I don’t know if people particularly care for this level of detail, but to me NHL 15-NHL 19 had the most immersive presentation yet with the NBC overlays. The game would start with an aerial shot of the home arena, the city skyline, etc. before a Live Broadcast shot of Eddie and Doc talking about the matchup. What I’ve noticed going back is that these were recorded specifically for each matchup (say Dallas vs Boston) as Eddie and Doc would reference both teams by name in real-time recordings which obviously couldn’t be voice stitched since we see their expressions and faces as they speak. On top of the arena spotlights going everywhere, lighting effects and a legitimate team introduction for both sides. They wouldn’t just highlight goalies but centers/forwards/key players as well.
Another thing they would do at opening face off is highlight each center at the face off dot. Now we have Cybulski and Ferraro simply say “and here we go for the opening face off”…
They would actually analyze each team’s performance at the conclusion of a period, and give a brief analysis prior to puck drop at the next frame.
All that combined with realistic replays, the NBC overlays, Ferraro down at ice level giving sporadic feedback, it was just so much more immersive than the play by play from NHL 20 to present. And I’m sick of the EA Sports overlays, there is no EA Sports Network. It just feels 1998.
Sadly I know EA will never again go back to this level of presentation again. It’s shocking we got what we did in 15-19.
honestly I’m thinking of using some well reviewed NHL 19 sliders and just playing that until another true broadcast hockey game is released. Which will likely be never.
Maybe most here don’t pay that much attention or care for THAT MUCH level of detail, but I’m a very meticulous OCD type who really appreciates the minute details in sports gaming.
This NHL 23 snafu with the neutered presentation really is the last straw for me. It’s NHL 19 from here on out for me.
