NHL 17 News Post

NHL 17 Review

02:42 PM - September 10, 2016 by Steve_OS

The transition of EA Sports' NHL series to the current generation of consoles has been a storied tale thus far. We arrive at the third iteration in the cycle with NHL 17, and it finds itself in the fortunate position of being born out of a period of stability. Unlike last year, there are no significant wrongs to be righted, and the outpouring of fan unhappiness stemming back to NHL 15 has all but disappeared. It�s because of this that the shackles of the series have finally been let loose, paving the way for future innovations.

And yet, while NHL 17 is packed with an array of brand-new features and upgrades, it doesn�t feel like a revolutionary moment for the series. Instead, it tinkers with an already successful formula to create a sense of d�j� vu, but one that feels more satisfying this time around.

Read More - NHL 17 Review (Written by: Fraser Gilbert)

Game: NHL 17Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS4 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 5 - View All

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Member Comments

# 21 actionhank @ 09/12/16 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buck135


	The NHL series used to be great, especially on the PS2. The gameplay has been terrible on the current gen until, according to the reviews, this year. Madden, Fifa, MLB the Show and NBA 2K all improve every year. EA puts no money into this game. Getting roster updates is almost impossible yet Madden has new lines of dialogue implemented every week. They are only adding features each year that have been there before and selling them as new. This may sound trivial to most of you, but the removal of the team specific music this year (they were all in the game last year) really bums me out. I'm still picking the game up tomorrow since the reviews are good, but my expectations aren't as high as I'd like.

On a side note, I think it's been said that team specific music is in, there are just some bugs with it. I've seen mention of it a few places.

That said, I think the decline of the game (at least in my opinion) can almost directly be linked to the focus on EASHL and HUT. The online modes dominate because with HUT, you make so much extra money off of so little extra work.

With the smaller team, being forced in one direction is sure to put a damper on the rest of it. It seems that EA is more attracted to the idea of snagging the casual fan who likes big hits, flashy goals, and big celebrations. That in itself isn't bad. When that becomes the only real focus, at the expense of people who like to play a more realistic game, then it's an issue.

But at the same time, I think there should be some commendation on the sliders. From what I've seen the sliders not only work, but give you a pretty good ability to fine-tune the game to your liking. That's a big thing that's been requested. Obviously, there's a lot to still improve, but anything that's a step in the right direction should be applauded. Not to say it excuses the other things, just that it shouldn't be ignored.

# 22 Caniac94 @ 09/12/16 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buck135


	Getting roster updates is almost impossible yet Madden has new lines of dialogue implemented every week. They are only adding features each year that have been there before and selling them as new.

I just wanna add on to that that didn't EA say they could get Ray Ferraro in somewhat often to record new lines of dialogue? Because I haven't heard even one line of new dialogue since I got 16 last year. It seems likr the only time we really see any updates is a patch that comes literally right after release and, of course, the trade deadline roster update.

# 23 buck135 @ 09/12/16 03:05 PM

@actionhank. I hope you're right that the music following the horns is a bug with some teams.

@caniac94. Does anyone want to hear from Ray Ferraro? I'm certain EA can get three interns to record the endless lines of dialogue that Madden has. Mike Emrick's "Goal!" isn't even as enthusiastic as it is during any of the games he does live.

Lastly, scsn the players faces please. As a Bruins fan, Rask, Chara, Bergeron,.Backes and Marchand are the only players that resemble their real life counterparts. I hate to sound whiny. I'm buying the game and supporting the series. I don't like reading that fans are skipping it every year because of what it doesn't have. That isn't giving EA the incentive to bother the way they used to.

Finally, menu music isn't a feature. I don't care if they get the rights to the Beatles. Menu music is the first thing I turn off with any and every sports game no matter what it is. Unless the bands/record companies are paying EA for their songs to be including, skip it.

# 24 buck135 @ 09/12/16 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by actionhank


	On a side note, I think it's been said that team specific music is in, there are just some bugs with it. I've seen mention of it a few places. That said, I think the decline of the game (at least in my opinion) can almost directly be linked to the focus on EASHL and HUT. The online modes dominate because with HUT, you make so much extra money off of so little extra work. With the smaller team, being forced in one direction is sure to put a damper on the rest of it. It seems that EA is more attracted to the idea of snagging the casual fan who likes big hits, flashy goals, and big celebrations. That in itself isn't bad. When that becomes the only real focus, at the expense of people who like to play a more realistic game, then it's an issue. But at the same time, I think there should be some commendation on the sliders. From what I've seen the sliders not only work, but give you a pretty good ability to fine-tune the game to your liking. That's a big thing that's been requested. Obviously, there's a lot to still improve, but anything that's a step in the right direction should be applauded. Not to say it excuses the other things, just that it shouldn't be ignored.

