...вместо того,чтобы помочьНадо было постараться сделать такое *****... Вратарём из года в год играть нельзя...вы пытаетесь убить интерес игроков к карьере за разных игроков? У вас получилось,лично я больше покупать ваше...не буду,спасибо,что открыли глаза :-) Вратарь сквозной,иногда бестелесный,бывает,что-то случайно ловит,при чём,на любом уровне сложности играть за вратаря невозможно...вместо того,чтобы помочь игроку с карьерой вратаря,разрабы-дегенераты усложнили ботов нападающих,ещё и скрипт,который не даёт играть,то шайба сквозь лежачего вратаря проползает,то вратарь просто стоит и не реагирует,то ловушку не поднимает.. за нападающего каждый дурак умеет играть,а за вратаря разрабы не дадут...
    С другой стороны,я рад,что такие классные оценки на сайте,надеюсь,вы все в своём офисе с голоду сдохните из-за отсутствия продаж ;-)    … Expand
  30. Warlok9
    Jan 10, 2021
    3
    As a fan of NHL games since the original NHL on Sega Genesis, I have mainly enjoyed this franchise over the years until the 2010's and beyond. It's around then that some very glaring gameplay issues began. Im going to base these findings on leaving the AI and Difficulty at the level that matches the online experience, because that is the default way the game SHOULD be played.

    I will not    As a fan of NHL games since the original NHL on Sega Genesis, I have mainly enjoyed this franchise over the years until the 2010's and beyond. It's around then that some very glaring gameplay issues began. Im going to base these findings on leaving the AI and Difficulty at the level that matches the online experience, because that is the default way the game SHOULD be played.

    I will not get into all the different gameplay modes here. My focus will be entirely on the gameplay experience itself in a standard match against the computer or online PVP. The huge issue with this game is the AI controlled players (especially defenders) are able to perform a plethora of actions that are simply not available to the human controlled players.

    Here is a list of those actions:
    1. grabbing (open ice)
    2. clutching (open Ice)
    3. Using one hand to grab the jersey from behind and the other to poke check the puck away from a player that was clearly a step or two ahead and accelerating away
    4. Recover from poke checks, body checks, stick lifts, board play in ways that are unavailable to human players
    5. The ability to chain these "unavailable" actions together in extremely quick succession

    The other annoying thing is the way in which AI controlled players perform actions the human players can also perform. Let me give an example. If you poke check or stick lift in this game you will get a penalty called more than half the time, even if you time the use nearly perfectly and use it only when there is zero chance of hitting the opposing players skates, such as head on or right in stride with them (as instructed to do in the tutorial).

    When the AI uses the stick lift or poke check, they can do it with uncanny accuracy, and from any position, even when chasing from behind by a step or more. And the effectiveness and range of those poke checks is insane. You can be a full two body lengths away from an AI defender and they perform what I call a "ghost check" where they were clearly out of range of the puck but the puck just magically is magnetically drawn away from your stick to theirs.

    Body checking is another area where AI controlled players can land crushing or extremely effective checks on you with little regard for momentum or direction. Even when you control an elite level player at full speed the AI grunt can catch you from behind, grab your player somehow, then body check the puck away, and take possession of the puck going the other way all in one swift maneuver.

    What I've described is barely scratching the surface of the issues, but to me these are the most frustrating, bang your head against the wall issues with the game. And its been this way for like a decade now!

    Its is EXTREMELY frustrating watching AI controlled players perform game altering actions that you cannot!    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 32
  3. Negative: 2 out of 32
  1. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Nov 15, 2020
    80
    It looks fantastic, with animation delivering the TV-standard realism EA always aims for2 while offering gaming cues for eagle-eyed players to spot; using the stick skills to shuffle keepers out of position for a slap shot will leave you wide-eyed and fist-punching the air. See, that Nicolas Cage opener paid off. [Issue#182, p.160]
  2. GAMINGbible
    Nov 9, 2020
    80
    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.
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  3. PLAY! Zine
    Nov 4, 2020
    45
    NHL 21 is almost the same game like NHL 20, with few added additional features to few of its modes. Absolute cash-grab for a yearly roster update and another microtransaction filled unsatisfactory experience.
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