After still simultaneously releasing on both next-gen and last-gen consoles over the last few years, EA Sports’ NHL franchise has finally graduated to current-generation consoles only. This is interesting as both Madden and the FC series are still sticking to last-generation consoles, though that is very likely because they have a much larger fanbase overall. With NHL 25 now being exclusive to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, the big question is whether or not you can tell that the last generations have been left behind in this latest iteration.
Hold a Grudge
Finally being next-gen only means NHL 25 is able to take the visuals to the next level. Utilizing the existing Frostbite engine with the introduction of the Sapien Technology, the character models do look better than ever. Sapien Technology has been being used in other franchises such as Madden and UFC in recent years and it does make a difference by making the player motion and animations look more realistic than ever before, though the difference is not as drastic as I would have hoped overall.
The new engine is paired with the all-new ICE-Q logic-driven animation system that is made up of three parts, including Next-Gen Vision Control, Empowered AI, and Reactive Actions. Next-Gen Vision Control affects both human and computer players with how they respond and move on the ice for the most authentic hockey experience to date. Empowered AI gives CPU players much more awareness of what other players are doing on the ice, giving realistic responses and execution on the fly. Reactive Actions build from there by offering new animations that make skaters more responsive in big situations.
With ICE-Q creating more offensive opportunities most of the time, the game also has introduced new Skill-Based One-Timers. This is a very precise system where you can input the shot control as the puck arrives to a teammate while in the process of passing to them. If you manage to time it correctly, you will use the more powerful and accurate Skill-Based One-Timer. There is some risk and reward here though, as mistiming can result in poor shots as well. NHL 25 also returns the very exciting Pressure system from last year’s game, which continues to add a lot more intensity to games when mixed with the other new gameplay features.
One of the coolest new features added in NHL 25 is the Grudge Match system. This plays into the game’s presentation, as Grudge Match tracks the full history of different matchups between teams in both offline and online game modes. This adds a lot more life to each and every matchup, rather than it just being another run of the mill game in the middle of a season or something. Grudge Match also has Impact Players that get special X-Factors for how they performed in past games, adding a lot more to rivalry games when a player has done well in previous outings against that same team. NHL 25 has also received an upgrade with the Infinite Camera System, which offers additional camera angles all throughout the arenas.
Be a Pro mode is back to no one’s surprise in NHL 25, as it’s the main offline single-player controlled mode in the series. After creating your player and picking their archetype from options like Sniper, Playmaker, and Enforcer, you get to pick where your pro starts off their career. There are three options to choose from, starting from the CHL’s Memorial Cup, starting in Europe, or jumping straight to the NHL. If you select to start from the CHL’s Memorial Cup or in Europe, you will go about the respective tournament or playoffs before moving to get drafted in the NHL. I always find it fun to play something a little different by not starting in the NHL right away, but the choice is really up to you. Where else are you going to get to play as the Erie Otters or Niagara Icedogs anyways?
In-between games, you will get interviewed by reporters at times and be given the option to answer with the given Team, Neutral, or Star option. These affect your Likeability ratings across the Brand, Management, and Teammate meters, so you have to be careful to craft the way you want your player to be perceived by others.
There is a skill tree for your player that allows you to improve their skills by using the Trait Points that you earn in the game. The skill tree is split between Shooting, Puck Skills, Senses, Skating, Physical, Defense, and Dialogue, which is really not much different from past entries or really any other sports game that has a player-based mode.
One area I noticed was kind of hit and miss was the actual grading of your player, where it would give you good or bad scores based on what didn’t seem like much. It felt like the overall scores were way too focused on the suggested focus in the games and not your overall gameplay. Hockey is always a very hard game to play, so I feel like it could have been better communicated on where you need improvements in each game than is provided.
