NHL 13 Preview

September sees the launch of NHL 13, one of EA Sport’s flagship games, here is why you should keep an eye on this one.

 

Ice hockey? Really? I can hear you questioning the relevance of an ice hockey game in the South African market which has maybe 4 ice rinks in the whole country? However if you have played any of the previous NHL titles you will know how much fun they can be to play. Ice hockey is by far my favourite American sport, I’m not particularly excited by baseball, basket ball or American football and the same can be said for the corresponding EA game titles. NHL on the other hand is always a blast.

One of the big drivers for me is the pace and fluidity of NHL gameplay that provides a tough but rewarding experience. NHL 13 looks to build on that even further with the introduction of all new True Performance skating physics system with realistic momentum and fatigue. Check out this video showcasing the skating tutorial to get a feel:

 

The other reason that NHL 13 is a great game to play is the all important body checking. Timing a perfect defensive check is one of the best feelings ever and NHL 13 continues to provide the impressive checking that the NHL series has been known for. In addition to body checking the must more strategic stick checking / poking has been improved, get your timing right and you can breakdown an attack in seconds. Have a look at the defensive improvement that have been made for this years NHL 13:

 

The gameplay is always solid, but one of the big areas that EA Sports have focused on for NHL 13 is presentation. New advanced lighting effects, dynamic skate spray and realistic stadium environment brings the glory of NHL directly to you even if you happen to be playing in your living room in Bloemfontein. The overhaul of the highlights packages really look cool giving you a great snapshot of the game and showing that 20 meter one timer in full high definition glory!

We are really excited about NHL 13 and can’t wait for its SA release on the 14th September 2012 – will you be picking up this one?