If any defenseman on my Bruins other than Chara or Krug is rated in the 70's or higher, I'm returning it.

# 25 Freakywwe @ 09/12/16 03:16 PM

Me and my friend have been playing 5 minute games on the true sim setting and it has been the best hockey experience on a console since NHL 2004

# 26 HenryClay1844 @ 09/12/16 03:40 PM

It was enjoyable enough for me that this is the first title I purchased at full price in many many years. Understand people that are underwhelmed by it as there are shortcomings, but this will do for me with FIFA looking so poor this year.

# 27 snc237 @ 09/12/16 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buck135


	The NHL series used to be great, especially on the PS2. The gameplay has been terrible on the current gen until, according to the reviews, this year. Madden, Fifa, MLB the Show and NBA 2K all improve every year. EA puts no money into this game. Getting roster updates is almost impossible yet Madden has new lines of dialogue implemented every week. They are only adding features each year that have been there before and selling them as new. This may sound trivial to most of you, but the removal of the team specific music this year (they were all in the game last year) really bums me out. I'm still picking the game up tomorrow since the reviews are good, but my expectations aren't as high as I'd like.

NHL on ps2 were not all that great. By the time NHL 05 hit the series was awful. Thank goodness for the reboot in 07 on the 360

# 28 buck135 @ 09/12/16 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snc237


	NHL on ps2 were not all that great. By the time NHL 05 hit the series was awful. Thank goodness for the reboot in 07 on the 360

You are correct sir. I was misremembering.

# 29 seasprite @ 09/12/16 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snc237


	NHL on ps2 were not all that great. By the time NHL 05 hit the series was awful. Thank goodness for the reboot in 07 on the 360

Yes NHL 04 and 05 were some of the worst hockey games ever made IMO.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

# 30 il_tedesco @ 09/12/16 05:01 PM

What? NHL 04 was/is an amazing game. It had great gameplay and a very cool franchise mode by the time. My alltime favorite nhl game.

# 31 bad_philanthropy @ 09/12/16 05:38 PM

04 was very good in many ways, but is also way over-rated. The problem where d-men would constantly skate into a forward slot was so annoying.

# 32 russ99 @ 09/13/16 09:36 AM

Can we edit NHL/AHL players and export/share rosters again? That's still been missing since NHL 14.

# 33 bad_philanthropy @ 09/13/16 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by russ99


	Can we edit NHL/AHL players and export/share rosters again? That's still been missing since NHL 14.

No. And we couldn't do this in NHL 14 without third party applications. The PS4 and XB1 haven't had their protection circumvented for Hex editing and other editing (yet) like the 360 and PS3 were.

# 34 rbiaci @ 09/13/16 11:25 AM

NHL franchise has finally made me upset reviews are mostly facts so I'm not buying it

# 35 rbiaci @ 09/13/16 11:26 AM

NHL franchise has finally made me upset reviews are mostly facts so I'm not buying it

# 36 Bleak5170 @ 09/13/16 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seasprite


	Yes NHL 04 and 05 were some of the worst hockey games ever made IMO. Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

I don't remember 2005 all that well but to this day I can still recall how truly horrific NHL 2004 was to play. Possibly the worst game in the entire franchise for me personally.

# 37 BSDShoes @ 09/13/16 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleak5170


	I don't remember 2005 all that well but to this day I can still recall how truly horrific NHL 2004 was to play. Possibly the worst game in the entire franchise for me personally.

NHL 04 was bad, 05 wasn't that much better and funnily enough EA said this year "for the first time in EA Sports NHL history, we bring the World Cup", yeah it's been done in NHL 05 so it's not the first time.

# 38 tsparker8 @ 09/13/16 05:43 PM

great review. i appreciate the honest feedback. My biggest fear is the game would remain pretty much the same. Thats always my biggest complaint because I only play franchise mode. I'll pass this year or wait till black friday when its down to $29.99 in every gamestop, walmart, & best buy bin.

# 39 Caniac94 @ 09/13/16 07:00 PM

I put the game in and immediately my PS4 started downloading an update. Version 1.02. I paused the download and wanted to try out the "out of the box" game before downloading any updates. I'm liking the gameplay so far admittedly and I was wondering if I should go ahead with the update? I read that some people updated and it massively affected the gameplay. I know last year you couldn't change between Versions in game and I don't know if it's the same this year, so I don't want to ruin anything good I have going so far.

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