They say rock bottom is the place where one literally has nowhere to go but up. NHL 12 finds itself in a curious place; that is, the inverse of rock bottom. As far as sports games go, EA Canada's acclaimed hockey simulation is king of the world with absolutely no contest or heir apparent. This is the best game of video hockey I have ever played... but not by much. Don't take that as a negative. The fact of the matter is that NHL 11 was a complete game that didn't leave much room for improvement. NHL 12 does what it can to fill a few nonexistent voids and remains the undisputed champion on the ice. However, if you already own one of the previous three or so NHL games, there might not be enough incentive to adopt this new installment.

NHL 12 looks great, presentation-wise and on the ice. It all starts with a streamlined menu system that is simultaneously attractive and accessible. For a game that's as densely packed with content as this, that's saying something. And as always, the hockey action itself looks fantastic. EA is touting its better-than-ever Full Contact Physics Engine, which allows for perfect simulations of the mayhem that often ensues on the rink. Animations are fluid and natural, and again, the little things impress. Skaters wobble and improvise to maintain (or regain) their balance, players shatter the glass and knock each other through the boards, and the perfect body check is a thing to be feared. There's not much to complain about, save for framerate hitches during instant replays. But that's a small nitpick for an otherwise beautiful game.

NHL 12 doesn't reinvent the wheel when it comes to sound, but everything is executed to the standard that the rest of the package sets. I found the soundtrack to be a bit better this time around, though (again), NHL 11's didn't bother me at all. I still find myself impressed by the play-by-play and color commentary by Gary Thorne and Bill Clement. Their delivery and accuracy is on point, and I always like it when someone sympathizes with me over a bad penalty call (or lack thereof).

The action on the ice is as fun as it ever was. No more, no less. One could accuse NHL 12 of playing it safe, but that would be unfair. EA Canada worked hard to create the best game of virtual hockey available, and I honestly don't know how they could have topped last year's game. It certainly didn't lack for anything, and I never once thought to myself "They could have added ::insert feature::" or "This mode would be so much better if they changed ::insert nonexistent peeve::" Everything is as it was last year, and that's awesome by default.

NHL 12 certainly brings a lot to the table, but not much of it is new. Hockey Ultimate Team makes its return, as does the EA Sports Hockey League, Be a GM Mode, Season Mode, and all the other franchise staples. Nothing has been tampered with except the rosters, and that's to be expected. Everything you love (and everything you don't love so much) about these modes is still here. The core of the experience is virtually unchanged.

Two additions in particular stand out from the rest of the content, and while they are by no means game-changing, they certainly aren't unwelcome. First, you have the opportunity to play your part in the 2011 Winter Classic between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The second addition is Be a Legend Mode. This reminds me of my experience with NHL Slapshot, EA Canada's 2010 Wii offering. In this mode, you take one of your favorite players and play his part, rather than the whole team's. Expectations are laid out upfront, which helps lend a sense of purpose and progress to the proceedings. This mode is great, though most of the players are locked from the start. You must progress through Be a Pro mode and level up on the Performance Tracker in order to unlock them.

If you haven't played an NHL game recently, the new games have a pretty steep learning curve. It's not because the mechanics are unsound or because the game is unfair. This is a deep and complex game that gives you a lot of credit regardless of your hockey background.

EA Canada knows how professional hockey is supposed to be played, and if you're of a different mindset, you will find yourself fighting losing battles every time. There are things you need to adapt to, and quickly. You'll need multitasking skills and razor sharp reflexes in order to win. If you lack both, the artificial intelligence won't have any qualms about taking you down. Avoid the penalty box at all costs and press the attack when you're on a power play. Your opponent will seize each opportunity when one of your players is in the box, and they will become extremely defensive when one of theirs is in the box. Learning how to keep the passing lanes open and keeping the puck away from the penalty killers is challenging, but scoring in NHL 12 is so satisfying, it's worth toughing it out for a while.

Easy to learn, hard as hell to master. That's NHL 12. Any idiot can pick up a controller, skate like a madman, take wild slapshots from the center of the rink, and check everyone on the opposing team to their heart's content. Those are the players who will lose -- badly. Those who take the time to master the game's dual-stick scheme (Left Analog Stick for skates, Right Analog Stick for sticks) will be rewarded with victory. I still find myself struggling to make shots that should be simple; I often deke when I intend to let a slapshot fly, and several of my poke checks get negative results. However, I know the game's not cheating, it's just asking for better timing and precision; the real game doesn't settle for less from the professionals, after all.

NHL 12 is the same great game of hockey players have come to expect every year. Some might see that as a downside; after all, consumers are being asked to spend sixty dollars on a game that, fundamentally, isn't much different from last year's offering. And that's the rub. If you consider yourself a hardcore hockey fan and/or a collector, you'll get your money's worth out of NHL 12. If you're a casual fan who already owns one of the relatively recent iterations, there isn't enough new content to justify the investment. However, if you're an interested newcomer, go ahead and shell it out; you'll be glad you did.