Especially with subscription services becoming more popular. Of course things could change at some point. I really don't know what the future holds. There's are often discounts as well as the game moving to the vault in EA Access at some point. I get that $60 is a lot for some people, but the price of games hasn't really changed in decades, but everything I mentioned has increased dramatically. There's a ton of costs that go into making the game each year. Besides building the game, there's licensing, support, maintaining servers, marketing, etc.
Goalies can only bail you out so much when that happens.Īs far as charging less for an annual update goes, I don't think people realize just how much game development costs. You're also giving up an excellent scoring chance, most likely through a breakaway. If you're more skilled, you should be rewarded though. There are plenty of times someone fails at it as well. You also have to be relatively skilled to pull it off. Some would say too much as there have been some complaints about how good they are with 20.Īs far as forehand-backhand dekes on goalies go, that's a pretty legit move in real hockey. They just play according to what's happening on the ice as well as the strategies you're using.ĭefensive shot blocks and pass interceptions have been improved. The AI defenders aren't recognizing the habits of your opponents. When I play defense and notice teams going for rebounds, I plant myself low in the slot so I'm there to recover them. That's not going to stop everything of course. If someone is constantly using that against you, change your defense to Protect Net and Collapsing. You have to allow the shot on net and another player to be there to receive the rebound. Just because someone scores on a rebound, it doesn't mean it's an exploit.
They are also something professional players know how to set up. I'll agree that they were pretty easy to exploit in previous years, but goalies direct pucks into the corners or out of play a lot more than they used to. of all things, definitely changed this year.We’ve added a new “hockey card” style for displaying player portraits on some screens. Players now have a user-editable “Notes” view that can be used to record your own notes, reminders, etc. NEW CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS!Ĭustom games can now add tournaments that allow the participation of teams from multiple leagues, and can add new leagues after the game has started. WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!ĢD Mode now has a “highlights” option that’ll allow you to view only the game’s key moments, or just the goals.
The 2D game system has undergone many changes to improve player behaviour, animation, and statistical output, and received some new graphics and animations. Trading difficulty can now be adjusted, allowing for easier or more difficult trade negotiations – or nearly impossible ones! MORE POSTGAME FEEDBACK!Ī new postgame analysis screen points out the good, the bad, and the ugly of both teams’ performances. BUILD YOUTH SYSTEMSĮuropean teams will now be able to take steps to improve the quality of the young players entering their youth systems.
Junior, College, and European leagues in historical games have been significantly fleshed out, so young players will no longer just be free agents before they’re signed or drafted, and the Sponsorship/Affiliate system that was used by the NHL up until the 1960’s is now simulated as well.
The fans are back in the stands, and we have fully-updated rosters, teams, leagues, and stats for the 21-22 season.