NHL 16 will bring back the series' beloved Be a Pro mode in full force, along with a revamped player progression system in which you'll improve your player by the way you play, developer EA Canada said this week.
The version of Be a Pro that appeared in NHL 15 at launch last year was gutted of standard features like the ability to play for a minor league team or simulate to your next shift. This time around, those elements are in. Plus, EA Canada has revised the in-game coach feedback system to provide more information about the positive and negative aspects of your game, and how to get better.
EA Canada's biggest change to Be a Pro comes in its overhaul to player progression. In the past, Be a Pro characters would earn experience points that they could allocate to improving individual attributes of their choosing, like speed, shot accuracy and offensive awareness. Now, the XP you earn — and the attributes that rise or fall — will depend on how you play.
If you throw checks left and right, your checking attribute will go up. If you turn the puck over too often, your puck control rating is likely to drop. EA Canada says that this system will lead to Be a Pro characters that more closely reflect the way you actually play NHL 16. And for those who are still learning the ropes, the studio has implemented an optional tutorial with visual indicators during games to give players contextual advice on how to play.
NHL 16 launches Sept. 15 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, now without Patrick Kane on the cover. For more, check out our in-depth piece on its EA Sports Hockey League mode.
