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Judging by my first 10 or so games, I think the NHL series is nearing some dangerous territory. I won’t say the series is about to plateau, as that sort of has a negative connotation. It’s just that, as the game continues to refine itself, the major changes will become harder to find if you're not a hardcore fan. 

Some big changes are included this year, and readily apparent for those with an intimate knowledge of the game. Things like the new anticipation engine make for a much more fluid game, especially in transition; signature style and traits certainly put a focus on star players as they take the ice; new animations and stick-work for battles around the net give a tactical and physical feel to those exchanges, and puck physics continue to impress (it feels like flip dumps lead to all sorts of different outcomes, for example).

Yet as meaningful as these changes are to the hardcore hockey fan, the other additions --those likely added to attract the more casual fan -- don’t quite hit home. The new mode, Be a Legend, feels like a half-hearted attempt at bringing something brand new to the table. The Winter Classic is pretty enough, but it would probably be better if it was current rather than about "reliving the 2011 Classic." (To be fair, the NHL hasn't really solidified all the details yet, but people know it's going to be Rangers/Flyers.) 

In some ways, this intro is a back-handed compliment. Sure, at the end of the day, there are not any groundbreaking improvements. That being said, NHL 12 is still a rock solid game. The small changes affect the game and the way you play it -- they just are not "game-changing."

In a lot of ways, this version of NHL reminds me of this year’s MLB: The Show. Both are representative of games reaching their peak and changing things that will likely only be appreciated by the most passionate of fans. When the gameplay is already good, as it is here, improvements are usually found in the details.

With all of that in mind, a few things did grab my attention, for better or worse, and are worth mentioning. I do like the presentation in this game. It might not be saying much, but it’s probably the best overall presentation in EA’s current lineup. The replay packages are especially good, and they are usually on-point in terms of hitting on a big event that just occurred in the game.

The commentary is less stellar. It is often a victim of recycled lines (another aspect this game shares with MLB 11), and the replays contain solid visuals but lack some punch because the commentators don't really shine light on them. Still, the commentary here is way better than, say, Madden’s commentary. However, it falls well short of anything 2K has done recently.

I also love EA’s Action Tracker, which is essentially a controllable game summary with embedded replays. It’s a really clean and quick way to view the game’s highlights.

Sometimes replays highlight the flaws in the physics engine, especially when clipping is apparent in limbs and sticks. Hits can look spectacular, or occasionally "off" on the ice. I once broke a pane of glass on what looked like a glancing blow. The implementation of hits has become more of a risk/reward, especially with players playing more to their style. It's easy to whiff on a hit, so you need to play it like the real NHL, not NHL Hitz. I still think it's too easy to skate yourself out of position, but the vision control (L2 on PS3) helps to keep your player lined up. 

Some passes are a little strange, and certainly not what you'd expect to see in a real game -- I'm talking long and crisp backhanded passes through multiple defenders. Not that they are impossible in real life, but just improbable and ill-advised. But these are not that common, and they are occasionally of my own design. 

Finally, I love the addition of Ultimate Team 24/7, which downloads another user’s team to play against offline. This is certainly better than grinding against the worst real team over and over. What’s more, your team is eligible to be downloaded, and you can earn EA Pucks even when you don’t play. 

Final Thoughts

It may not sound it, but I am really excited to spend more time with NHL 12. I just caution those users who are looking for the game to reinvent the wheel year after year. The gameplay here is familiar, but it’s no less fun or engaging than in the past.