Electronics Arts NHL 17 (PS4)

NHL 17 is an ice hockey simulation video game powered by the Ignite engine, created by Electronic Arts.[1] It features game presentation in the style of the NHL on NBC, with commentary being provided by Mike Emrick (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (color) and Ray Ferraro (ice-side reporter), with the network's score bug appearing on-screen as well.[2][3] The game can be played on five different difficulties; "Rookie", the lowest, "Semi-Pro", "Pro", "All-Star", and "Superstar", the highest.[3][4] Players are able to select from three different control schemes, called "NHL '94 controls", "Skill Stick" and "Hybrid"; NHL '94 controls are very simplistic as they strictly use the controller's buttons for actions, aside from moving the player, which the left stick does; Skill Stick controls utilize the controller's right stick in order to both shoot and deke; Hybrid controls are similar to NHL '94 controls but have some more action options. All schemes have dedicated goalie controls, for when the player manually controls one, which are the same across all schemes.[5] If they wish, the player can enable the On-Ice Trainer, a system made to assist the player as they play.[6]

World Cup of Hockey gameplay in NHL 17. Visible is the NHL on NBC score bug (top-left) as well as the On-Ice Trainer (above center ice).

During a game, players maneuver around the ice with normal skating and deking and are able to seamlessly pass to teammates to create scoring chances. If a player scores a goal, they are able to celebrate the way they want to; many new celebrations were added to the game.[7] One newly added celebration was a mimicked version of baseball player José Bautista's iconic bat flip that occurred during the 2015 American League Division Series.[8] Defensively, the player can skate their way to the puck carrier and have a chance to break up the play. The player has multiple ways of doing so; pushing the carrier off of the puck, delivering a body check, or pushing them towards the boards of the ice.[7]