NHL 14 News Post

NHL 14 Official Trailer, Six New Features Announced

10:48 AM - April 15, 2013 by Steve_OS

Electronic Arts Inc. announced today the breakthrough features for EA SPORTS NHL®14 that are set to unleash the aggression, speed and skill of NHL hockey through the best technology of this console generation that EA SPORTS has to offer. Deliver game-changing hits with cutting-edge NHL® Collision Physics, built from EA SPORTS FIFA’s revolutionary Player Impact Engine. Drop the gloves with the all-new Enforcer Engine, powered by the same technology used in the critically acclaimed Fight Night franchise. Experience a new level of speed and control with the second season of the critically-acclaimed True Performance Skating engine, and dangle defenders with all-new One-Touch Dekes. In addition, fans can Live the Life of an NHL player in an all-new incarnation of the Be a Pro Career Mode, now featuring on and off-ice elements. NHL 14 will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. NHL 14 releases on September 10, 2013 in North America and September 13, 2013 in Europe.

“We’re very proud of the history of innovation that the EA SPORTS NHL franchise has produced on this console generation, and this year we’re amplifying that innovation by leveraging technology from teams like FIFA and Fight Night,” says Dean Richards, General Manager, NHL, EA SPORTS. “This year fans will feel the speed, skill and aggression of NHL hockey like never before, powered by some of the best EA SPORTS technology to create the best game we could ever imagine.”

The NHL 14 official trailer can be found here.

NHL 14 Features

NHL® Collision Physics – Developed from the same core technology that powers EA SPORTS FIFA’s critically-acclaimed Player Impact Engine, NHL® Collision Physics introduces bigger, more thrilling hits, and truer-to-life collisions. A new left-stick control scheme makes delivering a game-changing hit simpler and more rewarding than ever.
Enforcer Engine – Powered by the same technology used in the critically acclaimed Fight Night franchise, NHL 14 will bring a brand new third-person presentation to showcase the anatomy of a fight. All players on the ice (human or CPU) remain live from the drop of the gloves to the trip to the penalty box, with no break in the action. This new technology delivers, for the first time in the EA SPORTS NHL franchise, true size and strength differentiation between players, new jostling mechanics and much more to create the most authentic and electrifying experience yet.
True Performance Skating – Built on the breakthrough innovation that introduced physics-based skating and over 1,000 new skating animations to the EA SPORTS NHL franchise. The second year of the True Performance Skating features improved acceleration, explosive first-strides, quicker pivots and enhanced lateral skating, resulting in greater player responsiveness and unprecedented control.
One-Touch Dekes – Experience what it feels like to be a superstar through a new, more responsive deking system controlled only with the left stick and one-button. From beginner to advanced gamers, the system allows for quicker reactive dekes and intuitive combination dekes, creating more moves than ever before.
Live the Life – The new incarnation of the Be a Pro Career Mode, now you can truly Live the Life of an NHL player. On or off the ice, every decision you make shapes your legacy as an athlete. Interact with teammates outside of the rink. Take part in media interviews. Each choice you make will affect your relationship with fans, teammates and management, influencing your skills and progression.
HUT & EASHL Online Seasons – NHL 14 adds the best-in-class promotion and relegation system in the sports category to the Hockey Ultimate Team & EA SPORTS Hockey League modes. Win games and advance to the next division to face tougher competition, fall short and see your team bumped down. Teams will be able to track their progress across multiple seasons.

Game: NHL 14Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 6 - View All

NHL 14 Videos

Member Comments

# 1 Zobitembois @ 04/15/13 10:54 AM

Looked good and sounded good.........like in every video game commercial.

# 2 DJ @ 04/15/13 11:24 AM

No mention of improvements to CPU AI or Be A GM = same old, same old for EA NHL.

# 3 onac22 @ 04/15/13 11:30 AM

Looked good sounded like they listened. Combined engines from other games. Maybe EA saved the best for last on this console and now they will really push all of the limits on all franchises this year.

# 4 Cletus @ 04/15/13 11:34 AM

I hate that one of the selling points was speed. The game was already too fast and too north/south already. Not sure how EASHL seasons will work, especially since it's been proven that there aren't enough players for multiple divisions.

# 5 Joey Sauce @ 04/15/13 11:37 AM

As far as what they state for EASHL....umm pretty sure that's already been in the game

# 6 Schmackity @ 04/15/13 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeyi05


	As far as what they state for EASHL....umm pretty sure that's already been in the game

It sounds like it'll be like European soccer, where you're in a particular division for a 'season' aka a month, then based on how you do, you can be moved up or down to try to find the proper talent pool to play against.

It sounds a lot better than how it is now where you just fluctuate game by game.

# 7 pf8363 @ 04/15/13 11:42 AM

No one cares about Be a Pro. Get over it.

These improvements sound familiar. These are the exact same selling points they've made year after year. When will we see a major improvement to goalies?

# 8 Cletus @ 04/15/13 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pf8363


	No one cares about Be a Pro. Get over it. These improvements sound familiar. These are the exact same selling points they've made year after year. When will we see a major improvement to goalies?

Lol, I think you mean, I don't play BAP so therefore no one does. There are lots of people on the NHL forum that play it and I'm glad they're giving some offline love to that mode. If they didn't touch it, you would be complaining about how they didn't do anything for the mode and it sucks. It sounds like you aren't gonna be happy either way.

