NHL 19 Review: 4 Ups & 2 Downs

1. Hits Are More Satisfying Than Ever

Lastly, hits are one of NHL 19's most satisfying gameplay improvements.

In 18 and before, skaters had a tendency to float across the ice when players instigated the hit animation cycle. This looked unrealistic and left hits without any sense of impact; when one player crashes into another, it needs to register, and it does this year. Thank God for that, as it seemed the art of hitting had been lost.

Again, the Real Player Motion technology helps in this department. Now, instead of hits swinging awkwardly between borderline hugs and borderline homicide, there's a better balance to how effective they are, and they can actually turn the tide of a match. There's something so pleasing about ending a move by hitting, then launching a counter-attack of your own.

Until now, that gratifying physical element of hockey had threatened to become useless in NHL games. That EA have re-jigged one of the real game's best, most exciting nuances is a credit to them. In 19, anyone who enjoys tearing rivals a new one as P. K. Subban can rest easy.

They can.

Are you happy with the gameplay improvements EA have made in NHL 19? Would you have preferred more modes? Let us know down in the comments section below!