NHL 15: Gameplay Overview - Operation Sports

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NHL 15: Gameplay Overview

Submitted on: 09/30/2014 by Robert Kollars

By now the gaming public fully understands that the next-generation of NHL 15 by EA Sports is at best a scaled back version of the its last-generation predecessor. Missing modes and poor developer communication has blemished the titles release, and sadly pushed the improvements into the shadows of the internet. NHL 15 next-gen has a few advantages in its corner, but due to the lack of communication about what actually would be included in the title, most will be overlooked.

One of the advantages that the next-gen version of NHL 15 has going for it is the actual gameplay itself, which is a huge plus. While this factor alone may not be enough for even the staunchest of hockey fan to warrant a purchase, those who have taken the plunge have experienced firsthand what is capable on the new systems.

It would be easy for one to generalize in a simplistic fashion and just state that the gameplay is better, but what does that mean? For me it means that the AI plays a more competent, competitive style of play on the ice, with less susceptibility to human manipulation. It means that the CPU is capable of properly handling of a 2 on 1 scenario.. It also means the AI is much better at understanding and executing a power play. Checking seems to be toned down a bit, and more organic looking, and the overall play itself seems less rigid. The puck physics are well done and add to the overall natural feel of the game. The same goes for player physics in general, as they seem to mimic what one would see on a real life on the ice. That’s not to say that there isn’t room for improvements in the areas I just listed, but the on-ice gameplay game seems much closer to greatness, than it does to average.

Another positive factor in the next-gen era of NHL is the ability to tune the game, via sliders. Yes, sliders are nothing new to the series, and some still have just a small effect on the attribute they are designed to control, but overall one can really adjust the game to their liking. Think the game plays too fast, you can easily slow it down with a few tweaks. Scoring too many goals? That can toned down. Not scoring enough? This also can be adjusted via settings and sliders.

Another area that has seen some improvement is penalties. I highly suggest that you max almost every single area out, and even than you are not going to see as many as you would in an authentic NHL game, but it is better. Here is to hoping that the developers really focus on this are for NHL 16, but if Madden, FIFA, and NBA Live are any indications, this may be as good as it gets.

While it may not be obvious from my love for this year’s gameplay. You can count me in on the side of being disappointed with the game and its lack of modes and options , but that is where the disappointment stops. For myself the new gameplay enhancements and physics are enough to capture my intention and immerse me into the world of the NHL, even if it’s for only one game at a time.

Obviously there is no excusing or replacing the modes that have gone missing in NHL 15, and I am not trying to do so. While the game may seem shallow on the modes front, that doesn’t diminish the far superior gameplay and physics that EA has created with their newest iteration of NHL. While I always have enjoyed the NHL series, I often equate it to EA’s FIFA series, in that it looks nice, has fun game-play, but doesn’t really resemble in authentic detail as what I would see at the stadium or on a broadcast. I can happily say that that NHL 15’s gameplay for the PS4 and Xbox One is closer to finally doing that than any of its predecessors.

What are your thoughts about the on-ice gameplay in NHL 15 for the PS4/Xbox One?

NHL 15 Videos

Member Comments

# 21 havoc00 @ 10/01/14 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ NEO


	Love the puck physics. But the defensive tools and ai are terrible. Also whats so new about the presentation besides Nbc layouts and crowds? I dont see any new authentic camera angles in off plays, realtime presentation is still not finished. Colission detection is worse than in Nhl 13. Goalies and most of animations are exactly the same. Passing is basicaly broken, it works like in Nhl 97 on pc and keyboard now.

Pretty much this, I traded mine in today and got 43 bucks and some change, basically rented it from sept 9th till now for 20 bucks.

# 22 Smirkin Dirk @ 10/02/14 03:27 AM

There are too many AI errors in the game.

Ive just uploaded this one.

It is a literal perfect storm of idiocy.

Initially, the bowling pin physics effect was cool. But...

