Let me be frank, I've never been one for sports games. That said, I'm not much of a sports fan either so, as you can very well imagine, a game like NHL 13 was something very much out of my comfort zone. I was always in tune with the series and dabbled in a few casual games here and there, but I was never as driven by it as some people I know. That made this experience a little on the interesting side for me, the casual player. And let's face it, there are lots of us out there: people who pick up and play without getting a full feel of the game. Considering all the iterations made in NHL 13 this could potentially be the best place to start, even if there are a few frustrations along the way.
So what are these iterations exactly? If you checked out my preview of the game you already got a taste, but if you missed it here are the basics. Headlining this year's release is True Performance Skating, which incorporates more realistic, physics-driven skating and 1000 new animations to the mix. As you can imagine, this new feature really changes the way you think of the game, offering a more immersive, authentic experience that replicates the momentum, speed and energy you'd expect from a hockey game. While at first glance you might not notice the change right away, it's pretty evident as you play.
The same can be said about another new feature, Hockey I.Q., which intensifies gameplay by creating more player awareness. Now A.I is more intelligent and fully aware of other players in their proximity. Hockey I.Q. offers a more true-to-life experience and, once again, more realistic gameplay.
Together, these two new features serve as real game changers for the NHL series. Not only does gameplay become more realistic, it also becomes much more challenging. Here you will skate, shoot, glide and brawl just like the best of them, while tactfully adjusting the way you play. Depending upon the player, you could be facing someone more offensive or defensive in tendencies (don't even get me started on tough customers like Goaltenders -- hell, cheap shots are practically non-existent) so you always have to be aware of everyone and everything around you.
While I can see how the amplified challenge might make this a reluctant choice for some of you, it has its merits. For one, it makes more sense to have a smarter, more in-depth sports game. The more realistic the gameplay can be, the more fulfilling the experience. I'd like to think that can be said for both casual and hardcore players of the game. This is still very much an accessible game, it just requires a little more training and attention to get right.
NHL 13 will be offering several other new features you might want to try out as well, particularly GM Connected. This online league allows potentially hundreds of players (750, to be exact) to play together or individually in a league. As a GM there's plenty of room for creativity as well, and is accessible for both newcomers and hockey fans alike. Just be mindful of the long menu load times -- they can be pretty grueling, harkening back to a time time I didn't expect to revisit with today's standards. It's up to you how you play and manage your team, there's even a mobile companion app available to ensure you are always on the ball.
These are only some of the many online and offline modes worth checking out. By going into this game, or rather series, with fresh eyes I really got a chance to enjoy and admire the new changes in store. In addition, the extra challenge gave me a little more purpose, even if a was a little on the frustrating side. NHL 13 was a huge risk for EA, but one well worth taking. While still rough around the edges, these changes will probably lead to more refined instalments in the future, and will give players more appreciation for the genre. I never thought I'd say this, but this is a risk well worth taking.
NHL 13 is available on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. You can purchase your copy today!
SKU: 10172283
NHL 13 delivers a gameplay experience that accurately captures the speed, creativity and strategy of NHL headlined by True Performance Skating, and supported by EA SPORTS Hockey I.Q. NHL 13 will also deliver experiences that connect hockey fans to their friends and the real world of hockey with the GM Connected and NHL Moments Live game modes.
SKU: 10172491
NHL 13 delivers a gameplay experience that accurately captures the speed, creativity and strategy of NHL headlined by True Performance Skating, and supported by EA SPORTS Hockey I.Q. NHL 13 will also deliver experiences that connect hockey fans to their friends and the real world of hockey with the GM Connected and NHL Moments Live game modes.
SKU: 10172273
NHL 13 delivers a gameplay experience that accurately captures the speed, creativity and strategy of NHL headlined by True Performance Skating, and supported by EA SPORTS Hockey I.Q. NHL 13 will also deliver experiences that connect hockey fans to their friends and the real world of hockey with the GM Connected and NHL Moments Live game modes.
SKU: 10172486
NHL 13 delivers a gameplay experience that accurately captures the speed, creativity and strategy of NHL headlined by True Performance Skating, and supported by EA SPORTS Hockey I.Q. NHL 13 will also deliver experiences that connect hockey fans to their friends and the real world of hockey with the GM Connected and NHL Moments Live game modes.
Or, if you don't already own a PS3, you can purchase a 320GB bundle with the game:
SKU: 10218417
With the PlayStation3 320GB system, you get free PlayStation Network membership, built-in Wi-Fi, and 320GB of hard disk drive storage for games, music, videos and photos. And every PS3 system comes with a built-in Blu-ray player to give you pristine picture quality and the best high-definition viewing experience available. Plus, this bundle comes with NHL 13.
ErikaSzabo
- edited
