After a brutal new-gen console debut last year that suffered from underwhelming gameplay, missing modes, and a general lack of creative vision, developer EA Canada needed to come out strong this year to prove it still has what it takes to make a relevant hockey game. With improvements in nearly every area, NHL 16 is a positive stride in the right direction for the franchise, but like a defensive-oriented team adopting trap tactics, the series plays it safe and lacks any game-breaking quality. Enter NHL 16, a version of the game that has been developed with something of an "enhanced" 12-month schedule, with pre-production starting earlier than ever before. There's also been added accountability to producers during development and slightly more interaction with the fans in recent months. Further still, the GameChangers, a group of 12 fan liaisons, have been deeply involved in development of the EASHL and other core NHL features.

 

But does all of this fix what ailed NHL 15? In a word, yes. NHL 16 is a much more fulsome and confident representation of what the franchise is capable of, as it now includes (almost) all of the modes that it needs to and iterates in some interesting new ways. The online suite is incredibly strong, with a revitalized EASHL mode and couch co-op. Even dusty old modes like Be-A-GM and Be-A-Pro feature a couple of new reasons to play. As the follow-up to what was a disappointing current-gen debut, NHL 16 looks to make amends and regain the fans it lost last year. To do so, its development team talked and listened to their most passionate followers, and tried to tailor this experience to what they wanted. That effort is noticeable in-game, and has resulted in a much improved on-ice affair.

 

The big news here is the return of EA Sports Hockey League, the fan favourite online team mode which lets friends group up against all comers. It returns to the fold with a new, class-based focus, that allows players to choose the type of persona they would like to assume. It’s a list that includes the defensively challenged but offensively gifted sniper, the feared and powerful enforcer, and the stay-at-home defenceman, to name a few. There's a lot inside NHL 16 that has reinstated my faith in the franchise. The whole package isn't without its fair share of controller-snapping frustrations, but that's to be expected: We're in a rebuilding year here.

 

Just like the game played on the ice, NHL 16 is all about the little things. These tiny details and notions either play in the favor or against the final product, but it'll be the game's updates and future editions that define this generation's legacy. Visually, the game is a slight upgrade from NHL 15. Some players have had their faces scanned and updated in the game, but far too many big-name players are without accurate head scans. Those players include Milan Lucic and Phil Kessel, among others. With a sport where players’ faces are often seen by the fans, the more accurate scans the better for the game. Also, adding more designs for goalie helmets - the Buffaslug should not be on the helmet templates - and jersey options should be something the developers do now that the new generation is established.

 

But hey, and this isn’t sarcastic in the least, users are finally able to fully edit current players’ equipment and numbers any way they see fit. Luckily, the beloved EA Sports Hockey League mode that returns after a one-year hiatus makes up for much of that. The ability to play on your own club with your friends in organized monthly leagues is a joy - as long as the servers are working - and the new move to use player classes instead of leveling your guys up is wonderful. No longer will you see a bunch of 99-rated 7-foot monsters facing you; instead, you have to choose between snipers, tough guys, and a host of other archetypes to find the best combinations to suit your style. Hockey lends itself to cooperative play thanks to the relatively small number of people on the ice and the speed of the game. For many fans, EASHL is all they’ll really play this year (myself included).

 

When played by yourself or with a friend on the couch, NHL 16 is a fast, sharp-looking, and fun hockey sim that (unlike last year’s game) includes enough modes to keep veterans happy while doing an admirable job of welcoming newcomers as well. It still suffers technical problems with online play, which is a shame, because outside of noticeably repetitious play-by-play calling and some non-gameplay-affecting framerate issues in cutscenes and replays, NHL 16 is an otherwise excellent game.