Given all of that, it’s probably hard to imagine a reason for the developers to continue to innovate- it’s almost like a monopoly in Economics. When your product is getting a great reception regardless of any attempts to improve it on your part, or the complete lack thereof, why bother?

Happily, NHL 14 doesn’t fall prey to that mindset. Well, not entirely. It’s still fundamentally NHL, of course, and like EA Sports games sans FIFA, the improvements are incremental, at best. But it’s still fun to play, and the new improvements feel like they add a whole lot more to the game than they actually do.

The core game, of course, plays like last year’s installment. NHL 13 introduced a new skating engine called the Skill Stick, which added more realism to the in game skating by essentially attaching real word physics to your in game skating. It was a more, subtle, under the hood kind of change, but it did dramatically alter how the game is played in the long run, as it got less arcadey and more nuanced. That same skating engine is back this year, pretty much almost entirely untouched. For that same reason, the controls remain largely familiar too.

"Previous games had you manually initiating a check by using the right analog stick when you were in a player's vicinity. In NHL 14, however, it's largely automated, relying on the collision engine to determine 'checks.' This was a change I largely disliked, simply because so many times, something would register as a check even when I had not intended for it too."

What has changed, at least in terms of the core gameplay, as opposed to the addition or removal of game modes, is how those physics are now also attached to fights. Hockey, like almost any American sport, has a lot of fighting and a lot of violence. NHL 14, trying to be an accurate representation of the sport, has naturally got to include all that fighting (and let’s face it, playing a hockey game without the fights? Boring as hell).

For this year’s iteration, a large portion of the gameplay changes were focused on this all important aspect of the sport. New collision physics ensured that fighting would feel more real and tangible, alongside any accidental (or deliberate) collisions with other players you might have outside of fights and in the course of the game.

With that came a change in how checking is handled as well. Previous games had you manually initiating a check by using the right analog stick when you were in a player’s vicinity. In NHL 14, however, it’s largely automated, relying on the collision engine to determine ‘checks.’ This was a change I largely disliked, simply because so many times, something would register as a check even when I had not intended for it too. I understand the drive for realism, but it does take away from the feeling of control in the video game, and that can be to the game’s detriment a lot of times.

The actual fighting has seen a change too- for example, it has done away with the abrupt switch to first person that previous games entailed. Instead, the new ‘Enforcer Engine’ gives you a full repertoire of moves to choose from in a third person mode. Because of the aforementioned realistic collision physics, fighting feels that much more satisfying now, as there is some real world weight to it. The fighting engine in NHL 14 is actually good enough to be used as a base for a future fighting game. EA, you listening to me? Send me the check in the mail.

"The new 'Enforcer Engine' gives you a full repertoire of moves to choose from in a third person mode. Because of the aforementioned realistic collision physics, fighting feels that much more satisfying now, as there is some real world weight to it."

On the whole, it’s changes like these, changes that attempt to move the game more towards realism, that mark this entry of the series. There are other such changes too, of course. For example, you don’t have to ‘accept a fighting request’ like a Facebook Friend Request anymore, a fight can just break out any time based on your behavior. Changes that make the game seem more dynamic, and more unpredictable, even as they do attempt to ground it.

On the game modes front, things remain largely the same, bit with two exceptions- the first of these, Be The Pro mode, is now Live The Life, and it’s a more in depth simulation of a hockey player’s life that attempts to simulate other aspects of his career- brand endorsements, interviews, press conferences, and the like- via what are generally a series of questions that affect your relationships with other players (in an almost Bioware-esque schizophrenic scale). It’s a really fun diversion, though, and while it’s not as intricate or nuanced as dedicated sports simulators, it’s a fun mode that will hopefully be fleshed out in future installments.

The second exception is the NHL 94 mode, which is a celebration of the first NHL game on its twentieth anniversary. It’s almost odd, because NHL 94 is actually a better celebration of its franchise than Madden got this year with Madden 25. Essentially, this mode is the full fledged NHL 94 game, remastered and reworked for the Xbox 360 and its controller, and it plays just great.

"Ultimately, NHL 14 is a well made sports game that checks all the boxes. It's realistic, it has enough changes to make it stand out from last year's entry, it has a good, full featured online mode, it adds new modes, and it reworks old ones."

As a matter of fact, for anyone who wishes their games to be more arcadey, it actually plays better than the core game itself. It’s great fun, and should actually turn out to be a popular mode at parties.

Ultimately, NHL 14 is a well made sports game that checks all the boxes. It’s realistic, it has enough changes to make it stand out from last year’s entry, it has a good, full featured online mode, it adds new modes, and it reworks old ones.

