NHL 17
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for NHL 17
The latest hockey video game from EA Sports finally gets the series back on track, with NHL 17 giving fans almost every thing they could ask for from the series.
NHL 17 offers such variety that it’s easy to recommend to many players. The continued focus on accessibility and on-ice training fits the series well, and added depth to the EASHL keeps long-time fans like me coming back. The franchise mode finally gives the GM/owner mode a reason to be played, and even Draft Champions, while a bit simplistic, provides a motivation to interact with the Ultimate Team ecosystem. Most importantly, the hockey presented on the ice is dynamic and fluid, and it serves up an excellent version of the fastest game around.
The on-ice play hasn’t undergone a drastic transformation from last year, and outside of EASHL not many of the modes have long legs
NHL 17’s most promising features are held back by its reuse of old elements
The NHL series' gameplay continues to impress in NHL 17, but with only incremental upgrades, it feels like a game we've played before.
NHL 17 has some real strengths, but it still feels like it hasn't quite made it out of the previous generation. The gameplay is strong but increasingly dated; the feature set feels haphazard, and there are lots of niggling quality-of-life issues. It feels more and more like the series is stuck in a rut, and it's hard to say where EA Canada should take it next. For now, NHL 17 is another decent outing, but the next step remains elusive.
EA Sports has three different sports titles under their belt.
If you’re looking for an authentic NHL game with excellent gameplay and plenty of modes, this is definitely the game for you.