# 9 Money99 @ 04/15/13 11:57 AM

Revamped BAP and 3rd-person fighting?
I'm definitely interested in '14 now.

I know what I'll be getting with the gameplay, but I love BAP modes so if this is close to what NBA2K offers, I might jump in again after a 3 year layoff.

# 10 Mostarac @ 04/15/13 12:41 PM

Same old **** from EA..

# 11 @legendm0de @ 04/15/13 12:53 PM

its so tempting to go after their updated engine for hitting powered by FIFA's. even though that's the most predictable feature I think any gamer on the planet could have named it.

the rest of the game is solid in my opinion, we'll see how I feel in september/october, but I'm leaning to continue my franchise in 13' and wait for NHL 15, in 2014, you know.. on the PS4

# 12 knich @ 04/15/13 12:59 PM

Where is the presentation overhaul? All the other EA titles and practically every other sports game that matters has vastly improved presentation. What's the problem? The arenas are a joke, the stat overlays are a joke, the cut scenes are a joke, heck the stats are a joke. Where are the AI improvements? Has EA watched a real hockey game. The battles are in the neutral zone and along the boards, the players cycle the puck constantly. It's not about big hitting..heck half the NHL players can't hit properly anyhow. Fighting...really? I like a good fight..but top feature? I've been a huge supporter of this game, but each year has become increasing frustrating with largely cosmetic improvements. Unfortunately, this iteration is shaping up to be just lipstick on a pig!

# 13 soxnut1018 @ 04/15/13 01:30 PM

Looks interesting, but I need to seem improvements to AI and presentation.

# 14 brandon27 @ 04/15/13 02:21 PM

Looks promising. Its always been a good series though. It really needs new commentary and graphics overlays though. That being said, please for the love of god don't get Mike Emerick to do the commentary. He's awful to listen to. I'd probably not buy it if he was in it. The commentary needs refreshing though, its been the same for what... 5 years now?

# 15 sparkdawg777 @ 04/15/13 02:38 PM

I'm a pretty casual hockey fan but I have always enjoyed the NHL series. I still play NHL 12 and all I play is Be a Pro. I am interested in how much they have improved the mode. Just wanted to clarify for those who think that since they don't like BAP no else does.

# 16 SinisterAlex @ 04/15/13 03:35 PM

Another NHL game where big hits happen every hit.... yay.

# 17 bwiggy33 @ 04/15/13 03:52 PM

Really happy they changed the dekeing. Hopefully this means the stick handling in this game is better too. As great and fun as the control system is in the game, the dekes and stick handling are so unrealistic. No player extends his arms as far as they do in this game without losing the puck, at least in a game situation. I also hope that the players can keep moving their feet while stick handling. This could really be a big time addition for the game. The only way this is good though, is if only the top players can do the moves.

As for fighting, what a shocker. What a great gameplay addition! Why do people think this is so important? It's the one thing people ask for that just baffles me. It's one of those small details that should get worked on when the AI and gameplay is actually good. Fighting is a 30 second window of the game, and it doesn't even happen every game. To me it's an utter joke that this is even thought of with the issues the gameplay already has.

I'm a little interested on the new hitting physics. I still think it's a shame that for the past 3 years we've all heard about how the system they implemented in NHL 10 was going to redefine the game. Then they go out and supposedly "tune" it each year and bam, here we are with a completely new physics engine borrowed from a different game three years later. I will say it's probably the best way to do it though. The NHL team obviously doesn't have the amount of workers as FIFA, so that is a very smart move. As for the skating, it will also be interesting to see how it's improved.

I'm not going to say that the AI wasn't worked on because it's extremely early for that. I'm sure it did get worked on, but overall I am in no way holding out hope that the main issues with the AI are going to be fixed. If this ends up being the case there is absolutely no way I will be purchasing. I will wait for NHL 15 on PS4, if it looks good enough. No physics, skating changes, or BAP changes, will make this feel any different unless the AI is respectable. That's just plain and simple.

Oh may I add, it was great to see the goalies stuck in the same animations (Cory Schneider and Kari Lehtonen) we've had since NHL 07. I guess it's probably a little too late to redo something like this. Hopefully this is one of the first things worked on for Next Gen.

# 18 06woz @ 04/15/13 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwiggy33


	Really happy they changed the dekeing. Hopefully this means the stick handling in this game is better too. As great and fun as the control system is in the game, the dekes and stick handling are so unrealistic. No player extends his arms as far as they do in this game without losing the puck, at least in a game situation. I also hope that the players can keep moving their feet while stick handling. This could really be a big time addition for the game. The only way this is good though, is if only the top players can do the moves.

The bolded is my biggest hope for this game, the flow would be so drastically improved.

# 19 Storm12 @ 04/15/13 04:27 PM

I am interested in how BAP is improved, but I will wait until it goes on sale to get it, I'm not into buying a game right away anymore. I also wanna see how the fighting is changed (I'm still hoping for more of a catalyst to show when fights need to happen, but the third person will be way better than the first person they use now.

# 20 Money99 @ 04/15/13 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soxnut1018


	Looks interesting, but I need to seem improvements to AI and presentation.

Me too, but I don't think either will be touched until next-gen versions come out.

« Previous12 3 4 Next »

More Links

NHL 14 Official Trailer, Six New Features Announced