NHL 11, the latest hockey game released by EA Sports, hit shelves on Tuesday, Sept. 7, giving fans plenty of time to try out the game before the official start of the 2010-11 NHL season.
Fans of the award-winning series will certainly appreciate the effort put into this year’s product, which features improved gameplay, a new game mode and tons of minor details geared towards creating the most realistic hockey game possible.
The gameplay is not only smoother than in previous years, but it is also slowed down to capture the realism of a NHL game. Users now have to be more accurate with passing as well as develop and put into effect a strategy to score goals and win games.
Hockey fanatics will recognize the minor details put into the game this year and thank EA Sports for their attention to detail. Some of these details include a larger catalog of player and goaltender equipment, the ability to review controversial goals and the addition of broken sticks to the game.
“EA claims that the most requested feature coming off of last year’s game was the inclusion of broken sticks, and it’s a big part of NHL 11,” Nate Ahearn, who reviewed the game for IGN, said.
Some of these minor details may not seem overly significant, but they keep fans coming back year after year.
The new game mode introduced by EA Sports for this year’s game is Ultimate Team mode, which is similar to the Be A GM franchise mode introduced in NHL 10.
Ultimate Team mode allows users to build their own teams by acquiring player cards and boosting their attributes over time. Gamers also must figure out which player combinations work best together, making team chemistry an important part of this mode.
NHL 11 also offers the EA Sports Ultimate Hockey League to gamers in coordination with Ultimate Team mode. This is a way for players to test their teams out online against opponents from around the world, taking online play to a whole new level.
Some of the returning game modes in this year’s game include Season, Playoff, Be A GM and Be A Pro.
Season mode allows you to play a full-length campaign with the team of your choosing, without having to worry about the status of your minor league team and off-season. Playoff mode allows you to jump right into the playoffs and battle 15 other teams for right to hoist the Stanley Cup.
The Be A GM mode allows you to play multiple seasons all the while controlling the trades, free agent signings and draft selections that your team makes. Be A GM mode can last from five to 25 seasons in length and each year you are given a set of team goals that you are expected to accomplish.
Would you like to become the next Alex Ovechkin or Martin Brodeur? If so, look no further than Be A Pro mode. This mode allows you to create a player and then either enter the draft or select a team to join. Typically, your player will start off in the minor leagues and work towards an NHL roster spot by accomplishing goals and following the orders of your coach.
The abundance of game modes, combined with numerous minor details and stronger gameplay, make NHL 11 a game that simply shouldn’t be passed up.
Whether you prefer playing a season with your favorite team, creating a high-scoring forward in Be A Pro mode or playing against your friends online, this game has it all.
Both casual and dedicated hockey fans will be able to easily adapt to this game and enjoy it to the fullest.
After all, it may just be the most realistic hockey game ever created.
