NHL 14 Critic Reviews

One of the best hockey sims to date. A couple of minor adjustments are always needed, but this is as close as its going to get for you short of lacing up skates and donning pads yourself.

But overall, NHL 14 captures the spirit of that revolutionary 94 game. The gameplay is fast, the moves are sweet and the hits are thundering. It feels fun, like the very best wide-open hockey games, but it doesn’t sacrifice realism either.

At any rate, if you have any interest in hockey games whatsoever, then you probably already own this, but if you don’t, go out and get a copy – you’ll have an absolute blast.

I appreciate how the development team really understands the particulars of the real life game as it helps to deliver another great effort. With the advancements made to many aspects of the gameplay and aesthetics this year, both big and small, virtual hockey fans should rejoice as NHL 14 is yet another winner.

EA Canada has smashed the puck right into the back of the net once again with NHL 14, providing masses of content, unparalleled gameplay and the usual superb presentation you expect from an EA Sports game. It's perhaps not as big a leap forward over NHL 13 as you'd hope, but regardless, NHL 14 is a winner once again.

Delivers the most impressive hockey experience to date.

With four massive game modes to choose from that could all serve as standalone titles plus a strong core gameplay engine, NHL 14 is about as good as it gets.

The latest outing from Electronic Arts is as good as hockey games get. The action keeps getting better and deeper, but the game also manages to avoid becoming impenetrable and inaccessible. Developers have eschewed new feature overload this year and have instead concentrated on a few fun extras.

NHL 14 is, by far, the best hockey game on the market. At least on the actual ice.

I can’t say NHL ’14 is a perfect game, but its beauty is well-polished and fans of the sport can lean on EA’s version with a gleam of puppy love.

Simplified controls.

Even though NHL 14 isn't a huge step forward for the franchise it builds upon the steps that its predecessor has taken and delivers a satisfying ice hockey-experience, that is definitely enhanced by the new collision physics, which make NHL 14 a rather more visceral game.

With a new physics engine, revamped career mode, and an excellent presentation, NHL 14 proves to be a must buy for hockey fans around the world.

NHL 14 continues to improve since the series birth 20 years ago, allowing us to dress the part of real ice gladiators.

EA continues to dominate the fields, whether they are made of grass or ice. The 2014 edition of NHL is one of the best that has come out and the addition of the NHL 94 arcade edition makes it even more valuable.

Many long-standing complaints with the series have been addressed, though AI still needs work before it’ll stop embarrassing us on the ice. Between games, the new Live the Life additions give hardcore pro hockey players something to invest in, both online and off. Plus the NHL 94 Mode is a way better anniversary celebration than the weak loading-screen nostalgia of Madden NFL 25.

There is plenty in NHL 14 that will satisfy each and every fan out there, and in the end that should be the ultimate goal.

It's a confident entry in the series that makes tweaks in all the right places, but you feel that they're holding back--that they're saving their 1st rounders for a next-gen debut.

If you missed out on NHL 13, NHL 14 comes recommended largely without caveat. If you did pick up 13, consider how badly you want to see improved hitting and an abundance of fighting before deciding if you need to drop another $60.

It's all there, it's just not all that different than NHL 13.