NHL 21
- October 13, 2020
- EA Vancouver
While it holds up some similarities to NHL 20, there is enough to go into the rink, lace up your skates, and hit the ice.
Purchase EA SPORTS NHL 21: Great Eight Edition and receive: - 16 HUT Premium Packs - HUT Cover Athlete Choice Pack (Choice of: Ovechkin, Matthews, McDavid, Pettersson, Laine, Subban) - Be A Pro XP Boost and Bonus Trait and Specialization Points - 5 Unlocked Hockey Bags
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Be A Pro mode has seen significant improvements, offering a more engaging narrative and gameplay experience.
- The game features great graphics, sound, and fluid gameplay, making it enjoyable for hockey fans.
- There is a variety of modes available, including fun arcade-style gameplay and HUT Rush, which adds depth to the overall experience.
- The game lacks significant innovation on the ice, feeling more like a roster update than a new installment.
- Online multiplayer features have been neutered, leading to a disappointing experience for players who enjoy that aspect.
- Some gameplay oddities and a lack of voice acting in Be A Pro conversations detract from the overall immersion.
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
NHL 21 offers consistent gameplay improvements and introduces new features like signature moves and enhanced modes, but it suffers from a lack of innovation and significant updates in franchise mode. While the gameplay is generally well-received, some players find it too fast-paced, and there are lingering issues with physics and online multiplayer options. Overall, it feels more like an incremental update rather than a groundbreaking release.
“NHL 21 nails the gameplay, but leaves room for improvement in a few places.”
“Be a Pro tried something new, improved gameplay across the board, trade deadline madness, commentary continues to evolve, new dekes are both flashy and functional.”
“NHL 21 brings much-needed improvements and depth to the variety of game modes available, though does nothing to fix the same issues that make the fun arcade style gameplay feel out of place in the more sim-focused modes.”
“NHL 21 is an exercise in consistency, providing the usual improvements to graphics, sound, gameplay, and features while having the usual hindrances.”
“Neutering online multiplayer was a disappointing decision; some may find the gameplay too fast, and new signature moves can be hard to pull off in real-time.”
“Whilst the gameplay changes and additions to the game modes are welcomed, NHL 21 feels more like an update than a brand new game.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
NHL 21 showcases consistent graphical improvements, particularly in the upgraded Be a Pro mode, featuring fluid gameplay, great animations, and enhanced visuals that contribute to an enjoyable hockey experience. However, it still faces some typical limitations.
“Be a Pro mode is hugely upgraded; hockey feels fluid and enjoyable with great animations, actions, and visuals.”
“NHL 21 is an exercise in consistency, providing the usual improvements to graphics, sound, gameplay, and features while having the usual hindrances.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from a modern game.”
“Character models are poorly designed, making it hard to connect with the players on screen.”
- story1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The updated "Be a Pro" career mode offers an engaging narrative that captures the challenges of becoming a professional athlete, while the game's various modes and faithful representation of hockey culture enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the intuitive controls and new skill moves, which add style without being overpowered.
“The updated Be a Pro career mode is a huge step forward that delivers a mostly engaging story about the challenges of becoming a pro.”
“Hockey culture is represented faithfully, from the frozen ponds to the arenas.”
“A multitude of modes and ways to play helps the game appeal to whatever type of hockey you want to play.”
Critic Reviews
NHL 21 Review – On Thin Ice
I appreciate the shots that NHL 21 takes at improving the formula, but at the end of the day, most of those shots are too little too late, and end up making the overall experience just barely better than mediocre.
70%NHL 21 Review – Line Change, Please
For better or worse, NHL 21 lives up to the same quality of work it's known for in previous generations. While there are some attempts to push the series forward, the ones that could elevate it to the next line fall short of scoring any significant points. Just like most EA sports titles, you'll enjoy this if you're a hockey fan. Just don't expect too much, as it's pretty much another roster update with small quality of life tweaks.
70%NHL 21 Review
NHL 21 is an exercise in consistency, providing the usual improvements to graphics, sound, gameplay, and features while having the usual hindrances. Be A Pro is the real All-Star of this game but like every pro on the ice, there was still room for improvement and falls short in some very easy to notice ways.
70%