1. Watch as the Wings skater pushes his fallen teammates along the ice. Er what?

2. The whiff from Kunitz. That wouldnt happen in a junior game.

3. The scrum of still down Wings screens out their goalie.

4. The ref who seems determined to interrupt the play.

This could be the most LOL thing Ive ever seen in a game.

# 23 bigwill33 @ 10/02/14 05:15 AM

I could list pages upon pages of issues with this games actual gameplay, and I have in the past. I have dozens of videos already to point out specific instances that keep occurring. But instead of doing any of that, I will simply point out that right now, on these very OS forums, there are exactly 27 threads on the first page of the NHL 15 Next Gen forums that are either straight up complaints about the game (and not about the missing modes) or questions that we have no real answers for from EA.

So, that alone tells me how far this game is from being "A thrill on the ice".

And at any given time there are roughly 3 to 15 members browsing this forum on average and maybe some of that is because hockey is a supposed niche sport to some, but less than one month out from release it is by far the most dead a forum could be on this site that close to having released a new game, let a lone a new next-gen game.

But maybe this version does have the "best" gameplay of the series, but that isn't saying much with how putrid the gameplay has historically been with this game, especially in the last 5 years.

I still want to see a poll around Thanksgiving and Xmas for how many people here still play this game every day... every week even. That is the heart of the real NHL season and I am guessing that by then this puppy is in bargain bins everywhere and people here will have moved on to something else.

# 24 Smirkin Dirk @ 10/02/14 05:30 AM

That is very well said.

Im shocked by how little activity there is on this board.

For me the gameplay issues are still (in no particular order)

1. Bezerker CPU. They react to everything like Crosby and will ALWAYS win 50/50 pucks.

2. Lack of control responsiveness. Ive worn out my right thumb stick from trying to swipe at loose pucks and nothing happens.

3. Boardplay. Its crap.

4. Neutral zone is often irrelevant.

5. Sticky puck.

# 25 headzapp @ 10/02/14 07:47 AM

Does anyone think if EA pushed back the release until a couple days before the season the game wouldn't of gotten as much hate? If the game came with playoff mode, otp and gm draft at launch would the majority be ok with it?
The gameplay is the best hockey I've played. The new tuner makes online games so much better. I play real hockey online and now I can control the puck in the offensive zone, stop the spammers who only take one guy and try to get breakaway goals, or try to take their one guy, skate the whole rink and do a one timer to get goals.
We do need some board physics, defensive sticks control other than lifting the stick. I'd love to have a reverse stick lift where we can put our stick over theirs to mess them up. When your team calls a time out have a play call screen like Madden where you can choose different plays to try and get a goal. Pre made and custom. Same with defense.

# 26 nanman2012 @ 10/02/14 10:49 AM

Did they drop the AHL teams? Im a huge GM player. No GM draft had me looking elsewhere.

# 27 Bleak5170 @ 10/02/14 11:01 AM

Love this series but I don't really understand how a game with such horrid A.I. is lauded so much for it's on-ice game play.

# 28 actionhank @ 10/02/14 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeKing


	There's numerous reasons it could be "dead" in here. Maybe because people are actually enjoying the game. Or maybe they're busying doing other things. You have all your threads and posts doing nothing but whining and complaining, yet here you are in a positive thread, trying to tear it down......AGAIN. You've even made ANOTHER negative thread. I agree with you on a lot of stuff, but YOU'VE MADE YOUR POINT........10 TIMES OVER. It's like you're having a hard time with people who are actually enjoying the game. Does it really bother you that much?? Do yourself and your health a favor, trade in the game and move on already.

So you're saying that people aren't posting that they love the game because they're too busy playing it? What...?

Come on now. If EA only gets their back rubbed for the good things they do, this game will continue to stagnate as it has for the past few years. No one's saying people can't or shouldn't enjoy it, and if you and others to, awesome. But stop complaining that people are upset with the product they received and paid full price for that practically requires a handful of patches to even get it close to the product it was last season.
Everyone is going to have their own opinion of the game and how it plays based on what they enjoy. I want EA to see the complaints because i want them to continue to push the envelope and not let NHL16 be another 60 dollar roster update.

