Momentum has been one of the big buzzwords in sports games over the past few years. It’s popped up in Madden, FIFA, and now NHL. But is this new gameplay mechanic really a game-changer? Well, to a degree.
Momentum definitely does count for a lot in ice hockey. When you’re screaming down the rink with the puck, you shouldn’t be able to turn on a dime, like you generally could in NHL 12. And thus, much of the strategy is now predicated around abusing momentum to get an open shot — e.g., hitting the brakes like Maverick in Top Gun and letting the defense fly right by. This change affects everything: shooting, skating, and defense. And that’s in addition to the fact that it’s now possible to hold LT and orient yourself in any direction you want, making it that much easier to get off a quality shot.
The classic Gretzky-against-the-Flyers moment from 1981. Hey, wasn’t EB Games known as Electronics Boutique back then?For that reason, NHL 13 is a solid update, particularly for those who buy the series mainly for the already-excellent EA Sports Hockey League, which lets you team with your friends in a tournament setting. Further reinforcing that impression is the new GM Connected, an online dynasty mode in which multiple people can play together on one team, as either a GM, coach, or player. It’s a little simpler than offline dynasty, as it lacks GM goals and the ability to play as minor-league teams, but the very fact that hundreds of people can join one league is impressive.
If NHL 13 has a problem, it’s that it feels like a stopgap ahead of a much bigger update. Momentum is a terrific addition, but it doesn’t change the fact that the game’s animations looks stiff, and that the Be a GM mode lacks increasingly common sports-game elements such as news headlines, RPG elements, and players who have to be kept happy. What was once the best sports game on the market is starting to age a bit, and that feeling isn’t changed by the addition of NHL Moments challenges, even if these playable re-enactments of classic moments (like Wayne Gretzky’s five-goal game against the Flyers) are pretty fun.
With Madden receiving a reboot, and FIFA and NBA 2K pushing forward, it feels like the once cutting-edge NHL is getting left behind. Momentum and GM Connected will keep the faithful happy for another year, but we sense that the best is yet to come.
PUBLISHER: Electronic Arts • DEVELOPER: EA Canada • ESRB: Everyone 10+ • MULTIPLAYER: 2 locally, 12 over Xbox Live • ACHIEVEMENTS: Obsessive-compulsive • COST: $60 • RELEASE DATE: September 11, 2012
+ Momentum makes a big difference in skating, shooting, and defense.
+ GM Connected impresses by letting multiple people play on one team as a GM, coach, or player.
– Feels a bit old due to aging graphics and other outdated elements.
? Is a massive overhaul on the horizon for this franchise?
