Thank you for having a ton of the updates done love it!!

This version of EA's NHL game is pretty awesome. The feel of controlling the players is very fluid and it has all the bells and whistles of being able to start a franchise/create a team, etc.

This is a great entry in the NHL series, and the first worthwhile one for this generation of consoles. The presentation, graphics, and controls are all solid, and you really feel like you're playing a hockey game. There are still some quirks that are annoying to deal with, however. There are times when the AI will hold the puck in the zone for what seems like forever, missing bodies with shots and seemingly unable to have the puck stolen from them. There are also times where an opposing skater will exactly mirror the puck handler, giving you no outlet to either skate away or make a pass. Generally the game is pretty fair, however. Final Recommendation: It's a huge improvement over the atrocity that was NHL 15, and you'll be playing it all winter. The problems are there but they're not gamebreaking. Buy it.

As a long-time NHL series aficionado, there have been features over the years that have become a "wish list" of sorts. I'm glad to see that this year's entry to the series has marked a few more off the list. At face value, this is a similar game to the others in recent memory. The controls are essentially the same, the camera views, the settings, etc. all have a familiar vibe. The difference in this game, and what makes it a standout, is in the details. This game feels more like a hockey game I'd watch on TV than in previous years. While they were on-board last year, Doc and Edzo doing commentary gives me that familiar national broadcast feel that I get watching a playoff game on NBC. They also give you the NBC logo and the signature music of NHL on NBC. You even get Wedensday Night Rivalry games presented differently. It's a nice, subtle touch . You can grow a playoff beard. That's right; grow. You can determine your start length and max length and, as you advance, you'll see the progression of growth. While an outsider might see this as minor, the playoff beard is one of the most celebrated parts of hockey culture and its inclusion in the game is a heartwarming treat. The goal horns have been updated and are the best they've been in years. I used to cringe hearing the misrepresentation of the majority of teams' goal horns in years past, and every year I would hope beyond hope that this would be corrected. While being able to define your own in prior years' games helped a little, it was off-putting to have to do that to get right something so important to a team's fans that should have been right in the first place. This year though, they are very well-done. While I haven't audited every team, the ones I've heard all seem spot-on. Many of the signature goal songs particular teams use are included, which is fantastic. Touches like post-whistle scrums, fighting mid-play after a big hit, and the goal hug all help the feel of the game seem closer to the real thing. The Be A Pro mode has improved somewhat with coaching interactions. Now, you're given objectives to accomplish to earn extra XP and better grades. Better still, you're given an overlay above your skater that shows you how to accomplish certain tasks. This is incredibly handy when tasked with something like a specialty deke that you might not know how to pull off, otherwise. There are still flaws, however. There are certain shots that you can take from the high areas that seem to always go in, no matter the goalie or situation. Should you call for a pass, but your teammate has already started to pass to you, you'll find yourself simply passing straight ahead of you right off the touch, most times resulting in a turnover or icing. In a particularly egregious oversight, if you win the Stanley Cup in Be A Pro, your created player doesn't get passed the Cup (unless he's been named captain or is the goalie). This one should be automatic. To not see your player's work get paid off with getting to touch the Cup is very disappointing. All in all, this is a great upgrade over last year's entry. Many things have been improved that create a better game feel, and in a sports game, that is vital. There are still things that need to be addressed, but overall you won't be disappointed if you're a fan of this sport.

Very realistic. It's cool how the pre game commentary is real footage. It's not the easiest to play, there is a learning curve associated with it.