# 29 bigwill33 @ 10/02/14 05:12 PM

I'm simply stating a counterpoint to the article's main point. That not as many people are enjoying the on ice gameplay as maybe it is being thought. I never once called anyone out for their liking of this game in here.

And as it has been stated, it is more dangerous to applaud the effort in this game when it has obvious shortcomings to so many then it is to critique and analyze the problems in the hopes that they are noticed and fixed, sooner rather than later.

If you like the game that is great, I have said this dozens of times. My opinion shouldn't matter. But there are a lot of other people that are frustrated and unhappy with where the NHL series has been for a long time now, and those people deserve better. The people that are happy already likely won't be affected by any changes that are positive for the people that are unhappy.

If you are worried about my "bitching" then I look at this way, and I have also said this a few times; If you like a game less or feel the need to defend a game that others are pointing out the flaws and issues with then you need to step back and look at yourself. You might have the issue, unfortunately.

Everything that I point out comes from hours of playing with the NHL game. It is usually not a single occurrence but often a legacy issue that has been in the game for years. I back up my claims with evidence and examples. I also offer potential fixes for the issues or ideas that might make them better in moving forward. And I don't often go into threads where everyone is happy and having fun and make a point to ruin their day. This was an article that I saw evidence pointing in the other direction and spoke my case on the matter. I wouldn't go into someone's dynasty thread and pick apart their videos and say how awful things were or something. There is a difference.

That being said, 1 of those 27 threads on the first page were mine. So there are a lot of other people having issues with the game, too. And if more people were loving this game you would see more positive threads than negative. More looking for advice on trades, photos and media posts, "the little things" posted, or just specific examples of what the game is doing great that some people say they are seeing.

How often do you hear "great gameplay... great gameplay"? And isn't it weird how none of that is elaborated on or backed up with evidence? Where are the videos of a great 2 on 0 give-and-go with the CPU rushing up ice to help out the human as they shake the goalie out of his jock? Where are the shots of a defender lying on the ice and sliding a loose puck out of the danger area with his open palm of his glove? Where are the "OMG, the coolest thing just happened! take a look!!" or "I won the cup and it was so rewarding and the new presentation made it so much cooler" posts?

I see these types of things in the other forums for all the other games going on right now, at this very moment. None of that is happening in here.

Great gameplay, can't even pass off of the boards on a breakout. Can't get the CPU AI to cover anyone in front of the crease. Can't make simple passes to their intended targets without it misunderstanding who you want to pass to as it goes sailing to nowhere helpful. Can't hardly see any pucks deflecting out of play off of shots that are deflected. And the list goes on and on... read these forums. I haven't seen too many Great gameplay, the computer really skates in a realistic manner now. It is so awesome how I can poke check a puck off of the CPU stick and it is truly loose now. Or the here is an example of what is better with the goaltender interference in this game now type of posts.

If hearing this stuff bothers you then it is the game that bothers you, not I, sir. My pointing it out is a service to myself and others that won't stand for the crap that gets shoveled by this development team. And you can be damn certain that if, or when, it is ever fixed I will be the first one on here posting about how awesome it is. Because hockey is my favorite sport, game, and part of my job.

# 30 bigwill33 @ 10/02/14 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeKing


	LOL, the game doesn't bother me. If it did, I'd say it did. And how do I have the issue here? If I enjoy the game, then I have the issue?? LOL, really??? You've stated NUMEROUS times in NUMEROUS THREADS, how much you're disgusted with the game. That's fine, but one positive thread is made, and you're in this one also bashing it. Isn't that called an agenda, or am I missing something??

I'm saying people that like the game take issue when others do not feel the same way. As if they need justification to enjoy something.

