Still, Ho acknowledged that he anticipates the main feedback around NHL 21's Be A Pro mode will be that fans want more.Īlso new for Be A Pro in NHL 21 is an in-universe radio show hosted by NHL 21 commentator James Cybulski that plays while you're looking over the menus between games and other notable events. The majority of the content and the new voiceover and narration pertains to your rookie season, though Ho said there will be a "significant amount of content" available for your sophomore seasons and beyond as it relates to stat-tracking for your milestones as you progress toward new franchise records. It's also worth noting again that NHL 21's Be A Pro mode is focused primarily around your rookie season in the NHL. "So keep your eyes peeled and don't just button through the conversations." "We really want people to look at the responses and look at the ratings impacts … we've tried to make those ratings impacts with the fiction of each conversation and each promise," he said. In about four hours, my character's journey is only just beginning, and I'm excited to see how their story will play out and what other choices I might need to make throughout my career.Ĭreative director William Ho said in a group interview that he hopes people don't just mash the conversation buttons and move on. I found that these conversations made me feel a sense of ownership of my player as I guided them through the early stages of their career. In certain pivotal situations, you can promise to get your team back on track with a goal, or you can reassure your coach that you'll play a more measured game to protect a lead. While most of these conversations happen off the ice, there are also some conversations with your coach that occur in the middle of a game. For example, in a media interview you can promise to have a big game the next time out, and you're rewarded for coming through and punished for failing with impacts to your statistics. These kinds of dilemmas can also occur in conversations with members of the media and coaches. I ended up going bowling, but it was a decision I spent some time thinking about as I weighed the pros and cons-the ratings impact is also shown on screen so you can see just how much your decisions may affect your career. So I was presented with a choice-go bowling with my teammates to increase my likeability with them (which would in turn improve line efficiency) or call my agent back to take up the brand opportunity (which could pay dividends down the road with further brand opportunities and sponsorships). I said yes, but then I got a call from my agent saying an opportunity came up to make some cash. In one instance, a teammate asked if I wanted to go bowling as a team-bonding exercise. I only played around four hours, so I didn't see them all, but I was impressed with their variety. EA says there are "hundreds" of story beats that can play out. You will have text conversations with coaches, management, and teammates to discuss your future, and there are multiple dialogue options to choose from that can alter the trajectory of your career. Outside of the new hub and layout, another major change for Be A Pro in NHL 21 is the new conversation system. I tried both ways, and found it was more exciting to start in one of the lower-tier leagues, as this makes your journey to the NHL feel more fulfilling. The Be A Pro structure is familiar-as in years past, you start out by creating a character and choosing whether you want to start in the Memorial Cup or in Europe, and compete for a place in the NHL, or you can jump directly into the NHL and guide your player through their rookie season. NHL 21's Be A Pro hub shows you most everything you need on one screen, with sub menus available for your game schedule, skill tree, important news, salary details, and more. This sounds very basic, but in returning to NHL 20, its Be A Pro screen feels very barebones and lacking by comparison. The hub has been revamped to display more information on the screen at once. The first thing you'll notice in NHL 21's Be A Pro mode is that the UI is completely overhauled, and for the better. I recently had the chance to play around four hours of NHL 21's Be A Pro, and it's clear right from the start that EA isn't repeating the mistakes of last year. That is still the case in NHL 21, but the game's developer is finally updating its career-minded mode, Be A Pro, with what appears to be the biggest and most welcome changes to it in years. While the Madden and FIFA series have leaned into their own story modes in recent years with Longshot and The Journey, EA's other flagship sports franchise, NHL, has left this on the bench.
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