Just when you thought EA Sports couldn't outdo themselves...

A year has gone by and another NHL season is quickly approaching. Now that EA has the license all to themselves it seems (not through a buyout, but it looks like 2K just gave up), what better hands to leave it in than the guys who year after year create not only the best hockey game around, but arguably the best made sports series around. NHL 12 is no different, and even in a year when I thought that NHL 11 was the cream of the crop, lo and behold, EA has outdone themselves and it now seems that NHL 12 is the new complete package with all trimmings. Sure there are little A.I. glitches, graphical mishaps, and even missed calls in commentary, but there is no need to be so nitpicky when you have a game as close to perfect as this. It would be something else if the little nuisances happened all the time, but when the glitches and errors happen once in a blue moon, why bother griping I say.

So whether you are like me and have played every incarnation of the series, or have sat out a period or two, there are tons of new things to love about what the EA team has done this year for NHL 12. From the new enhancements to game play, visuals, features, and online extras, you have to wonder that with a package this complete, what they can possibly do next year outside of a roster update that has been omitted from this year's effort. We'll begin with the section that matters most to rabid hockey fanatics...game play. The checks are bigger, the hits are harder, the dekes are slicker, and the A.I. wiser. EA has added a little touch called A.I. anticipation that will put the player in the position of where the puck is going to be, versus where it already is. Now players won't miss on interception transfers, bad passes, where the defense or offense is heading, and most importantly won't all leave the area of play during a line change that results in a key break away. It may not sound like much, but believe me, it matters in a fast and frantic game such as hockey where ever second literally counts.

The physics engine has a full contact representation to it that takes in account size, strength, hit placement, agility, and all in real time live motion. You will see new animations because of this from half falls, stumbling to knees, players spinning in the air, flipping over benches, and so much more. The contact isn't just player specific either as now players helmets will fly off, the net comes loose and off the net itself, and even broken glass makes a reappearance. Players even play like their actual counterparts and utilize their signature traits such as driving the net, dump and chase, set up man, one timers, etc. which also help to compliment the team's style of play since they are centered around those star players. New net battles make the games really interesting in scoring areas as there will be huge scrums around the net that not only are action packed, but will cause a riff or two resulting in, of course, a fight that could even have your goalie take a few swipes at a player. Of course most importantly is the puck is even more alive this year, resulting in more garbage shots, bounces, and unusual goals that never seem canned or predetermined.

All these new game play mechanics are enhanced by the fact that the game looks wonderful. The new Broadcast Presentation now has new team intros featuring props, pyro, and video screen overlays. Speaking of overlays, expect to see tons of them with a new emphasis on tracking all the biggest and highlighted plays, not only for after the fact, but during the post game wrap up. No longer are dumb hits the focus, as a new replay logic will only emphasize on the biggest and most impactful plays of the game. I was unhappy to see the stars of the game aftermath taken out this year, and I'm uncertain why, as I can't imagine that it took much memory to run it. The players faces have gotten an overhaul which even includes the coaches who now look the part as well. Heck, even the jumbo-trons, got a face lift allowing players to witness shots, goals, and times live and in real time this year.

Audio is once again dandy as candy with some rockin' tunes, great play by play, and some rambunctious crowds. Sure, like most sports games that come out year after year, you will hear some phrases mentioned in last year's game repeated this year, but I assure you the new commentary outweigh the old when it comes to game to game listening. Did I mention the crowds? If I did, let me say this again...the crowds are amazing! The noise produced, the cheers, the jeers, and even the silence when an away team has taken the home team out of it are all represented incredibly and is something you will want to demonstrate loud and proud.

You can take all this and more to the hilt with the knowledge that you have no shortage of game play modes to enjoy during your time with NHL 12. You have to be crazy not to wonder if there is anything left out this year. You have returning modes such as Be a GM, Playoff, Season, Tournament, Create Play, Practice, and Shootout. Be a Pro mode has also returned and all these old school modes have little added to them with the exception of maybe a female can be created to be the first NHL female hockey hall of famer.

Hockey Ultimate Team has made a return this year allowing you to be part of the biggest online Dynasty in hockey. As in the past you have season, playoffs, and offseason in which you are divided up cards based off a salary cap where you will submit line ups, uniforms, and even training cards to create the best team you can and play them against the best that the online world has to offer. It's all about chemistry too, so you can just pit your best players by ranking at the top as they may not mesh well. The more you play and of course win, the more pucks you earn (currency) to purchase new packs of cards that hopefully have better players and items such as contract extensions, training, healing, and whatnot to keep you winning as time goes on. New arrivals for this year are new modes such as EAUHL 24/7 that will allow you to download 4 opponents off the servers to play in single player mode to provide a new and fresh game each time out. You also can play a friend, have multiple lineups, and even see the stars of the week showing off the most improved players in the league. This is a mode that on its own will keep you playing all year long.

NHL 12 brings the Winter Classic game to the forefront this year where you can recreate last year's 2011 Penguins and Capitals game, or create your own Winter Classic using any team featured in NHL 12. No matter who you use, the new outdoor presentation is something to behold, complete with snow flurries, 70,000 fans, and the bitter cold of Hines Field. This is pretty much like the NHL's version of the Pro Bowl pitting the best teams against each other.

If all that wasn't enough, you can now play another new mode called Be a Legend, which allows you to play as a former NHL Legend player to see how he stacks up against the best of today's crop of NHL superstars. Most of the legends are locked and require certain other mode game objectives to open them up, but once you do that you have the access to big times players like Jeremy Roenick, Patrick Roy, Steve Yzerman, Gordie Howe, and of course the great one Wayne Gretsky. This is a love letter to hardcore fans of the NHL and we thank you for it EA.

What more can be said other than, NHL fans need to buy NHL 12 if only to play the best representation of the sport ever created. I don't think I can praise it any more than that.