EA is revealing more and more information about NHL 18 leading up to its release next month, including the addition of a brand new Threes mode which pits two teams of three together in faster-paced matches that contain less penalties and even some special scoring modifiers. At a recent EA Sports event, I had the chance to play NHL 18 early, and recorded some footage of both Threes mode and a Stanley Cup game between the Predators and Penguins that the game encourages you to play upon startup.
The first Threes video shows a traditional Threes Now match, which is the basic quick play option for the mode; the modifiers and changes mentioned above are all present here. Threes Mode will also feature online play, allowing one to share this quite hectic mode with their friends.
The other video shows off the Threes Circuit mode. This functions more as a single player campaign, with players being able to play through five circuits. Players are rated on their performance each match, and can earn new team logos, team uniforms, mascots, and more by getting a good rating.
Finally, the last video showcases a 30 minute traditional Stanley Cup match between and Nashville Predators and the Penguins. Not too much has changed from last year’s entry, though you can see some of the new attack dekes and smarter AI in action.
You can check out all three gameplay videos below. NHL 18 is set to release on PS4 and Xbox One September 15. If you want to play some of the game early, you can sign up for the game’s open beta.