Play online with up to twelve skaters including user controlled goalies. Using real-world NHL rosters you can compete in ranked drop-in games against players from around the world or invite your friends to a private OTP session before you step into EA SPORTS Hockey League. Whether you’re an armchair GM, want to live out your NHL pro fantasy, or build your ultimate dream team, NHL 16 will deliver a single-player game mode for every type of hockey fan – each with new features that you’ve never seen in EA SPORTS NHL.

Play Couch Co-op Online: It is the best platform NHL 16 providing for some practice action session before a real battle in OTP or EA Sport Hockey league. Play with your friend, stick together with some forces and play some cool hockey online. NHL 16 is among the first EA Sports titles to complete the transition to current-generation consoles. Gamers won’t have the option to buy NHL 16 for anything besides Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PS4. It’s only those versions that video game retailer GameStop is talking pre-orders for already.

We also learned that there is an early NHL 16 release date on Xbox One with EA Access. The EA Access program offers new EA games up to play five days early, with six hours of gameplay. These are the full games and progress carries over to the official release. EA Access is $5 a month or $30 a year. The service also offers access to a range of older EA games. Gamers can pre-order NHL 16 on Amazon, at GameStop and Best Buy. The game is $59.99 for the base version and $69.99 for a deluxe version with Hockey Ultimate Team bonus content. Expect to see NHL 16 deals closer to the release. Take a player that you could quick-sell for 306 NHL 16 pucks and put the starting price at 350 pucks.

EA says it has tweaked player awareness so they are better at using a skate to stay onside during a rush. Player ratings are still sky high, which gives the game very little in terms of player differentiation. The NHL series is notorious for a serious lack of roster updates during the season. EA says this is because of the large number of players on its various rosters and that it’s “currently assessing the feasibility of more frequent roster updates.” In terms of changes to this year’s game-play, the new class system is easily the biggest change.

Gamers who crave team experiences should know that 6 v. 6 Online Team Play, Online Couch Co-op, or the fan favorite, EA SPORTS Hockey League have all been rebuilt with this new class system that EA Sports is touting as “a more competitive and balanced experience.” While we don’t have all the details, the basic idea behind the class system is that you now select what types of players will be on your team. Will you pack your team full of big bruisers and try to smash your opponents into submission? Will you choose mostly fast skaters with strong puck handling skills? How you outfit your team will determine the strengths and weaknesses of your team.

Players can also create themselves inside the game, with an expanded personalization tool for the Be A Pro career mode. During careers, coaches are more likely to offer advice and direction, and new visualizations are in place to help new players through training. In the Be A GM management mode, there are new concerns as player morale is being added as a factor. Players who wish to be traded play less effectively, while those who are teamed up with old friends are likely to excel.

The Stanley Cup playoffs are well under way, and hockey fans have only just recently been treated to news that many of the axed game modes from NHL 15 will be returning in this year’s NHL 16. With an official unveiling of the game now imminent, we can’t help but wonder which professional, puck paddling athlete will be gracing the cover of the new title. EA Sports released an official gameplay trailer for its “NHL 16″ video game at E3 on Monday and it showcases a quick 1:40 snapshot of the forthcoming game.

A few things that stand out include arena atmosphere, smoother passing, the addition of mascots and better celebrations. All 30 arenas were upgraded last year in regard to presentation, look and authenticity. They will be even more life-like this season with chants – including the “YES! YES! YES!” chant from New York Islanders fans – and goal songs, including the Chicago Blackhawks’ “Chelsea Dagger.” Player faces also look much more real. Even facial hair, such as San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns’ epic beard, look amazing in HD. “NHL 16″ will be released Sept. 15 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The cover athlete has yet to be announced.

Read More

NHL 16 featured with HUT single player mode that will allow every player to practice before challenging any friend or player online with play a friend feature. This feature is incorporated with more improvement and fun. On screen signs of Ice Training: This feature is really useful when one wants to hone his playing skills. This feature will certainly sharp the skills of offense and defense in the game. When one practice in this mode signs appear on screens that helps the player to learn more and fast about passing lanes, shooting targets and many more.

 

Best in class arena authenticity gets even better with the inclusion of authentic arena effects and props including team specific celebrations, mascots, chants, and even signature props like the Lighthouse at the Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota. Doc Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, and Ray Ferraro are back and now call the game with even more emotion. Hear Doc’s voice rise and fall with the action on the ice and get analysis from Eddie & Ray on the peaks and valleys of a NHL season. An expanded NBC SPORTS broadcast package and new pre-game intros brings the drama to life in more ways than ever before.

 

When users are playing online they’re able to team up with five other players and play against a rival team of up to six players. Electronic Arts calls this Online Team Play. Online Couch Co-Op is another coming feature. In this mode, EA Sports is trying to remove all the unnecessary obstacles and menus that keep gamers from playing online with their friends. Players can drop in and out of Online Couch-Cop sessions, making it the perfect mode for users with tons of friends or just looking to wind down after a long day.

 

EA Sports confirmed the NHL 16 release date for September 15th. This places the game ahead of FIFA 16 and leaves room for a NHL 16 demo release date in early September. At the EA E3 2015 press conference EA Sports revealed a new NHL 16 gameplay trailer. This is not completely gameplay, as much of the trailer is cinematic, but you get an idea of what the game engine is capable of. To help newcomers who don’t know a slapshot from a wrist shot, EA has developed a new in-game tutorial system. As you play, an overhead marker will give you tips about when is the right time to pass, shoot, check, etc.

 

Since videogames are still a business. EA Sports wanted us to pass along that fans who pre-order the game will receive up to $15 worth of Hockey Ultimate Team? content. Gamers can also start their hockey experience with the NHL 16 Deluxe Edition that comes with up to $50 added value of Hockey Ultimate Team content. As for NHL? 15 owners, they will receive 10 HUT packs if they pre-order or purchase NHL16 through direct digital download on the Xbox Marketplace or PlayStation Store when the offers are available.

 

That kind of playmaking creativity has been limited in hockey video games because of the way they’ve fudged the act of pass reception. NHL 16 developer EA Canada is seeking to eliminate that problem this year with a subtle gameplay tweak that could pay major dividends on the virtual ice. Until this point, EA’s NHL games have forced skaters into a glide as they receive a pass. Players will now be able to receive a pass while accelerating or turning. New puck pickups are designed to lead to smoother transitions to the player’s next move.

 

Our most memorable game in NHL 16 went to a shootout, which we won. The game had been pretty even prior to that, but I’d had a lot more hits and quite a few more shots/scoring chances. The pressure fluctuated, and things got pretty crazy at times, like a playoff game between two teams who hate each other. As I sit here in my hotel room, typing away on my laptop, all I can think about is how much I’d like to be playing NHL 16 right now. Not only is that a great indicator of the game’s lasting impression on me, and its fun factor in general, but also how much of a Canadian I really am.

Read More