People who aren’t fans of sports games or hockey games are unlikely to be swayed by this game (unless they play NHL 94 mode, which might actually just win them over), but for everyone else concerned, it’s a fun game to play.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox 360.

Hockey Ultimate Team mode is a game mode in which gamers can create their own custom teams with their pick of the NHL 14 roster. You heard right. Any and all players from any playable NHL 14 team will be available for your custom team, and then with that team you can go online and play against other custom made teams.

Gamers that choose to test the mettle of their custom teams online against other HUT teams will be ranked and paired for future matches according to their rankings. The best teams will be placed into a more competitive division, and the weaker teams an easier one.

NHL 14 will release on September 13th.

Winner of several awards at E3, the NHL 14 demo will feature the NHL 94 Anniversary Mode, which is an arcadey throwback to the days of high-speed players and hard-hitting collisions. You’ll also be able to try out the Hockey Ultimate Team Tournament and Play Now mode with the demo.

NHL 14 introduces a lot more to the traditional formula, including a revamped campaign mode that allows you to take your created player to superstardom. You’ll have to be as cool on the ice as on interviews, and living the high life while fetching sponsors for increased ad revenue. NHL 14 releases on September 10th in North America and on September 13th in Europe.

Meant as an extensions of Career mode, you’ll need to interact with your team-mates in careful ways and manage your media appearances along with playing matches. Everything you do has an impact on your popularity and will bring in endorsements for extra cash flow and revenue. Of course, there will be repercussions for one too many wild nights partying, sinner.

Published by EA, NHL 14 will release for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on September 10th 2013 in North America and on September 13th 2013 worldwide.

Happy with winning, Brodeur stated that, “The support I’ve received throughout the cover vote campaign has been incredible. My kids pushed me to participate in the campaign, and they are really excited to see their dad on the cover of the game they play all the time. I want to thank all the NHL fans who campaigned and voted for me.”

The total number of votes for the campaign managed to cross 22 million in EA’s second annual cover athlete contest. NHL 14 will be available on September 10th in North America and by September 13th worldwide for PS3 and Xbox 360.

EA Sports has released a trailer for this year’s installment of another one of their annualized sports games franchises, NHL 14. The upcoming game will be on the PS3 and Xbox 360, and looks pretty awesome, as you can see in the trailer above. The new game boasts new collision physics, which promise to enhance the gameplay experience a lot more, especially for hockey fans. The game will also be using the Enforcer engine, which is different from all other EA Sports games coming this year, which run on the next generation EA Sports Ignite engine- presumably because this game is still on ‘last gen’ platforms.

As with all EA Games/EA Sports games this year, no Wii U version has been announced (in spite of the fact that the Wii U is technically on par, at least, with the consoles this game has been announced for).

Stay tuned to GamingBolt for more coverage.

Compared to the previous title, NHL 14 will feature a vastly improved physics engine. It takes into account four different variables with size, speed, momentum and body position. It even goes as far as to track +250 points of collision on each player body so that each collision has a different amount of force acting in it.

As pointed out in the dev diary, this same mechanic is taken from the FIFA series’ Player Impact engine.

But this being hockey, the team at EA Canada is making sure to balance out the advantages that different maneuvers can experience with the improved physics engine. For example, hip checks are being balanced so a player can’t repeatedly use them and that they must be in the right position.

NHL 14 is currently slated to release on September 10th on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

You still have the same Collision Physics and One Touch Dekes, which allows for improved control using one-button and the left stick which allows more responsive timing and combinations. And the True Performance Skating has made a return as well, bringing more than 1000 new skating animations with it. And the Pro Career Mode returns along with Ultimate Team mode.

But the biggest new addition is Enforcer Engine which lets you – no joke – enter into a 3rd person mode to beat the tar out of opponents who break the code of hockey. Ring of Honor has nothing on these guys.

NHL 14 is set to release on September 10th for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Are the new additions enough to justify a purchase?

As the sequel to last year’s NHL 13, NHL 14 will presumably be releasing on the current generation of consoles. This includes Xbox 360, PC, PS3 and Wii U. Unlike, say, Madden NFL 25, we’re inclined to believe that this screenshot represents how the actual game may look.

Like NHL 13 though, we’re sure that the next iteration in EA’s multi-million sports franchise will feature official leagues such as the National Hockey League, National League A and many more along with all the new modes and implementations of last year, including True Performance Skating, Ultimate Team and Be A Pro.

Time will tell how NHL 14 turns out, and the only thing we can accurately surmise is that it will be out by the end of 2013. Stay tuned for more details.