And this was not a thread, it was an article that I was responding to the topic of. It wasn't a thread by a user stating what he or she liked about the certain aspects of the game. It was an article stating that people, in general, were enjoying what NHL 15 has to offer. And from what I can tell that is not the case. Some people are liking certain aspects of the game, but as a whole the community seems rather outraged and disappointed in what they were given in the title.

It treads a slippery slope when media outlets report something like this because it paints a false picture of what the consensus may be on a game that certainly has issues to the vast majority from all that we can tell here. It is no different than ESPN interviewing the people who wore Ray Rice jerseys to the Monday Night game the week he was released from the Ravens. They painted a picture that there was a great number of fans sticking up for Rice and that simply wasn't the reality of the situation. But to the uniformed person watching that broadcast they came away with the sense that all of Baltimore was behind Rice.

Just the same, people come to OS that normally aren't searching for things on the web about the NHL series and see how this game may be worth picking up. They end up picking it up and are thoroughly disappointed in it. I have seen a handful of instances of that occurring just this week here at OS. Where people have come on the forums just to ask questions about how to do something that was not included in the game or where a missing feature was. They didn't hear all of the other stuff prior to launch and what was found out just after and they went and bought the game. Now they are stuck. This maybe wasn't because of OS, but if there are pieces out there reporting on how good the gameplay is then it should be all encompassing and paint the whole picture and discuss the pros and cons in detail. Not just that is "fun" because that is subjective to each person. Just the same as I would not go into every thread and just simply say "NHL sucks".

# 31 bigwill33 @ 10/02/14 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeKing


	I'm not going to delete my posts because I stand by them, but I'm tapping out of this conversation. You do what you gotta do, bro.

I'm not following. I never had any issue with you or your stating your feelings. Was just giving my justifications for my actions to what you stated. I'm certainly not going to follow you around and post a rebuttal to everything you say about the game that is positive, if that was your concern though. See quite a bit of that on here, both positive and negative.

But if anyone is upset with me, personally, I guess you have the right to be. Just remember, you can always block users on here if it gets to you.

# 32 Smirkin Dirk @ 10/04/14 02:37 PM

One area that desperately needs updating is the sound effects. They are very, very stale. The sound of skates, the sound of stick on puck, the battle on the boards. Some of the sound is just bizarre. Im looking at you backhander.

The video below has some really clear sound FX. Have a listen, and then compare to NHL 10-15.

# 33 canucksss @ 10/04/14 02:51 PM

I am wondering for those who find this NHL a thrill on-ice despite of the glaring issues after this recent tuner, how do you find this game now?

Made an improvement? Made worst?

IMO, latest tuner made this more aggravating to play. Trade this game (i got it for free) for $33 and put it in to another sport title coming in few days. The only thing I am grateful about this tuner.....made it easy for me to trade the game. I was really hoping that EA would address the issues but they made it worst.

# 34 MizzouRah @ 10/04/14 03:40 PM

It was a thrill at release.. but after patches/tuners - I want to throw my controller at my TV most of the time. I will continue to tweak.. but they will just release another patch to screw everything up again.

# 35 THESHAMISASHAME @ 10/06/14 08:01 AM

Yes it is simply incredible especially after I stopped using the latest tuner

: and went back to the V1:00 man like night and day difference and I thought is was the patch.

Just started a second cup series Wash me vs Pitt and had two overtime games and the series is 1-1 and both Sid and Alex O scored the OT winners !
Man this game oozes hockey and Alex got a two for hitting Sid !

# 36 Sheba2011 @ 10/07/14 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeKing


	I knew going in that this game would be stripped down, but I'm still having a blast. I've been a member of this site for over 10 years, and the one glaring constant that I've gathered here in that time, and more than anything, is that gamers first and foremost, want excellent gameplay. Obviously most people want the whole deal, but if the gameplay isn't there, then what's the point?

On that same token if there is nothing to keep me playing the game beyond the gameplay, what's the point? I would say most people here want the overall experience, gameplay is a part of that but the other modes are just as important. For some they are even more important.

