Reheated ice hockey fare or finally a big upgrade for the current generation of consoles? We give you the test for “NHL 25” and tell you the strengths and weaknesses of EA Sports’ ice hockey simulation.
And the groundhog greets you every day: In recent years we have confirmed that EA Sports is on thin ice with its “NHL” series. Too few innovations and a standstill in the game options. “NHL 25” is the first part of the series to be released exclusively for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X. So you leave the legacy of the past console generation behind. And basically, this would be the ideal starting point for a new beginning. But the really big upheaval will not happen this year either. Rather, “NHL 25” offers detailed improvements and technical adjustments, but the game modes are once again on the spot despite minor innovations.
Welcome to the ice
We’ll first look at the gameplay. The magic word here is ICE-Q. This is a series of improvements that are intended to differentiate the events in “NHL 25” from its predecessor. The current offshoot actually plays better: controlling the athletes on the ice in particular feels more streamlined. Overall, the skating seems more balanced than before.
With ICE-Q comes improvements in the behavior of teammates and opponents. They now adhere more closely to the tactical guidelines and are better positioned. On the offensive, this means more passing stations, but at the same time the defenders are more likely to get in the way and block shots. Overall, the game structure seems more coherent, but it also depends on the selected level of difficulty and the number of activated aids. The more you align the gameplay towards simulation, the better the player AI will come into play.
However, some problems from days gone by remain: the pass mechanism is too imprecise for our taste. Especially in comparison to the AI’s almost perfect passes, the dispersion is too strong. Also annoying: As satisfying as checks may be, it’s also annoying that you keep “slipping” away from your opponents. This often results in unwanted gaps. The poke check therefore remains the best means of capturing the puck in “NHL 25”. These are a bit more effective than before, and at the same time there are no longer as many time penalties.
Of course, one-timers are and remain the most dangerous weapon on offense. These have been expanded for “NHL 25”: The new “skill-based one-timers” require more precise passes and better timing when completing, but are then extremely effective. Meanwhile, the goalies deserve praise, as they act comprehensibly over long stretches and do not negatively influence the flow of the game. Compared to last year, the pressure system was better balanced and more closely linked to shots on goal and real offensive actions. All in all, “NHL 25” performs very well on the ice and, objectively speaking, is better than its predecessor.
