That said, I'm expecting NHL to incorporate the new engine (same as FIFA, which is an incredible engine) and that should immediately fix quite a few things.
Since I'm not expecting a HUGE change, the only minor things I'd like would be:
- Opt out (or penalty) during fights after a hit (I had to turn fighting right off, which I didn't actually mind, but it'd be nice to see a couple).
- Either an expanded Be A Pro "question" portion, or being able to skip questions (answering the same question 48 times during the first couple seasons of Be A Pro is time consuming and (while realistic) gets boring)
- improvement to Be A Pro in the free agent period. In FIFA (during the transfer period) you get an offer which you can refuse, then another comes along, then another, etc. Having 4 options and being required to pick one immediately is a little annoying (and unrealistic). Plus, I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but if you stay on a team long enough they just get worse and worse, if they don't draft great players they NEVER sign them in free agency, so your teams just gets worse.
Other than that, they really are great sports games. I know we can nit pick at the little things, but when you get down to it they really are great. They probably could use some greater improvements year-to-year being the only title available, but the hockey team is lower budgeted than the FIFA and Madden games, so you have to imagine they're working within their means.
Remember, NHL isn't even close to as relevant as Madden and FIFA. An NHL game has never even ranked in the top ten of EA Sports games. Just getting to use the same engine as FIFA is a huge boost.
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