# 37 Chonchko @ 10/07/14 01:08 PM

It's a shame no one was this willing to give the NHL 2K series a chance when it was a bare-bones game that, honestly, provided a much better on-ice experience.

# 38 THESHAMISASHAME @ 10/07/14 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MizzouRah


	It was a thrill at release.. but after patches/tuners - I want to throw my controller at my TV most of the time. I will continue to tweak.. but they will just release another patch to screw everything up again.

What dont you like about the patch ? It sounds like your issue is the tuner no ?

I like the latest tuner alot for cpu defensive position especially around the net but I dont have the time or patience to then address the big hit gameplay and boost mode the latest tuner also introduce but maybe just lower hitting a bit and everything else should fall into place

# 39 MizzouRah @ 10/07/14 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THESHAMISASHAME


	What dont you like about the patch ? It sounds like your issue is the tuner no ? I like the latest tuner alot for cpu defensive position especially around the net but I dont have the time or patience to then address the big hit gameplay and boost mode the latest tuner also introduce but maybe just lower hitting a bit and everything else should fall into place .

Yeah me either.. xb1 for vs play and x360 for BeaGm for me this season.

# 40 THESHAMISASHAME @ 10/07/14 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeKing


	There's numerous reasons it could be "dead" in here. Maybe because people are actually enjoying the game. Or maybe they're busy doing other things. You have all your threads and posts doing nothing but whining and complaining, yet here you are in a positive thread, trying to tear it down......AGAIN. You've even made ANOTHER negative thread. I agree with you on a lot of stuff, but YOU'VE MADE YOUR POINT........10 TIMES OVER. It's like you're having a hard time with people who are actually enjoying the game. Does it really bother you that much?? Do yourself and your health a favor, trade in the game and move on already.

I love this by Moegames , says it all

Are you basing this off of just members here at OS Forums? If so, let me explain to you from a long time member standpoint of view as i been a member here for 12 years now....there are a lot of very very finicky almost childish kind of members here with a lot of their gripes and dislikes of this game and any other sports game tha that has its own sub-forum here at OS Forums.

One thing i learned here after being here so long is that people want their sports games tailored to their own liking "OR" they read someone else negative slandering feedback and literally get hypnotized off it and from that point on their eye's are totally focused on that specific bug or problem in the game, even as minor as it may be...they will make it a mountain out of a mole hill.

Long story short - Enjoy video games for what it is, not what it's not. Dont fall for negative people or negative comments you read in here from personal opinions because its nothing but their own opinion and once you start feeding into that BS ...it'll suck all the fun out of every game you play. Do NOT get into the habit of dissecting and putting a videogame under the microscope like so MANY members here do...i mean they literally pop the new game in and put it under the microscope searching for bugs, flaws or just any negative thing their eye's can find because they are already set to look out for negative BS, its a bad kind of mind-set to have ..its simply non-sense and all you gotta do is look at each member's history of posts that are posting harsh negative feedback and i guarantee you the majority of their posts are all like that. Dont get me wrong, there is a place for constructive criticism and we need to share our thoughts on bugs, flaws,etc and what can be improved....I am simply talking about the posts with harsh bashing of a game or portions of a game...

The reason why i say all this is that i use to be like that a lot...i was so caught up on expecting perfection and a bug-free game that i would pop in the new game and just go looking for every thing that i didnt like....rather than popping in the game and just enjoying it for what it is.....Im telling you man, you seem to already have a strong position on your aspect and opinion of the game...that is good, keep it that way because i am telling you man...it will never stop here at OS Forums....this place is notorious for whiny-type, bashing feedback of games and people that only looking for bugs, flaws, and all negative aspects of sports video games.

Like i said...enjoy the games for what they are...no game will ever be perfect and no human is perfect so there is no way a game will ever be perfect but i get a feeling some people around here expect a video game to be and play as smart as the real sport...and that just baffles me.

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