NHL 09 Patch Released (360/PS3) -- Impressions here please

[tabulaRasa]

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

Its never going to be 100% perfect hockey. Overall though it IS the most realistic game of the two without a doubt. Some of you guys looking for perfection, I'm sorry its just not going to happen.

The thing is that the game was way more realistic before this patch. One-timers and concentration around the crease is not realistic.

It actually feels like they tried to make NHL08 again with this patch. It´s mind boggling and a craptacular move.

And what´s up with the checking again? Post patch is crap VS online.

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by tabulaRasa

The thing is that the game was way more realistic before this patch. One-timers and concentration around the crease is not realistic. It actually feels like they tried to make NHL08 again with this patch. It´s mind boggling and a craptacular move. And what´s up with the checking again? Post patch is crap VS online.

I score fine using other types of shots personally, could be your sliders, or the people you're chosing to play online against.

[Battman]

Quote: Originally Posted by tabulaRasa

So true, they tried to fix the cheese, instead we have a game where the cheese is concentrated around the net (wrappers, spins and 5-hole etc)and the diversity is limited, everyone can see that quite fast online. And the aiming causes everyone to attack much closer to the crease, which makes 90% of all goals being weird close crease goals. Add to that that everyone can deke thru traffic most of the time and that one-timers are super easy again (ala 08), there you go a run and gun gameplay without need to set up plays or play sound positioning. Post patch is so dissapointing. I had a good game but now it just sucks, it feels like NHL08 with a small update. It´s also insanely easy to deke like crazy thru traffic again, thanks alot EA , I didn´t pay for NHL08 1.01, the worst thing about 08 they fixed in NHL09, much better D, but now it´s rediculous. Also the 08 defense is back with focus on hits. Since making stickwork less effective we now have crazy hitting on D as focus, not only does it look crap, it´s also friggin lame. I say revert this patch, I can take any isssue I had with the old over this NHL08 look-a-like patch. Oh, and for the record, I still haven´t lost, but damn, this game is so much less fun now. Talk about taking two steps back.

I second that.

Before the patch I played good online games. Ok, it seems I was lucky, that I never played against a cheeser.
But after installing the patch I had three awful matches.
It is so easy to breakthru an score on a One-on-One. Without much deke-ing. Just kate close to the goalie an move left. Bang! Goal! More than 50% of the goals were scored this way. Also, the goalie is stupid beyond imagination. I play Buffalo. And Ryan Miller is definitely one of the better goalies in the NHL. But you just have to pass two or three times across the field and he will fall down for an easy goal. If these passes were in the crease I would somewaht understand this goalie behavior, but not if the passes are somewhere in the middle of the offensive zone. It is just plain stupid.

An last but not least:

I normally play with a friend a 2player-game against the CPU or online.
After the patch the passing is crap. The passes reach wrong players (not the ones you aimed to), IF they even reach one of your players. There are far too many interceptions.
The One-Timers hardly work. If I pass to my buddy an d he tries to shoot, the chance of hitting the air is higher than hitting the puck.

As I play PS3 an XBOX 360, I can say that the cheesing problems seem to be dominantly PS3-related, the 2 player-problem on the other hand is predominantly a XBOX360 issue. But also the PS3-version has some issues with that.

I am very very disappointed an praying for a patch of the patch.

[tabulaRasa]

That´s exactly the problem, skating thru traffic is easy (and stickwork on D is lame now), and all "easy" scoring is based in the close crease area. We can all debate that "you can still scored varied bla bla" , sure, you can , but no way in hell as good and dynamic as before.

We also know that people online will go for better percentange shots, and along with the new awful aiming (come on, it´s way to extreme, I would go for half the change), you can bet your *** we will see overcrowded creases with unrealistic , traffic defying dekes being the new way to play online. Which by all means sucks like crazy.

Add to that the the goalies fumbles on so many shots close crease now that it hurts to see.

Another awful thing is that the new way to play D is so based around the check, the annoying bump. All this add to make a run and gun up and down (NHL08) gameplay.

I usually only play NHL games, but I bought Gears 2 now to have some fun, because NHL09 just became NHL08(way worse than original NHL09) post patch.

Here´s hoping for a new patch to fix the old patch.

All this is being said , these are issues VS games online. The Human mind will always find the exploits and cut corners better than AI, which also means that´s in the VS games online you will find the ultimate flaws, not in the offline games vs the cpu.

[Steven547]

Anyone getting any penalties called against you in this game? I see about 3 - 4 against the CPU and if i'm lucky, i'll get one called against me. Not that I want penalties, but it's not realistic if my guys are "gentleman" on the ice all the time.

This patch gave us penalties against the CPU, but took them away from the HUM controlled team. The problem pre patch, was that the CPU wouldn't get penalties, but I would get a ton. Now it's reversed.

[haze56]

Sometimes when the CPU is getting a lot of penalties, I'll take one on purpose just to even it out a bit..I know what you mean though...My CPU controlled player never get penalties.

[Franchizz]

Well this is probably my third or fourth try at Superstar post patch and I cannot score for the life of me. Everything from the wrap around, to my quick timed wrist shot to anything the goalie makes a perfect save or the shot goes wide. Granted I could need some practice and I shall try to drop play to All-Star and see if I do not absolutely blow out opposing teams.

As for penalties, I find them rather sporadic. Some games I will see five, others barely one.

Perhaps I should use some sliders adjustments, if anyone has some suggestions post patch that would be helpful as I am currently on default.

Edit: So much for All-Star, I absolutely tore apart Pittsburgh, outshoting them and shuting them out. I was on the attack double the amount of time they were and my only real fault was a surprisingly onesided amount of hits (71 to 20) Not sure if this patch is actually all that grand.

[original6]

Quote: Originally Posted by bjackets

I realize a lot of people love this game and I'm not trying to rain on any parades....this is just my opinion. Not digging this game....just not hockey. I've played it a lot post and pre patch and there is one GLARING issue I don't see anyone talkng about and it surprises me...........there are almost ZERO odd man rushes by both the AI and the human player. These plays are non existant in this game because the defense can skate backwards too quickly and force you outside entirely too easily. This is a HUGE part of hockey and EA has decided to leave it out entirely. Instead on offense everything is set up and executed as if you are on the PP.... this includes even strength 5 on 5 play. It's the same thing over and over again. -Gain puck possesion -advance to offensive zone -cycle for open shot This makes for very monotenous gameplay and makes all teams play the same. Speed doesn't matter because you can not get out on odd man rushes. ohiost

Excellent observation. Now that you mention it, I haven't seen any either offline. Kinda makes the advantage of speedy players who feast on breakaway chances, like Gaborik, null and void. Couple this with the fact that even less-talented players can deke as well as the skilled ones, and you really don't see the player separation you should.