Thankfully NHL 16 features some of the best to ever grace the series

Summer may just be coming to a close and the temperatures are still relatively warm, even up in areas of Canada, but that doesn't mean it is too early for some action on the ice. The 2015 NHL season is about three weeks away and naturally, EA Sports has now released NHL 16, which manages to feel much more like a complete game than the bare bones experience of last year. While the first outing of the new generation for the NHL series was rather lackluster, one aspect it did manage to capture very well was the gameplay, which is even better this year. The in-game physics are still as good as they get, which are further improved by a few new gameplay additions, though nothing is too drastic.

NHL 16 is great, but its not without its faults. The commentary lineup of Doc Emrick, Eddie Olczyk and Ray Ferraro tends to repeat the same lines during your games across each mode. You'll find yourself wanting to skip certain games in Season Mode or blocking the commentators out altogether to dodge their repetitive lines. The passing mechanics could use some tweaking as well. It's far too easy to accidentally pass to no one and give up game winning interceptions. The gameplay remains great, but there's still room for minor improvements. Of course all the modes in the world couldn't save bad gameplay, so thankfully NHL 16 features some of the best to ever grace the series. A new tool dubbed Precision Skating has been added that allows players to make refined movements with their skater, jumping quickly into passing lanes on defense or experiencing more effective power plays on offense. Puck pickups are now more seamless than ever before, with smoother transitions when receiving the puck no matter the position.

Goalie controls of NHL 16 also feel better before, with the aforementioned Precision Skating capturing the feel of a goaltender's momentum, allowing players to decide whether to make high risk or controlled positional saves. Breaks such as these don't ruin everything, but they're all the more noticeable in the context of NHL 16's mechanical success. Though it also helps to have a top-notch presentation that very effectively transports armchair hockey fans into the arenas they're used to seeing on TV. Starting with the live-action pre-game commentary from returning sportscasters Mike "Doc" Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, and continuing on through the authentic arena recreations and exterior views, each new game you play has the feel of watching the pros go at it on live TV. Live-action video has a pretty spotty history in video games, but EA Sports continues to wield it in a smart way.

Surveying NHL's core modes, it's clear that EA Canada wants to not only bring these modes back up to their usual standard, but push them above and beyond. Of all the modes, the EASHL gets the clearest and most interesting revamp. Be a Pro in NHL 16 is slightly less dramatic, but it's very nice to have minor leagues and the draft position tournament back, and the in-game feedback does a good job of getting you to stick to your position, even if it's overly punitive at times. The only mode that remains relatively unchanged is Hockey Ultimate Team - a decent if rather ordinary take on the Ultimate Team mode - and even that now has single player seasons for those who would rather battle against the computer than play online; keeping in mind, of course, that you're apt to drop 12 goals on the lower difficulty levels. All in all, I'm happy to have pretty much everything back (RIP GM Connected), and that the additions add rather than detract from the overall experience.

Games generally play quite well online for EASHL, but input lag and disconnections have shown up the odd time. It's not an every game kind of thing, but it's enough to be bothersome. Let's hope EA is monitoring this and making improvements. What needs immediate improvement is the goalie control when playing with six players, as the “enhanced” controls have made it quite difficult to focus on the puck. The movement feels jittery, and your goalie will often end up facing the wrong way. It should be hard position to play - no doubt - but you shouldn't feel helpless when a player approaches from the half boards. Additionally, the poke check needs a major tuner overhaul to balance it out for online play.

Online versus, Hockey Ultimate Team, online shootouts, a season mode, a playoff mode, and NHL Moments Live rounds out the standard EA Sports suite, though none of these are destination experiences. Like a third-line grinder, NHL 16 does most of the little things right. The improved on-ice play make this a hockey game a viable option for puck heads, but the lack of mode depth and standout features ultimately keeps this year's installment from earning more ice time.