INFO:
Release Date: September 9, 2014
Platforms: PS4/Xbox One, PS3/XB360
Price: $69.99 for Standard, 79.99 for Ultimate in Canada...$59.99/$69.99 in US
Developer: EA Canada
Publisher: EA Sports
PS4/Xbox One version:
Modes/Features
•No GM Connected
•No Online Team Play (when this is patched into the game later this year, it will use real NHL players and teams)
•No EA Sports Hockey League
•No EA Sports Arena
•No Online Shootouts
•No Live the Life
•No Be A Legend
•No Winter Classic
•No tournaments or Battle for the Cup
•No season mode (you can only play seasons in Be A GM, which is limited to NHL teams)
•No NHL 94 Anniversary mode
•No custom music support
•No create-a-play designer
•Cannot customize each team's AI
•No create-a-team
•No way to edit individual players
•Practice mode is now limited to one skater vs. an AI goalie
Gameplay
•No custom camera option
•No Action Tracker replay highlights
•No Top 3 Stars at the end of games.
Be A GM
•Yearly draft is fully automated by the CPU
•Cannot play the AHL games for your chosen franchise
•Players sent down to the minors do not accumulate any season stats
•No fantasy draft option
•No preseason games
Be A Pro
•No option to sim ahead to the next shift
•You only play in the NHL; you cannot play for minor league teams
•The Memorial Cup tryout period is gone. You now begin by picking an NHL team, or by letting a random CPU team draft you.
•No All-Star game
Ultimate Team
•Cannot play against your friends
•No tournaments
•No mobile app
PS3/360 version:
-This version does not include most of the gameplay features listed below, as they are next gen exclusive. New commentary is confirmed for this version, however.
-Has all game modes from previous NHL games, including EASHL, GM Connected, Live the Life, and more.
12 PLAYER NHL COLLISION PHYSICS
For the first time in any sports game, real-world physics affects every player through every on-ice collision with the new 12 Player NHL ® Collision Physics. Utilizing the power of the next generation consoles, and building off the critically-acclaimed NHL Collision Physics system, every player on the ice is governed by physics at all times. Feel the hard-hitting chaos of NHL hockey through true-to-life secondary collisions, net scrambles and player pileups, capturing the desperation of every shift.
REAL PUCK PHYSICS
The puck is one of the most complex items in the game to authentically replicate and it finally gets its due in NHL 15. Completely rebuilt puck physics result in a more realistic feel to every puck interaction. Everything on the ice, including the ice surface itself, is live which leads to the unpredictable and authentic puck spins, rolls and bounces seen in a real NHL game.
AUTHENTIC PLAYER AND EQUIPMENT MODELS
The Next Generation Hockey Player has been rebuilt from the ice up. Now player models have three distinct layers - the body, equipment, and jersey. Each layer interacts independently, making every contact with the puck or other players even more realistic. Dynamic Cloth technology adds an extra layer of realism as it reacts to the player’s movement as they explode up the ice, helping bring the speed of the game to life.
UNPRECEDENTED PLAYER LIKENESS
Powered by the same technology that brought the most realistic representation of the athlete to EA SPORTS UFC, NHL 15 delivers groundbreaking player likeness, emotion and animation. From the strides a player takes to get up the ice to the emotion on their face after scoring a game winning goal, the players are as real as they’ve ever been.
SUPERSTAR SKILL STICK
Now all the tools of an NHL superstar are in your hands. The revolutionary Skill Stick has evolved to give even more control to the player. Protect the puck, receive passes without breaking stride, and discover an arsenal of sweet new dekes, all with an intuitive right stick control scheme that is easy to use but packed with depth.
AUTHENTIC ARENAS
There is no feeling like being there, and we are giving you the best seats in the house. The power of the next-gen consoles finally allows the NHL franchise to capture every detail of an NHL arena. Unique arena elements from 19,000+ seat capacities to lighting and player entrance tunnels are captured with a level of detail not possible on the previous generation. Now those home games will truly feel like home.
NEW COMMENTARY TEAM
New voices for a new generation. NHL 15 welcomes the NBC Sports commentary team of Mike 'Doc' Emrick and Eddie Olczyk to the broadcast booth. TSN analyst Ray Ferraro will provide game insights at ice level. Combined with Real Life Broadcast Integration that will feature real-world pre-game video commentary with Doc and Eddie set against in-game visuals, NHL 15 takes a revolutionary step forward in sports videogames; where the lines between the real world of sport broadcast and the game are blurred.
NBC SPORTS GAME DAY PRESENTATION
The most realistic broadcast package in a video game to-date is possible because of a new partnership with NBC Sports. Set the scene with the NHL on NBC crew welcoming you to the city during the game intros and immerse yourself in an experience that matches what you see on television with NHL on NBC graphics and branding.
VIDEOS:
Official E3 Gameplay Trailer
Next-Gen Hockey Player
True Hockey Physics
Superstar Skill Stick
Gamescom Trailer
Overhead Gameplay
Demo available now on PS4/Xbox One.