NHL 09 360 Patch #2 Online -- Impressions

[SuperCorona]

First offline BAP game post patch I picked up a charging call when I went right side to left side to hammer Erat into the boards. I've seen more hooking and interference calls with much fewer delay of game penalties. I've received a couple interference calls that were very questionable....even Clement said they were weak calls LOL.

Overall, I think the game play has greatly improved. Thanks EA.

[bad_philanthropy]

I really like what they've done overall to the gameplay. Also the efforts they've made to tone down hitting. I was especially pleased to see a few charging call on open-ice hits that before were previously a staple of defending the rush.

The cpu also seems more capable on offense, and not just because the goalies have been toned down a bit. Post-patch if I lose my head and try to use a defenseman to chase a player into the corner I get scored on a good amount of the time.

[Solucopa]

I'm loving the patch. The penalties are a little much some of the time, but overall I love how it affects gameplay. Have played lots of bap online and some ranked games... all were great as opposed to before when I just quit trying to play online. Their seems to still be that one weird glitchy goal around the circles, but its not to bad if you are defending it.

[Ridgeberg]

Hey guys. Played a game post-patch using QB's rosters. Wanted to show you guys a couple of goals to get your opinion. The first is a dangle with Zherdev. I don't really have a rhyme or reason to the dekes, but they worked! Second I meant to dump it in, but it hit Montador and careened to Callahan. Cheese or legit?

EA SPORTS World: VIDEO1

EA SPORTS World: VIDEO2

[savoie2006]

Second goal seemed legit to me, even it a bit lucky. Definately not cheese as it was not intentional really.

[canucksss]

now im playing much 1v1 online, i still find some gripes after the patch. and they are:

1. goalie cant cover the puck - when there is a loose puck, how come they dont cover it up? likewise that puck that seems "stuck" in his skate no reaction.

2. as you change your lines - it seems the AI (yours) so slow to react or they changed even you're not telling them to change.

3. the change line buttons - seems sluggish to me. i dont know about you guys.

so far these are my observations.

[bad_philanthropy]

Quote: Originally Posted by canucksss

now im playing much 1v1 online, i still find some gripes after the patch. and they are: 1. goalie cant cover the puck - when there is a loose puck, how come they dont cover it up? likewise that puck that seems "stuck" in his skate no reaction. 2. as you change your lines - it seems the AI (yours) so slow to react or they changed even you're not telling them to change. 3. the change line buttons - seems sluggish to me. i dont know about you guys. so far these are my observations.

I will agree with this. It's quite frustrating at times how flakey the goalies can be with a puck near their feet. Next year will definitely need to see some more aggressive animations for the goalie to deal with situations where the puck gets in close.

[Qb]

Quote: Originally Posted by canucksss

now im playing much 1v1 online, i still find some gripes after the patch. and they are: 1. goalie cant cover the puck - when there is a loose puck, how come they dont cover it up? likewise that puck that seems "stuck" in his skate no reaction. 2. as you change your lines - it seems the AI (yours) so slow to react or they changed even you're not telling them to change. 3. the change line buttons - seems sluggish to me. i dont know about you guys. so far these are my observations.

For offline play, raising Goalie Cover Puck Frequency to 4 helps to alleviate concern #1, but for ranked online play I'm not sure if there's anything we can do. Your second point frustrates me as well as I've had lines -- particularly D-pairings when I tell the forwards to change -- leave the ice when I didn't tell them to and at the worst possible time. And there is definitely some sort of button lag/delay when changing lines online. It's not there offline, or at least it's not as dramatic...