NHL 25 deep dive has me cautiously optimistic
By Brian Allen
NHL 25's deep dive is live now, getting the hype train behind this year's hockey sim going in full force. This is an epic year for sports gaming, so here's hoping EA's latest hockey effort keeps the momentum going. Here's my take on what they've told us so far.
Next-Gen Vision
EA says this will make skating more responsive for human and AI players alike, and new player abilities will take full advantage of it. There could be good and bad applications to this. I'm all for more responsive skating, but the talk of abilities is a potential red flag.
One of the things I've noticed in both football and soccer games is the gap between players with and without abilities seems to grow annually. For example, Madden has the Secure Tackler ability that ensures players are well - secure at tackling. That's great for the guys that have it. But some of the other players treat tackling as if it's a hobby, not their job. Shouldn't every linebacker that's three or four years deep in his NFL career be good at tackling?
Players in possession of the puck will skate with the goal as their target, while players without the puck will skate with the puck as their goal. This seems like the way it should work, and hopefully advances in technology have made it easier to pull off.
Empowered AI
According to EA, this is a complete overhaul of the AI player system. Skaters will supposedly make better use of open space and be more threatening on offense. EA also said players will make better reads and glide into offensive positions. I hope all this is true, right now I'm filing it under I'll believe it when I see it.
Reactive Actions
EA said players in NHL 25 will get tangled up with each other a lot less. I know it's a contact sport and sometimes the inevitable happens, but this is EA acknowledging it was far too common in previous years. Players will be able to quickly change direction and use their stick to take away space on the ice. This all sounds good, I hope they pull it off.
Skill-Based One Timers
This is one of the things I'm most excited about. MLB The Show 24 and NBA 2K25 are industry leaders in making a player feel that it was their input that made the decisive play. Pinpoint pitching in MLB is a relevation. Wnen I blow a 98 mph fastball past an opponent in the 9th inning, I feel like Randy Johnson in his heyday.
The same applies to NBA 2K25's complex but satisfying shot settings. When I hit a game-winning shot, I know I hit the meter perfectly. In the same vein, when I brick said shot I know I'm the one that messed it up.
Skill-Based One Timers sound very much like the NHL version of these plays. The timing window on these shots takes into the speed of the puck and the shooter's abilities. Of course, there's an X-Factor that influences. But Brian, you said you hate abilities. Not always. One-timers are fun, and we're here to have fun, right? These one timers are more powerful and more accurate if timed properly.
EA Sports NHL 25 releases Oct. 4 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.