NHL 15 patches cracked ice

EA has put forth a lot of effort to modernize presentation, including using live video to introduce each game. NBC's Mike "Doc" Emrick and Eddie Olczyk handle play-by-play duties, while TSN analyst Ray Ferraro, chimes in from ice level. Generally, the announcers do a fine job detailing the action, but pre-game introductions are random and too generic. And there are occasional errors, such as a player being highlighted for continuing a points streak in a game where no goals have been scored.

Visually, the game blows NHL 14 out of the frozen water. Small touches like player reflections in the glass and the glass wobbling as players battle along the boards really make it feel legit. Even non-players get in on the act. Each team has a unique 'superfan' that tries to fire up the crowd and regular fans will often be seen holding signs lauding a player who has just scored or condemning one idling in the penalty box.

Many of the game's more famous players look eerily like their real life counterparts. Even some well past their prime -- such as free agent Todd Bertuzzi -- are easily recognizable, and after a fight may sport a swollen eye.

Player animations are much more fluid, and collisions can now create massive pileups in front of the net, though lining up an impressive hit is now more difficult.

The puck really shows off the game engine's new physics engine as it bounces and careens believably off players, sticks, boards and goal posts. I witnessed one shot that hit a player's jersey just enough to slow the puck so the goalie whiffed a glove save.

The posts seem to have magnets in them however, as many pucks now seem predestined to clang iron.

Controls are tight, and on more difficult levels it is very difficult to score. The days of using the same trick to score endless goals appear to be over. On Superstar difficulty, each goal seems well-earned.

Skating now does a better job with momentum, making it tougher for big players to start, stop or line up bone-rattling hits. Smaller players skate like the wind.

A bevy of sliders makes game difficulty and preference easy to dial in. Cranking up the impact of hits and increasing the likelihood of injury can make opposing teams resemble a hospital ward.

There are some curious AI issues. The CPU seems to score more easily when behind, and goalies, no matter how stout their stats, become porous on power plays and the opening and closing minutes of the period.

So what's missing?

Those who enjoy online play will miss the EA Sports Hockey League, which allowed the creation of custom teams and frenetic 6-on-6 player action. EASHL, like other missing game modes, is still available on the version of NHL 15 released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Online play against one other player was available at release. Team play pitting multiple players against each other for a single game will be added in an October patch, says EA.

Another online mode, GM Connected, which allowed general managers to build a team and compete against others, is also gone, though it was so slow-moving it was not very popular. There is no plan to add this mode back on the new consoles.

Be A Pro mode, which lets players create a custom rookie and build his stats and career, is gutted. Making it frustrating is that players can no longer fast-forward to their next shift and must watch a lot of hockey from the bench.

The standard franchise mode, Be A GM, returns, and is much like previous iterations, though scouting is tedious and, almost unbelievably, there is no human-controlled draft. New players are currently selected by the CPU. This serious flaw will be fixed in an October patch, says EA.

Minor annoyances include the menu, which feels clunky. Saving a game is slow and the player can't name the save file. Players can be created, but if you edit a created player it adds a clone to the free agent pool. Be A GM mode really needs to add in-season contract extensions and it would be nice to see a tally of the season's goals when a player scores.

After reading all of that, you may ask, "is NHL 15 worth buying?"

If you have a PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360, it may be best to wait until next year. NHL 14, after all, may have been the pinnacle of a great franchise.

Those who only own a PS4 or Xbox One may be inclined to judge NHL 15 more for what it doesn't have, and that's understandable. If you really love something that's missing, NHL 15 will leave you cold.

Despite the missing modes, NHL 15 delivers a superior on-ice experience. Those that give it a shot will return to its beautiful faceoff circle.