NHL 15

 Xbox One
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 22
  3. Negative: 3 out of 22
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  1. Gamers' Temple
    Oct 8, 2014
    80
    It has some bumps and bruises, but it will still satisfy your hockey cravings.
  2. Digital Chumps
    Sep 10, 2014
    80
    Everything looks great, plays well and feels like the NHL hockey I love. Even the tricky teammate AI can be addressed via settings tweaks. Where NHL 15 disappoints, however, is in the trimmed features and modes.
  3. Game Revolution
    Sep 9, 2014
    80
    I wish NHL 15 offered a more straightforward season mode, though the options to run your own team or play as a specific pro will give every fan what they’re looking for. Whether or not the horn sounds on home ice, every goal will give the fan in you the same satisfaction as if the game were live right in front of you.
  5. COGconnected
    Sep 9, 2014
    80
    NHL 2015 truly has glimpses of being a fantastic sports title on its own merit, given the improvements in the gameplay mechanics, visuals, physics and even sound. That being said, we have been spoiled to a degree by some outstanding previous versions with all the features and now I find that the series has lost a bit of its lustre given what they cut out to get this one out the door. The omission of key modes really hurts the end product, and in a way it feels like we stepping back somewhat.
  6. Post Arcade (National Post)
    Sep 9, 2014
    75
    EA was so focused on making the gameplay a superlative experience that the company forgot to include a lot of the things that make the series so special. If you’re buying your next-gen console just to play NHL, maybe wait a year. If you already have the console, well, hockey’s hockey, right?

Awards & Rankings

74
#74 Best Xbox One Game of 2014
21
#21 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2014
67
#67 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
3.2

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 181 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 181
  2. Mixed: 39 out of 181
  3. Negative: 116 out of 181
  1. honestbleeps
    Sep 9, 2014
    0
    I've bought every iteration of the series since NHLPA '93 on the Super Nintendo, and NHL 15 is the most major disappointment I've run across.I've bought every iteration of the series since NHLPA '93 on the Super Nintendo, and NHL 15 is the most major disappointment I've run across. The inability to play with friends is inexcusable, and the number of bugs that have been in the game since NHL '08 or '09 that remain in '15 make the claims that "we're missing these game modes because we rebuilt the game from the ground up" incredibly dubious.

    The graphical improvements are nice, but most of them are on content that you won't see all that often. Nobody's going to watch the intro that shows the entirety of each authentic arena more than a few times before skipping it to get to gameplay. Most of your time will be spent in gameplay, from a further camera angle, preventing you from seeing all of that detail anyhow.

    Oh, and speaking of that detail - don't expect to see it in instant replays of any games you play online, because replays can only be watched if you pause the game to look at them now - no more list of big plays (goals, etc) at the end of a game.

    With so little to do online (no playing with friends, or even couch co-op), you'd better hope the offline modes are spectacular, right? They're not. Be a Pro is unplayable because you can't sim past CPU shifts, so you literally have to sit there on the bench and watch the game while you wait to play your next shift. Who playtested this thing, and what shills are giving this game 7.0 and above scores on professional publications?

    It's important to note that while EA has made some promises to patch certain things in, a lot of the game breaking ones (like simming to your next shift) are NOT on that list! I can't recommend anyone buy this game in the hopes that patches will shore up missing content later on - it doesn't seem likely.

    This game is a true embarrassment to EA Sports, and should never have seen the light of day.    … Full Review »
  2. ZACKSTOFF
    Sep 9, 2014
    0
    This game was made for the casual gamers and NHL fans, and leaves the hardcore, loyal fans in the rear-view mirror. This is the mostThis game was made for the casual gamers and NHL fans, and leaves the hardcore, loyal fans in the rear-view mirror. This is the most "arcade-like" NHL game since the skill stick introduction some 7 years ago. With the complete omission of EASHL and even Online Team Play, EA will not receive $60 dollars from me this year.… Full Review »
  3. mascar22
    Sep 9, 2014
    1
    complete lack of game-modes, as well as the need for immediate patches, makes this, one unfinished, piece of garbage, if your getting thiscomplete lack of game-modes, as well as the need for immediate patches, makes this, one unfinished, piece of garbage, if your getting this game to play online with friends, you best think again, cause it aint happenin.… Full Review »
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