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.
