This game is amazing.............when it works. Its much like its previous games, which were also great.
They have an improved hitting system which looks great for the most part, I have hit players into the bench, through the glass and I have even knocked a player into his own team mate which took him out as well. The problem is that I had to modify the hit power and aggression because EVERY hit will lay you out even when in all reality it shouldn't. For instance say I have the puck and a defender slightly or barley hits the side of my player he will go flying. I love realism so I had to modify the game so that a big hit only happens when the conditions are right, otherwise its to arcade like.
The puck now has better physics as well. No longer will the puck stick to the blade of your stick like velcro, instead if you wind up for a slap shot the puck could roll away. This also make playing the puck on defense better as the poke check works a little better and you dont have to go for open ice checks that could leave you out of position.
Battling in front of the net has become a huge addition in my opinion. You can fight for position in front of the crease to screen a goalie or clean up a rebound for a goal. You also see more "dirty" goals where its a complete mess in the crease and everyone is scrambling to eiether put the puck in the net, or keep it out. The goalies can now be interfered with, and they can also fight. I once scored a goal when I was playing as Danny Briere of the Flyers when I was on a breakaway and a Sabre defensman tripped me. I slid on my kness and shot the puck which trickled through Ryan Miller's legs and i nto the net as I crashed into him. Things like that are just amazing and capture the sport perfectly because these things happen.
Be a Pro mode is back and better than ever, you can play in the QMJHL, or "Quebec Major Junior Hockey League" a full season and increase your draft stock before entering the NHL or AHL. This is a much needed addition because I enjoy player minor league hockey before professionally, once again because it adds realism.
The fighting system is the same and it sucks, it doesnt resemble a real hockey fight. I'd prefer a 3rd person view where the players are holding onto each others jersey and swinging around punching wildly trying to keep thier balance until a referee breaks it up, and not have someone get completley knocked out every fight since that rarley happens. They also need to add scrums and line brawls or just create drama after a whistle. Watching a hockey game you will notice alot of after whistle activity where players have to be seperated. this needs to be added to NHL 13.
As for EASHL online I dont really play that anymore, because alot of people dont play and follow the whole "team" aspect and just hog the puck, or you will get stuck with a guy who thinks he can play goalie but gives up 3 quick goals and quits.
Okay now this is what lowers this games score. Lag, sometimes the frame rate stutters and speeds up, about 6 times now I've had the game just crash on my in the middle of a game, and I find that loading a Be a GM mode or Be a Pro mode will freeze unless you sign out of PSN. Sometimes I lose control of my player and he will just skate into a corner while I fight to gain control of him. These things have yet to be fixd with an update and to be honest I dont think they ever will.
All in all this game is great but a few technical problems hold it back.