I'll try to keep this list the same way EA Sports had their list of "stuff that works" : short.
While the next gen versions are lacking in game modes, the "older" versions lack differences compared to previous year's game. I'm really not kidding, when I say that roughly 95% of the game is exactly like last year's NHL 14. The soundtrack is new, commentary as well, and there's some small changes in the on-ice gameplay as well. Nothing drastic, since they feel like they could've just patched those in. The commentary is of course fresh after several years of same guys saying the same things, but somehow it still feels like a step back when it comes to enthusiasm, since there doesn't seem to be much. I suppose its good enough, but nothing to get excited about. The changes in gameplay wouldn't be worthy of a new game, but at least they did something to'em. Now the puck plays a bit more loose and unpredictably at times, and the overall experience on ice has changed to allow more hickups in the offensive game than before. But, of course, now theres also a new "trick wrister", at least in the Be a GM mode.
To be mostly just a roster update, I don't see the rosters getting much love as it is. I'm a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, so my knowledge about players consists mostly of TML players. For example, Petri Kontiola hasn't had anything done. He's at 67 overall, while he should be somewhere in 76-80 range, maybe even 80+. On top of that, his picture is from 2006-07 season, which is slightly hilarious. I know nitpicking on player stats is redundant in a way, but this is just merely to show how much of a slacker EA Sports is when it comes to keeping taps with rosters. They should have some sort of a group of dedicated people doing the rosters for each team, 'cause I don't think possible stars/good players like William Nylander (8th overall pick in 2014 draft) should have a future of a declining 2 stars out of possible 5, which basically means his skills will decrease every season, a trait of many near-40-years-old-players. Also the whole prospect factor in the NHL-series sucks, but that's another thing entirely for another time.
I think this years EA Sports hockey games are the worst in...I don't know, maybe ever? Next gen consoles have nice looking graphics and pretty good on-ice gameplay, but lack greatly in proper gamemodes, and Xbox 360/PS3 are severely lacking new additions that would justify a full price. Only remaining things is to choose between these two rather bad choices for a hockey fan who buys a hockey game every year. Either you go with a new game with very limited content, or you go with an old game with very limited changes. Neither makes me that excited, to be honest.
So, all in all, if you liked NHL 14, I can pretty much guarantee you'll feel like home in NHL 15 for Xbox 360. A home where not a lot has changed. Maybe a chair has been moved a bit and someone opened the curtains (that you will deliberately shut again), and you paid 60 bucks for those to happen. You're not just entirely sure if it made any sense to do so.
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