![]() ![]() In Franchise, these abilities do have an impact on scouting and line chemistry but, overall, more players need Superstar abilities. I found little reason to care what abilities my opponents had in Be a Pro, but I did find myself chasing them to configure my World of Chel character. ![]() Their impact varies depending on the mode, though. Superstar X-Factor Abilities are probably the most exciting addition to NHL 22. An X-Factor player can have both Zone abilities and Superstar abilities, while Superstar players only have Superstar abilities. Superstar abilities are more specific and less powerful, such as improved shot deflection or better agility in direction changes. Zone abilities are more defining and are reserved for X-Factor players, like Sidney Crosby and his Beauty Backhand Zone ability. These are broken down into two categories: Zone abilities and Superstar abilities, and they are available to two types of players: X-Factor and Superstar. What’s in the box?įrom a gameplay perspective, the biggest change is the addition of Superstar X-Factor Abilities in NHL 22. These notifications promoting safe and positive play pop up so often that it sticks with you, and that’s a good thing. There are several in-game notifications promoting positive play and encouraging players to make NHL a safe place for everyone who wishes to enjoy it. Still, there are real steps to make the NHL franchise more accessible and inclusive. I wanted to love the color-blind settings because protanopia allows me to read menus easier, but they change the color of uniforms in addition to the HUD and menus, which I just couldn’t get used to. NHL 22 features extensive settings to make it more accessible, including color blind options, menu narration, and more. Where I want to give credit is with the accessibility push. This was particularly bad with my coach in Be a Pro. When you get into Be a Pro cinematics, you can get wild discoloration in your player’s hair, or a complete lack of texture for the hair of some NPCs. This extends to augmented reality stats between whistles, where the on-ice graphics are either difficult to see or gone too quickly. Maybe they are staring in the wrong direction, have the Tanev eyes, or lack any semblance of life whatsoever. Most of the time when I pop into an instant replay and look closely at a player’s face, something is off. Facial expressions can be downright comical at times, with ample examples of players looking a lot like Branden Tanev’s last few headshots. The issue with the visual overhaul, is that there are graphical hiccups that didn’t exist in the old system. It’s also once again solid on sound, with Ray Ferraro and James Cybulski calling the action, and Carrlyn Bathe chipping in between whistles. This extends to the visual presentation, as NHL 22 now features stat packages presented as augmented reality graphics before some faceoffs. ![]() The lighting in the arenas is much better, as is the detail in player uniforms and facial expressions. This is mostly true, as NHL 22 can look far superior to past games on the PS4 or Xbox One. In the lead up to the release of NHL 22 EA Vancouver wasn’t shy about how a move to the Frostbite engine, as well as to the PS5 and Xbox Series X, would allow for better visuals. ![]() This year, however, I’m underwhelmed by the additions to NHL 22, and the lack of polish for both new and old features alike. Each year I’m eager to find out what EA Vancouver has added to the game, and how they’ve pushed video game hockey forward. It’s the game that my buddy and I will play for hours as we manage our franchise through in-game menus, a ridiculous spreadsheet, and even a whiteboard. That’s the game my friends will buy so the six of us can play against the CPU a few nights a week. That’s a game I’m going to play for the next year. Every year when the new NHL game drops from EA Vancouver, I get excited. ![]()
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