"NHL 15" is an ice hockey simulation video game developed by EA Canada and published by EA Sports for PlayStation 4. Here are the key details about the game:
### General Information:
- **Release Date**: September 9, 2014
- **Genre**: Sports, Ice Hockey Simulation
- **Developer**: EA Canada
- **Publisher**: EA Sports
### Gameplay:
- **Realistic Hockey Experience**: NHL 15 aims to deliver a realistic ice hockey experience, incorporating authentic physics, player models, and arena atmospheres.
- **Gameplay Mechanics**: The game features advanced puck physics, realistic player movements, and improved AI to create a more immersive and challenging gameplay experience.
### Features:
- **NBC Sports Presentation**: The game includes a broadcast presentation from NBC Sports, featuring commentary from Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, and analysis from Ray Ferraro.
- **Living Crowds**: The crowd animations and reactions have been enhanced to provide a more lively and realistic game environment.
- **Vision AI**: The AI has been improved to provide smarter, more adaptive opponents and teammates.
- **Skill Stick**: The Skill Stick control system allows for precise stick handling and shooting, providing players with more control over their actions on the ice.
### Game Modes:
- **Be a Pro**: Players can create and control their own custom player, guiding them through their career in the NHL.
- **Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT)**: This mode allows players to build their dream team by collecting player cards, participating in online matches, and completing challenges.
- **Online Team Play**: Players can compete in online matches, either cooperatively with friends or against other players.
- **GM Mode**: Players can take on the role of a general manager, managing team rosters, trades, and other aspects of running an NHL team.
### Reception:
- **Critical Response**: NHL 15 received mixed reviews. While the graphics, presentation, and gameplay mechanics were praised, the game faced criticism for the removal of several popular modes and features that were present in previous installments.
- **Missing Features**: Key modes and features such as the EA Sports Hockey League (EASHL), Online Team Play, and certain offline modes were absent in the initial release, which disappointed many fans of the series.
NHL 15 provides an immersive and visually impressive ice hockey simulation but may fall short for long-time fans of the series due to the lack of certain game modes and features that were expected.