With the release of NHL 22 rapidly approaching, we got a look at more gameplay courtesy of the NHL 22 Gameplay Live Stream.
Now, some of what we watched were things we'd already heard about, but there were some key features and additions to this reveal.
We've got the video here along with the NHL 22 features coming to the game, including X Factors.
Watch the NHL 22 Gameplay Premiere
Want to check out the NHL 22 gameplay premiere for yourself? Don't worry we've got it here for you so you can check out all the action.
After watching, if you decide you'd like to pre order NHL 22, head here and use one of our links to potentially save yourself some money!
NHL 22 X Factors steal the show
One of the main concerns players had was how the NHL 22 X Factors would actually look during a game. In the original reveal trailers, we didn't get an in-depth look at X Factors in action.
However, during the NHL 22 gameplay premiere, we got a chance to actually see X Factors in action and it looks fantastic! X Factors clearly will be a vital part of gameplay this year.
One of the interesting additional features we noticed is during the replay an animation will be displayed highlighted the player who used an X Factor.
If you'd like to learn more about the NHL 22 X Factors and which players will have them, follow this link!
Stick Physics & Skating get an upgrade
As we watched the premiere, we learned more about how the team wanted to create better stick physics and realistic skating in NHL 22.
Stick Physics
It would seem that the NHL 22 team put the engineers through a lot over the course of making the game. Fine details such as the stick physics got a detailed look during development.
Something players should note is that it'll be slightly difficult to snag loose pucks in NHL 22. This is because the team wanted to make the game as close as possible to a real simulation.
That means poke checks come with a delay when trying to recover the puck. You'll likely have to slow down to grab a puck on the go, and the recovery time after a stick lift is longer.
Skating
What players will be happy to hear is that both aspects of the game received upgrades, however, the skating speed is still a cause for concern. We experienced this during the Closed Technical Test.
The team made a note to say that speedy skaters will have a better chance of breaking away from defenders, but not consistently through the game.
We aren't sure exactly how this process will work, but it partly has to do with fatigue. Once the game releases, we'll have a better idea of what they mean by this.