For whatever reason, though, nobody has addressed the bad menu system that’s existed for years. It’s important to create a smoother feel on-ice and EA did exactly that this year. In contrast to the on-ice product, the menus in NHL 20 (the main menu, the menus in franchise mode and the like), all feel slow, delayed and choppy. Having said that, however, the feel of every other aspect in NHL 20 is still lacking. For that reason alone, the gameplay rating can be salvaged. In the menus, the game feels as clunky as ever and there’s still clear lag when maneuvering through various settings, game modes and the like.Īs mentioned, NHL 20 feels incredible when on the ice and outside of the menus themselves. It’s hard to really pinpoint how gameplay in NHL 20 feels because there are various factors to consider here. There is still some work to be done, but EA Sports can rest on these gameplay mechanics in NHL 21 and focus their efforts on improving other facets of their game. Goalies do a better job of freezing up the puck – whether it is a shot into their chest or a loose puck in the crease, much like they do in the real NHL.Īll of this makes NHL 20 feel almost identical to real-life hockey. In addition to the new goalie mechanics EA introduced, the goalies also seem to make more realistic saves. Related: NHL 20 Player Ratings: Boston Bruins Gone are the days when your player gets locked into an animation when picking up a loose puck or receiving a pass. Gone are the days when your player throws a dribbling backhand shot on goal when you intended for them to take a wrist shot. The skating looks and feels good much like NHL 19, but the shooting and puck pickups make for a very invigorating experience. With the introduction of RPM Tech 2.0, NHL 20 feels like a very realistic game. The rating for gameplay is based on the overall feel of the game. Whether it’s the way skating feels, passing and shooting works compared to past years and even goaltender tendencies, NHL 20 hit the mark in just about every conceivable way this time around.
This is a very big plus for NHL 20 and any future sports title as it means that EA is starting to hone in on their RPM (Real Player Motion) technology in a way that feels authentic to hockey’s real-life counterpart. The game feels smoother than previous iterations of EA’s NHL franchise and because of this, it inherently feels faster. The feel in-game in NHL 20 is as good as it’s ever been. Related: NHL 20 Features Drastically Improved Gameplay With that said, though, NHL 20 is the perfect step forward from the foundation that NHL 19 created. We’ve become skeptical about the idea of sports games improving each year because they’ve led us into a state of false optimism so many times in the past.
You will see the occasional juicy rebound if you force a goaltender into desperation mode but, more often then, netminders will direct rebounds to the boards or smother them completely. Goalies are also more effective when it comes to cutting off angles and preventing rebounds. It is also more effective: players will chip one-timers in when they’re receiving a cross-crease pass and wheel around to take a forehand shot even if they are out of position.Įlias Pettersson, NHL 20 (Courtesy of EA Sports) Unlike in past games, the shooting feels very fluid and less robotic. RPM Tech 2.0 introduced a new shooting and goalie mechanics that make NHL 20 feel very realistic. In NHL 20, they stepped it up a notch with RPM Tech 2.0. Johnson: 10/10ĮA Sports made a huge leap with NHL 19 when they introduced RPM Tech 1.0. The mechanics rating is based on facets such as skating, hitting, and the overall physics of the game. The combination of the grades will culminate in a total score on 100. Each category will be scored from 1-10 with 10 being the best grade. Those categories include Mechanics, Gameplay, Presentation, Game Modes and Replay Value. 13, 2019, it’s finally time for fans to get an idea of exactly what NHL 20 is and whether or not it’s something they deem worthy of purchasing.įellow T HW writer Drew Johnson and I took on the task of reviewing NHL 20 for its official release to help those who are on the fence make a decision once and for all.īecause there are various things to consider in a review such as this, we evaluated the game on five different categories.
With the game releasing for early access on Sept. Before they do, however, it isn’t uncommon for people to wait for others to reveal their own thoughts on the latest game to see if it’s worth upgrading from the previous year’s title. NHL 20 is finally out and fans are anxious to get their hands on the latest installment of one of the most iconic titles in gaming.