EA Sports NHL 14 will include a throwback to the classic NHL 94 with an anniversary mode to celebrate the 20th anniversary of it’s release.
The anniversary mode isn’t the only nod to hockey history in NHL 14, with the New Jersey Devil’s iconic net-minder Martin Brodeur adorning the cover. Brodeur edged out 60 other NHL stars, including Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky in the final round of voting, in an online poll to get on the cover 24 years after he was drafted.
The NHL 94 anniversary mode will add some bring some nostalgia to the rink by giving players the choice of all the minimalist features that made the original a classic. This means no offsides, no penalties and no icing as well as the inclusion of camera angles that were abandoned as the series updated and old-school three button controls.
The anniversary edition also brings back the timeless organ sounds synonymous with classic ice hockey and a retro soundtrack to complement the return to top down hockey action.
NHL 14 also totally overhauls two key game engines; player collisions and fighting. Taking notes from other games in the EA Sports roster the player collisions in NHL 14 will be powered by the FIFA Player Impact Engine. This will give hits, from bone-crushing bodychecks to player-flipping hipchecks, a more realistic feel than before.
Fighting has always been a weak point for the NHL series, but this is set to change for NHL 14. The new Enforcer Engine, based on the fight system from the Fight Night series, massively overhauls the fighting in-game. Fights will be started by CPU players as they react to big hits and fouls, and the fights will take place with all the players on the ice instead of a mini boxing match between the two participants. This should make the fights feel more fluid, more like part of the game opposed to an annoying distraction from the action.
The True Performance Skating Engine will be getting some updates, including a new deking system to give all players the ability to pull of spectacular moves made week-in, week-out by the biggest stars of the NHL. The Be A Pro and Be A GM mode will also be getting some minor updates.
These updates might tip me into getting this one. I’m a big fan of Ice Hockey and much prefer the NHL series to FIFA, the anniversary mode looks fun (NHL 94 on the Sega was some good times) and the overhauled fighting mode would get rid of my last bugbear.
Check out some trailers below
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