The game NHL 25a new volume in the popular EA Sports series, has been available since last Friday. After a few editions which caused disappointment among fans, is this most recent opus worth taking out your wallet and looking into? The Press tested it for you.
Published at 12:57 a.m.
Updated at 9:00 a.m.
At first sight
NHL 25 is the first edition of the series intended exclusively for current generation consoles (PS5 and Xbox), and it shows. The graphics are clear and crisp, while the animations are fluid and convincing overall. However, we noticed occasional slowdowns as we scrolled through the (very) numerous menus. Computer-controlled players have enhanced artificial intelligence that translates into the way they act on the ice. The action during matches has been slowed down a bit, which injects a dose of realism, but the result can be a little clumsy. A new control scheme focused on precision maneuvers was included, but we didn’t feel it made a noticeable difference during gameplay.
A (finally) improved mode
The biggest change is Franchise mode, which puts you in the shoes of the general manager of your favorite club. It was about time, say its fans, who have been calling for its overhaul for a while. The main screen (hub) is now more dynamic. Other new features, like a system that lets you chat with your players and head coach, help make the experience more immersive. Contract negotiation is also more refined, while it is now possible – no joke! – to include no-exchange and no-movement clauses. True, that’s still a lot of menus to navigate through, but the renovations were more than due, and they feel good.
Online game
The popular online game modes Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT) and World of CHEL are also back, but those hoping to see big changes will be disappointed. There is a new Wildcard mode which has been added to the HUT section, and which is essentially a slightly different way of accumulating precious points allowing you to unlock the coveted packs of cards. But in all honesty, we don’t see how Wildcard could constitute an additional argument to convince newbies to embark on this facet of NHL 25. Even regulars might find that this new feature adds to their gaming experience more than anything else. In short, we can easily do without it.
IMAGE PROVIDED BY EA SPORTS
Brothers Jack, Quinn and Luke Hughes appear on the cover of the game NHL 25.
CH players
Always a subject of interest, the ratings assigned to Canadian players will undoubtedly be something to get virtual hockey fans talking. Unsurprisingly, Nick Suzuki is the best forward with an excellent rating of 89, just ahead of Cole Caufield at 88. Juraj Slafkovsky, Kirby Dach and Patrik Laine (healthy, you guessed it) are all three rated at 85. In defense, Mike Matheson dominates with a rating of 87. For what it’s worth, Lane Hutson is at 82, which places him tied with David Savard, and ahead of Justin Barron (81) and Arber Xhekaj (79). However, it’s quite ordinary, thank you, in front of the net, while Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau are respectively rated at 83 and 80.
Our verdict
The good news is that NHL 25 is not content to be a vulgar copy of its predecessor with a few shades of color, as were some of the recent installments of the series. The game is pretty to the eye, the matches are generally enjoyable to play and the freshly revamped Franchise mode is worth the detour. But are these improvements enough for us to pay $90 before taxes to purchase it? This is where we are a little more mixed… If you are a solitary and assertive sofa CEO who primarily enjoys managing your team offline, you should find what you are looking for here. Conversely, if you prioritize online play, you can probably afford to ignore this new edition.
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