NHL 18

 Xbox One
User Score
4.3

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 53 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 53
  3. Negative: 26 out of 53

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Swifty1863
    Oct 11, 2017
    7
    NHL 18 is a game that is maddeningly close to being superb. It is undoubtedly a game that suffers from not having any form of competition and as a result this highlights its flaws. In terms of gameplay, it's basically cut and paste from NHL 17. Puck pickups, player physics and poke checking are still not up to scratch, you'll often find yourself going in circles to pick up a loose puck andNHL 18 is a game that is maddeningly close to being superb. It is undoubtedly a game that suffers from not having any form of competition and as a result this highlights its flaws. In terms of gameplay, it's basically cut and paste from NHL 17. Puck pickups, player physics and poke checking are still not up to scratch, you'll often find yourself going in circles to pick up a loose puck and get pinned to the boards by the opposition from ridiculous distances. Goalies still make odd decisions in terms of positioning and saves and faceoffs still feel very much like a game of chance rather than actual skill.

    However, the gameplay does some things incredibly well. It's still immensely satisfying to use the hit stick, it's still rewarding to ping a one timer and work a scenario for a tip in. Powerplays (I play 4 mins a period with real time powerplays) can be extremely frenetic and fun to play and dekes are as fun as ever.

    However, evidence of developer complacency is demonstrated in lazy recycling of celebrations, commentary and crowd effects. Sports games are inherently linked to the atmosphere of the sport, so it would be great to see full bench/team celebrations for crucial goals, or a half empty arena if you're up 4-5 on the road. (and not just at Florida Panthers). Some new angles for goal replays add a little, but it's not enough to justify a completely new game in terms of presentation. Menus feel a bit stiff and I miss the team specific menu that was present in NHL 17. These are things that could be cleared and tidied in a short space of time, so again it's evidence of EA's laziness, simply because they don't have a competitor for hockey games.

    In terms of modes, as a British hockey fan the addition of Champions Hockey League and my beloved Nottingham Panthers is a hugely positive step, and it's a remarkably fun and novel mode to play with a unique format. So good marks there NHL. However Franchise mode feels rehashed again, and new menus don't detract from the fact it's still pretty much identical to NHL 17. There are still no suspensions for ejection or dirty hits, and there is no incentive to rotate players on rosters. Some youth players still grow stupidly quick, while others with supposedly higher potential stagnate. However scouting remains fun, I drafted a 17 year old from Sweden scheduled for 4th round pick, yet by the end of his first season he was 82 overall and still growing. This encapsulates a positive and negative, the positive is ability to find stars, the negative is the instant gratification without the feeling you're really developing a player. I still find Franchise Mode enjoyable however, but EA need to learn that the ability to offer contracts mid-season is not a feature to bring to market. With some minor tweaking (such as the ability to hire coaches, lead training sessions, play prospects in your team off against each other) franchise mode could become the all encompassing mode it should be.

    Be a Pro mode is the biggest victim of EA's complacency, nothing is new in the mode. In 2009 this kind of mode was revolutionary, but now given 2K, Fifa's The Journey and now Long Shot in Madden, Be a Pro looks tired. The rookie season is still immensely fun, but there is genuine frustration when you lead to league by 30 points and get drafted 49th overall. Again the lack of realism harms the game. After that the progression to NHL is fast, but you never really feel the threat of being moved down, which you should do if you fail to perform. My biggest problem is still the lack of the All-Star games, what the hell is the point of mentioning it on the calendar and the infamous "Hockey Analyst" if you don't get to play it? On that note, a better news and social feed would greatly benefit both Franchise Mode and Be a Pro.

    Online play is exactly the same, other than the addition of European players, so there's not really too much to say. 3s was billed as this fun mode that you'd want to pick up and play a lot, but the problem is it just feels 3 on 3 OT with a smaller rink, skill is not rewarded and if you have a sniper you'll win. For me it grew stale pretty quickly.

    So, in conclusion, it's not without it's issues, but NHL18 is still immensely fun to play from my point of view. Whether this is emphasised by the lack of a competitor remains to be seen, but until that point it's still the best we have, even if that is by default. EA's inability to come up with novel presentation and a lack of attention to detail holds the game back from greatness, and like a great man once said "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take"....so EA....take a shot once in a while it might work wonders.    … Expand
  2. DarrMunny
    Oct 24, 2017
    5
    Terrible AI both in your team and opposing team, in HUT why bother with ratings when a team in the 60's plays like world beaters? They are able to stop and deke on a dime while you float way past unable to pull up allowing open ice for the opposing AI to skate without you able to do anything about it. One word frustation.
  3. 4Nick3
    Mar 15, 2018
    5
    This game is fun, like every other NHL, but it's appropriate to say that EA's NHL franchise' is melting ice.
  4. KingHockeypuck
    Nov 18, 2017
    6
    EA is on a mission to make money and disrespect all it's consumers. The pay to play paradigm may work for the Clintons...but it has no place in video game sports. Everyone should be on the same level...instead EA allows HUT players to purchase million dollar teams...making HUT completely worthless unless you have millions of dollars to spend on players. What next pay for in game goals?
  5. Scottishnbafan
    Aug 11, 2018
    6
    having played nhl 09 for 2 years nearly every day when it came out i fell in love with nhl. i purchased nhl 12 and was disappointed. i picked up nhl 18 this year on sale and gameplay wise i feel like I'm back on nhl 12. Ie it's the same game. The ai is broken and all you need to do to win is poke check. The sliders are also broken which makes getting the easy achievements that normallyhaving played nhl 09 for 2 years nearly every day when it came out i fell in love with nhl. i purchased nhl 12 and was disappointed. i picked up nhl 18 this year on sale and gameplay wise i feel like I'm back on nhl 12. Ie it's the same game. The ai is broken and all you need to do to win is poke check. The sliders are also broken which makes getting the easy achievements that normally take 5 mins max over an hour. The game was fun for first hour or so but gets extremely boring. Biggest selling point is the soundtrack which is really good… Expand
  6. JJ2FAS4U
    Dec 29, 2021
    5
    Atmosphere: 5
    Enjoyment: 5
    Gameplay: 5
    Graphics: 5
    Music: 5
    Story: 4
    Total: 4.83

Awards & Rankings

76
#76 Best Xbox One Game of 2017
37
#37 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2017
21
#21 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. ZTGD
    Oct 12, 2017
    90
    NHL 18 will satisfy hockey fans; that goes without saying. Its real achievement though is in its design, which will seamlessly teach and assist a player who knows nothing about hockey. They’re likely to stick around too, because as it turns out, hockey is a blast in videogame form.
    Read full review
  2. XGN
    Oct 11, 2017
    75
    The new NHL Threes mode is fun and takes up a lot of time without getting boring. The Training Camp also stands out from similar modes in other games. The graphics and weird behavior of the AI sometimes could have been better, but NFL is still a good game.
    Read full review
  3. MondoXbox
    Oct 6, 2017
    75
    NHL 18 introduces some welcome novelties in the Threes and Training Camp mode, but it ultimately feels too similar to the previous game.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »