Ice, ice, baby.
It has been a long time since I really dove into a hockey game. NHL 98 was the last time I really played one religiously. That was an incredible game. One of the things that made it so good was its accessibility, being able to jump in without much knowledge of the sport and have fun. Now 20 years later NHL 19 seems to understand that mentality. Jumping right in, I felt like I could win. I felt like I had a chance to have fun without the game fighting me at every turn. While the NHL series might not be in the mindset of the EA Sports lineup, this version makes a strong case for it to get more recognition.
One of the things I appreciated the most is the way the game kicks off. As soon as I got into the game it asked me my comfort level of playing. It offers up a plethora of control schemes and difficulties to let me enjoy it without having to understand the intricacies. There are some really in-depth control schemes, analog shooting, and more. I opted for the simple two button to feel more arcadey. That is how I like to play, and I never felt like I was hindered playing alone. Of course for those that want a more simulation experience, that is here too. Options are great, and it is appreciated when developers build that functionality in.
MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PS4, PC
Price I’d Pay: $59.99
There are several modes included in NHL 19. The create a player suite is fully-fleshed out. If there is one misstep it is that Game Face is not included. Instead players are given the array of generic default faces. Beyond that though there are plenty of options to customize my character. I could go into painstaking detail with how my player looked, and I appreciate that.
So many modes to choose from are included. Of course we have one-off games and franchise mode, plus the return of Ultimate Team, because well that is going to be in every EA Sports game. There are also other modes to entertain. Threes is especially fun considering its arcade nature. This can be played offline or online and fills that void that NHL Hitz used to occupy. While not quite as over-the-top, it still leans into its arcade inspirations.
Be-A-Pro mode also returns, which is fun if you want to focus on only one facet of the ice. The most interesting mode though is EA Sports Ones. This is an online mode where three players face-off against each other in a free-for-all match with the goal to score. There is one CPU-controlled goalie and mayhem ensues. It is ridiculous fun. There is also pond hockey, which takes place outside. Needless to say the game is just packed with unique and interesting ways to play it.
Visually the game looks great. Taking advantage of the more powerful X hardware the resolution and animations are a delight. The outdoor rinks look fantastic. The sore spot to the presentation is the live-action announcers before the game. It feels canned and lazy. The commentary during the game though is spot-on. I enjoyed the play-by-play even when I didn’t understand half of the terminology.
NHL 19 is a solid game and one that packs plenty of ways to enjoy its core mechanics. Not having played a hockey game seriously in almost two decades it feels like a really good place to step in. There is a lot to unpack here, and I had fun with more than one of the modes. It also has a great training mode for those like me who want to dig deeper into the ins and outs of the sport. EA may not tout this game as much as their other sports games, but they should. This is yet another quality pillar in the EA Sports library.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
