

There are a ton of new animations goalies will employ, which is a welcome addition. Granted, nothing pops out more than the changes to netminding. That means fewer breakneck possessions and shot-fests, and a more realistic-feeling experience.

defenders seem to finally do a better job of slowing the puck down in the middle of the ice. But it's all part of a bigger whole that provides more ways for the player to break a defense.Ī.I. The banks and chips are smooth additions too, especially the former because of the creativity it enables. Now players have the chance of pulling off an avoidance move, a bit of skill-based play that lets the player past while the opponent skids to a halt or takes a solo dive into the wall. Slips are especially fun because in past games, players would merely need to avoid a bone-crunching hit from a defender against the boards. The next natural step in the pursuit of realistic gameplay was the implementation of slips, banks and chips. Totally realistic like the game seemingly wants to be? Not so much. Players adept at zipping the puck around and puncturing defenses wasn't an uncommon occurrence. However, that left defenders fleeing back to their portion of the ice on the defensive.

While one could point out other sports games like Madden had long improved such things, it was still a welcome shift for the series to move to a more weighty, faster experience.
NHL 21 GAMEPLAY PLUS
Last year grappled with plenty of realism-based upgrades, including better puck physics and overall animations that made the gameplay faster, plus Signature Shots to make the star players really stand out. Much like FIFA this year, it seems defense is back on the menu.
