NHL 21

"As the final entry on the current console generation, NHL 21 underwhelms. It plays a decent game of hockey, but with very few changes on the ice, and the new Be a Pro leaving something to be desired, it doesn&s;t …"

"Adding up all of the changes between NHL 20 and NHL 21, it&s;s still hard to justify the full-price release in comparison to what&s;s new this year. I appreciate the focus on the Be A Pro mode, but there is …"

"NHL 21 lives up to the same quality of work it’s known for in previous generations for better or worse. While it does attempt to push the series forward, anything it does to elevate it to the next line falls …"

"While it holds up some similarities to NHL 20, there is enough to go into the rink, lace up your skates, and hit the ice."

"I’m not old school like the coaches and GMs that still make up a large part of the NHL, but I’m old school in that I grew up in the 80s and 90s and value hard hockey played the right …"

"NHL 21 is another strong entry into the series’ history. It delivers a new strand of flavor with Be a Pro, maintains quality on the ice, and makes franchise mode more enjoyable. However, the limitations in customization and the subtractions …"

"For many NHL franchise players, the career mode has never been the reason to pick up the game, so it&s;s easy to live with this lackluster story. The other game modes in NHL 21 are as good as ever. You …"

"Arcade goodies are mashed together with NHL 21&s;s legacy issues that span an entire console generation."

"Whilst the gameplay changes and additions to the game modes are welcomed, NHL 21 feels more like an update than a brand new game."

"NHL 21 has taken the best of what has been offered this generation in the series and sprinkled goodness on top."

"NHL 21 brings much-needed improvements and depth to the variety of game modes available, though does nothing to fix the same issues that make the fun arcade style gameplay feel out of place in the more sim-focused modes. There is …"

"EA&s;s NHL 21 is a success thanks to its improved story mode, exciting new skill moves, and excellent controls."

"NHL 21 is absolutely a step forward. We won&s;t be able to see if this improvement is a one-time thing until next year, but as it stands, this final release of the generation is also its best in that span. …"

"There is no doubt that this is a good game."

"Despite not being as big a fan of sports games like I used to be, EA’s NHL series is the one I still have a soft spot for among the ongoing crop of sports titles. I just like its balance …"

"EA Sports NHL 21 delivers a well rounded package with a great selection of modes and various enhancements to core mechanics."

"I appreciate the shots that NHL 21 takes at improving the formula, but at the end of the day, most of those shots are too little too late, and end up making the overall experience just barely better than mediocre."

"The added physicality on both ends of the ice and the demand for skill-based gameplay makes NHL 21 the closest thing to real hockey in series history."

"The choices that you make can have an effect on how you look to your teammates, upper management, and to your fans. Before long you will be drafted to the NHL where you start seeing the big bucks come your …"

"NHL 21 tries to end the current generation on a high note, but legacy issues continue to hold it back. Its revamped Be a Pro mode is particularly disappointing, proving to be a disjointed, somewhat sloppy experience. It has its …"

"NHL 21 feels like an incremental step up from last year’s game. What I enjoyed is that even with my limited knowledge of the sport I could hop in and have a great time. I really will come back once …"

"NHL 21 is an exercise in consistency, providing the usual improvements to graphics, sound, gameplay, and features while having the usual hindrances. Be A Pro is the real All-Star of this game but like every pro on the ice, there …"

"NHL 21 doesn&s;t feel like a huge leap from last year, but EA Vancouver makes strides in addressing long-known issues and sets a better foundation for the next generation"

"The last game of the NHL series on the current generation of consoles is, from the point of view of a newcomer to the series, very high-quality entertainment"

"Just another season."

"NHL 21 isn’t a Stanley Cup contender just yet, but it’s definitely a game that’s showing contendership potential"

"The best of the series but with little improvements over its predecessors, NHL 21 is a respectable hockey send-off for modern consoles. Per prior, NHL still looks and sounds great, but remains hampered by AI and identity shortcomings."

"Sadly, NHL 21 doesn&s;t offer anything new. However, it remains the best ice hockey video game out there by default."

"I stand by that it plays as well as it ever has. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a proper representation of the sport. If EA Vancouver ever hopes to stand alongside the giants of the genre – NBA 2K and …"

"NHL 21 is the best hockey game around by default – but it seldom genuinely stands out from this generation&s;s pack."

"NHL 21 provides more of the same, and with the uncertainty of the real world season, even less of what few changes fans come to expect of yearly releases."

"There’s no denying NHL 21 is a tight little package — in fact, it’s been years in the making (click that and thank me later) — but that’s because EA Vancouver is doing everything it can to refine a polished …"