After you start earning money with contracts, you can start spending your money through Salary Perks that can pay great dividends by giving stat upgrades, likeability improvements, and even things such as more Trait Points. Compared to the recent EA Sports FC 25, there is a lot more versatility in what you can spend your money on in NHL 25. This includes buying things like cars or property, hiring personnel such as a chef, community manager, or a financial advisor. You can also use your money by investing it in the stock market or to start your own clothing brand, while also being able to use it for more charitable means by donating to different causes or buying lunch and dinner for the whole team. If you are really successful in your career, you can even reach the legendary tier of Salary Perks and make extravagant purchases like a luxury yacht, a private jet, or the most expensive of all private island. Some of these perks are limited to a certain amount of time, while others are permanent for your player. This is something you don’t have to worry about if you don’t really want to and would rather just focus on playing, but it’s a fun distraction between games that can also help you out greatly in the long run.
The in-game simulation between appearances seemed very slow most of the time and could be much more intuitive. It almost felt like a relic of the old menu systems in EA Sports titles that they have managed to fix, but within one of the game modes. It just would lag on here and sometimes take 10 seconds to pull up, which is really frustrating when you aren’t a starter and are going in and out of the game.
Franchise mode is always one of my favorite modes to play in any sports game as it allows me to take control of a team and play through their entire season and beyond, whether that is solo offline or with friends online. The amount of options at your disposal varies across different sports game franchise modes though, with NHL 25 letting you choose between authentic, a custom league, or a 33-team expansion draft.
Within Franchise, you have the ability to take control as the owner with Owner Mode and worry about things like budgets, relocation, promotions, and much more. Those would would rather just take control as the coach of the team and handle things from that level down instead of from the very top. My preference is to focus more on the actual games themselves as the coach, but the owner mode has some things for you to do regardless.
As soon as you boot up Franchise mode, you’ll notice the new streamlined menu navigation that is much better than in the past. In fact, the overall menus for NHL 25 themselves are a big improvement over the past by being much more intuitive and easy to use. This new Franchise hub provides you with lots of information that includes scores, player stats, and even a goals and challenges section.
From there, Franchise is pretty much the same as in recent years overall. One neat feature is as the coach, you can now ask players to change their playstyle to better suit what you need on the team. This can lead to positive or negative effects on the player, which come into play with their stats and abilities as well. There are also some upgrades by supporting No Trade and No Movement clauses in each contract year, as well as enhanced negotiations. However, Franchise as a whole still feels really stale. As a mode that is always a favorite of mine and many others, there is really nothing major here new to attract someone compared to last year’s game.
Hockey Ultimate Team is back in NHL 25, with HUT is generally the same at its core as in past years and really other EA Sports games for that matter. One new element though is Wildcard Mode, which have different rulesets per competition cycle and requires you to think on your toes to adjust to the current ruleset using your team of collected players. The card tier rankings have also been changed, with 80+ OVR being Gold, 75-79 OVR being Silver, and 74 OVR and below being Bronze. Overall though, HUT is just as you would expect from past years and could really use more of an overhaul here, especially in a mode that relies on players spending money on microtransactions to keep it afloat.
The always popular World of CHEL mode also follows the trend of most modes in this game by being more of the same. This uses a season mode like in the past, where you play and unlock items in the season’s Battle Pass. The one new feature here is the introduction of Live Events that will come throughout the year, but it’s hard to judge that so far. Like the rest of the game modes, World of CHEL feels like it could have used a major revamp to avoid feeling like the same as past years, though it is still quite fun for what it is regardless.
Verdict
While it may be the first exclusively next-gen NHL game this generation, NHL 25 doesn’t really feel like that much of a leap over last year’s game. In fact, the additions last year felt much more substantial with the gameplay to where this year’s feels much more like a roster update than anything else. The gameplay is still a lot of fun and there are some new features sprinkled around the game along with the decent visual and animation upgrades, but much like Madden this year, NHL 25 feels like a lackluster release for what appears to be a stagnant franchise at this point.
Score: 7/10
Pros:
- Gameplay is still great
- Grudge Match adds more intensity to certain matchups
- ICE-Q has some potential
Cons:
- Feels more like a roster update than a new game
- No new game modes
- Expect more for the first next-gen only game this generation
NHL 25 review code was provided by the publisher. You can read MP1st’s review and scoring policy right here.
