![]() ![]() Worse is you don’t always have ways to meet their demands. I like that players and coaches come to you to have conversations, but it’s very one-sided as you can never summon them to discuss changes or poor performance. And it appears EA just forgot the option to have you filter for goalie coaches, meaning you won’t find candidates to interview who want that role. Signing coaches is the most frustrating process, as they’re extremely picky if your franchise isn’t 100-percent ideal, requiring you to throw money at them, and even then, they sometimes cannot be swayed. Franchise’s new trade finder is barely functional, most of the time turning up nothing or less-than-ideal deals. I love the idea, but this mode is a mess and will probably take EA some time to iron out the kinks. You now have more ways to strategize by hiring coaches with their own systems and finding the right players to fit within it, or firing your coaching staff when it no longer works. The mode that got the biggest face-lift is Franchise, where you pull the strings behind the scenes by taking on the role of general manager, forging a path to the cup. World of Chel adds new cosmetic items alongside weekly challenges to get special limited-time jerseys and hats (though it is still lacking compared to other games on the market). Ultimate Team introduces squad battles, a single-player competitive mode where you compete against A.I.-controlled teams created by the HUT community, which give players an easier way to earn rewards. Arcade-focused Ones includes couch co-op, allowing you to play as star NHL players against friends. This may seem disappointing, but a slew of other modes make smart, though minor, additions. NHL 20 also features alumni rosters, although they feel like an afterthought with some questionable line-ups, like the Anaheim Ducks’ roster featuring Jarkko Ruutu, Niklas Hagman, and Bryan Allen (201 franchise games), while omitting Francois Beauchemin and Paul Kariya (1198 franchise games). defensemen jumping into the play at inappropriate times. Unfortunately, this also means things like A.I. EA Sports Hockey League also remains largely the same, with its player classes, traits, and specialties in need of new options. Be A Pro players are once again left out in the dust with the mode being practically identical to last year and in desperate need of new lifeblood. While goalies certainly follow the puck better, they still don’t adjust to player tendencies, biting on the same moves repeatedly.Įveryone will invariably be attracted to different modes, but expect refinements rather than large-scale changes. Also, while I was impressed with the new goaltending animations that had them making acrobatic saves, I can’t say the same for the goaltending A.I. Players’ on-ice awareness also stands to be improved you still see them skating past pucks or reverting back to defense when they should be battling for the puck. ![]() I wish physicality factored more into board battles like real-life, an area that still needs work. One part that feels off is the checking sometimes out of nowhere, players get a surge of momentum, allowing them to land hulking, unrealistic checks. Although, in turn, I found scoring a lot easier than in past entries, leading to ridiculously high-scoring games. Everything feels more natural, especially one-timers and jamming the stick in scrums for the dirty goals. This adds some much-needed variety to the on-ice action and makes setting up plays more fun. Not every player looks the same winding up a slapshot, and now players react more realistically, such as going down on one knee to snipe or leaning forward into the stick for more snapping power. The addition of contextual and star players’ signature shots make all the difference. While not a complete reinvention, the overall gameplay looks and feels better than it ever has. The result is better gameplay, but the changes – or in some cases the lack thereof – to the core modes leave much to be desired. After going big last year with a new skating and physics engine, NHL 20 dials back by focusing on refinements and smaller improvements. NHL 20 is that team that didn’t make moves in the off-season beyond conditioning its current players and adding mid-tier free agents. ![]()
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