If I had but one videogame dream, it would be to educate Australia’s sport gaming population to levels conducive to both understand then play ice hockey console titles. Poor FIFA must suffer the same malady when trying to convince the North American crowd to take the beautiful game plunge.

Why this lone wish? Electronic Arts (EA)’s National Hockey League (NHL) series remains a gaming masterpiece, arguably the greatest single videogame sport series of all time. Yes, it had its hiccups for a few years here and there (see: Sega Dreamcast 2K era), but the return to glory was splendid. And with every passing year, this return becomes an even heartier celebration.

To elaborate and for NHL– with big kudos attached – EA avoids the allure of rehash plus rosters (cough, cough, Madden) so commonplace to mainstream sport offerings.  Like the little engine that could, EA Canada is hell-bent on upping the gameplay ante with each passing release year. They complement this via mid-season tuner updates, necessities in addressing subtle gameplay bugs and/or exploitable tactics. (Yes, you dumb bastards who kept shooting in slapshots from just inside the blueline. Grow a pair, and play the game right way.)

The irony of these yearly gameplay progressions is that I now see oodles of zits on NHL 11 that – before its sequel – were smooth as a baby’s bottom. NHL 12’s new physics engine is flat-out terrific, an amazing infusion into the series that literally changes the way the entire title is played.

To elaborate, NHL 12 introduces a player momentum system plus more realistic interactions with both sticks and opposing goaltenders, additions that throw prior strategies and expectations completely out the window. This disposal is a very welcome one, putting an end to ballerina-esque dodges and/or tic-tac-toe passing in hopes of beating impossible goaltenders. (More on goaltenders below.)

In its place is the excitement and randomness that is the heart and soul of highest- level professional hockey. Much like Rugby League, big hits come at a price. Miss and open up passing lanes, succeed and dramatically shift momentum. The ability to follow-through on hits is likewise realistically intuitive, accompanied by more logical penalty allocation when finishing checks. NHL 11 literally penalized aggressive neutral zone defence, a staple of top teams and leagues…but guaranteed and illogical trips to the penalty box in nearly every instance. NHL 12 also fixed shoddy stick check penalty calling, where lifting sticks produced semi-automatic high sticking and/or slashing calls in last year’s version.

Accompanying this physics system are expected skillsets and hitting abilities custom to each player. Playmakers like Sydney Crosby have stellar puck control, but Syd the Kid is not the guy you want attempting to knock an opposing player into the boards. Lining up David versus Goliath will rightly end up with the former on his sling-bearing backside. Let alone a possibility of injury.

An additional, key improvement is inserting goalies into the physics system, meaning players can now fight for space in the crease plus run goalies for risk (penalty) or reward (goal) potential. This improvement greatly increases the relevancy of offensive defenceman, as screening goaltenders plus jostling for position in front of the net now have actual purpose.  The deflection system also seems improved for higher shots.

The final standout of the new physics system is improved puck interaction to include movement off players, sticks, boards, and objects dropped to the ice. This last point is perhaps the most crucial. Forecheck is now a reality, as pressuring opposing players and/or clogging passing lines can produce a quick scoring opportunity or healthy bounce. Expect passes to deflect off skates, breakaways emerging from the subtlest of stick misplays.

Thus, I was thrilled to score goals – and give them up – from plays commonplace to real NHL, but absent from its videogames until now. In one instance,  a) a misplay among a group of players found, b) a puck trickle off an opposing stick, to c)  my teammate’s skate, then d) my center now free on the right side of the crease. He deftly flipped, e) a backhand over the goalie’s blocker, a helpless soul, f) bumped by his own defenceman and unable to navigate through, g) the maze of players only a second ago fighting for this same puck. In but several seconds, all of the above combined to produce a goal from the seeming hockey aether.

Related, big praise for the improved precision on wrist shots, which – in NHL 11 – were either ultra-precise or directly at the goalie. Frustrating, as wrist shots are overwhelmingly the shot of preference in actual ice hockey. It now pays to – thanks to improved player physics – wrist a puck at a goalie’s pads hoping for a rebound, also to generate scoring chances from soft yet accurate shots from inside the slot area. Sustained pressure produced goals at a more realistic pace than I’d ever seen in the NHL series.

Artificial intelligence was logically adjusted in tandem. With more realism intact, opposing players are apt to cut off passing lanes before a pass is delivered. This much-needed, zone coverage AI dynamic is a staple of Madden, but – until now – incognito within NHL titles. The ability to punish sloppy computer AI passing, convert them into scoring opportunities, is a welcome change from end-to-end rush strategy of days of yore. My teammates also seemed noticeably smarter in their positioning when killing penalties.

Much ballyhoo was declared over the new goalie fight system, but this reviewer could care less. Yes it’s entertaining, but not really something neither earth shattering nor even necessary when conjuring gameplay improvements.

The same could be said about the new NHL Legends additions, nice icings on the proverbial cake…but certainly not enough to warrant a full-on dessert. Sure, having Gretzky, a helmet-less Gordie Howe, Ray Bourque, Steve Yzerman and Mario Lemiuex on virtual ice is fun. Ditto watching skate style and skills mirroring real life counterparts. Still, there are not enough Legends to go around. EA should borrow a page from the NBA 2K playbook, adding decade greats totaling Legends rosters in the dozens versus 2 hands.

Third and sadly, the Winter Classic – I discovered – is a helluva’ lot more fun to watch on the telly than play with a controller. The shtick of outdoor, snowy hockey in a large gridiron stadium is damn cool in real life…but doesn’t translate enthusiastically to videogame format. My biggest regret was no tangible physics disparities between outdoor versus indoor hockey, distinctions that would add additional value to this unique format. Even the announcers allude to the impact of falling snow on ice surface, but this promise more bark than bite.

Presentation and gameplay-wise, all remains pretty similar in exception to a much welcome, simplified highlights system to view goals. EA’s NHL instant replay engine persists as a quagmire of button presses, far too much effort to view, edit and save a clip. Thus, I’m grateful for the new, menu-embedded replay system, one readily accessible via but one triangle click.  Second key new audio-visual goodie: For the females among us, ‘Be A Pro’ finally features the ability to play as the fairer gender. Cool, and about time.

Used buyers be warned: EA’s Online Pass remains the $10 addition you never planned on. A one-time use code enables online play and roster updates, the single greatest reason why most sport enthusiasts upgrade titles on a yearly basis. In this instance, it’s the additional ability to join online (EASHL) leagues, the vegemite to this series’ toast over the years.

In sum, there’s little not to love about this spectacular sport title, easily the best NHL offering to date. This is a dramatic statement, as I was convinced there’s no way EA Canada could’ve topped 11’s multi-award winning brilliance. For ice hockey connoisseurs old or new to this series, consider NHL 12 a must purchase.