NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions Here

[eskimos44]

As a casual hockey fan, I really enjoyed the demo. And will continue to play it.

Plenty of penalties including goalie interference. Skating is really smooth and the puck is more lively. Had a corner scrum that last 10 seconds or so(which is long in the series).

I don't use the skill stick and using alternate controls there seemed to always be a delay when shooting. That's not the case in this demo. Really quick releases that lead to goals.

Had a beautiful 3 on 1 break that enabled me make 3 passes quickly and deposit the puck into the open net.

Took a run at Kane with Chara and some goon from the Hawks comes over to protect him. I proceeded to lose the fight. Double minors for fighting.

I enjoy football way more than hockey, but this demo is 10x more fun than Madden.

[Steven547]

Those of you wondering if their is COACH mode in this year. Yes there is. If you go to the Manual (select on pS3 and proceed to page 10, there are coach controls just like last year.) This is a big selling point for me!

So far, pretty fluid, however, I'm concerned about the opposite side shooting. What I mean is, if you skate down on an angle (skate right to left), I scored about 75% of the time. This was during Free Skate only, so it could be different during game.

[Segagendude]

PS3 impressions(Those that know me, know I'm a relative newbie to this series. I don't play online, and I'm not really looking for too sim of a game. So take the following with a grain of salt, or garlic, should you prefer..)

Presentation: Meh. Same as last year. And the year before that.....and the year....well, you get the point. It's been said many times it's long overdue for a commentary change, and I so agree. Same ole lines, same ole everything. Dull and repetitive. Looks like I might just turn it off (again) and act like I'm there live. Crowd is loud and energizing, but then it always has been. (One area EA got right) Still disappointed they took away group celebrations, however. (?) Scoring a goal is 10X more exciting than any other sports' scoring plays, but again this year, EA failed to capture that.

Sound Already touched on above.

GraphicsNot much of a difference from 13. Still sharp, and I like the shadows. Anyone who passed on 12 and 13, will see a difference, obviously. But for those of us who've bought those, it's not a significant difference at all.

Gameplay I'll be honest-----I really don't see a difference from 13. Skating, passes, etc all look and feel the same to me. However, it's one period in the demo; hopefully I'll really get the feel for it as I enter BEAGM. I'm struggling to score, even in free skate, so the goalies seem improved. And what I love, is the post whistle scrums in front of the net! Something I've been waiting for! BUT------hoping somehow it can be turned down. Doesn't need to happen after every whistle.

Fighting Love it, but I think I'll end up turning it off or lowering it, if possible. As was mentioned, you don't get a chance to refuse a fight. Once the gloves drop, you gotta engage, no matter who you control. What I like though is the other players NOT leaving the ice, but rather having minor scrums of their own. Also, the post fight reaction, by the winner. Nice!

8/10 After playing 3 games thus far, it's definitely a fun game. Will I trade in 13 for it? Not really sure yet. I need more demo time, but unfortunately the one period of play just goes by too quickly for me to make a sound judgement. Wish it was more! But for now, I give it an 8, for the fun factor alone.

[Steven547]

Quote: Originally Posted by Segagendude

PS3 impressions(Those that know me, know I'm a relative newbie to this series. I don't play online, and I'm not really looking for too sim of a game. So take the following with a grain of salt, or garlic, should you prefer..) Presentation: Meh. Same as last year. And the year before that.....and the year....well, you get the point. It's been said many times it's long overdue for a commentary change, and I so agree. Same ole lines, same ole everything. Dull and repetitive. Looks like I might just turn it off (again) and act like I'm there live. Crowd is loud and energizing, but then it always has been. (One area EA got right) Still disappointed they took away group celebrations, however. (?) Scoring a goal is 10X more exciting than any other sports' scoring plays, but again this year, EA failed to capture that. Sound Already touched on above. GraphicsNot much of a difference from 13. Still sharp, and I like the shadows. Anyone who passed on 12 and 13, will see a difference, obviously. But for those of us who've bought those, it's not a significant difference at all. Gameplay I'll be honest-----I really don't see a difference from 13. Skating, passes, etc all look and feel the same to me. However, it's one period in the demo; hopefully I'll really get the feel for it as I enter BEAGM. I'm struggling to score, even in free skate, so the goalies seem improved. And what I love, is the post whistle scrums in front of the net! Something I've been waiting for! BUT------hoping somehow it can be turned down. Doesn't need to happen after every whistle. Fighting Love it, but I think I'll end up turning it off or lowering it, if possible. As was mentioned, you don't get a chance to refuse a fight. Once the gloves drop, you gotta engage, no matter who you control. What I like though is the other players NOT leaving the ice, but rather having minor scrums of their own. Also, the post fight reaction, by the winner. Nice! 8/10 After playing 3 games thus far, it's definitely a fun game. Will I trade in 13 for it? Not really sure yet. I need more demo time, but unfortunately the one period of play just goes by too quickly for me to make a sound judgement. Wish it was more! But for now, I give it an 8, for the fun factor alone.

I wish EA would finally allow the CPU to fight itself. Especially during COACH mode...or has this been fixed? This was something we mentioned last year and hoped they would fix for Coach mode this year...allow the CPU to fight. Or has anyone experienced this??

Anyway, after playing a few games, honestly, I had to ask myself if I was playing NHL 13. The "differences" I see are basically the "patch" that should have happened last year.

Presentation....same.
Gameplay...more fluid but with EA restricting the sliders, it's hard to make a decent review.
Commentary....definitely need to upgrade...been 3 years too long.
Penalties....again...no slider options = hard to say.


Probability of purchase: 60% right now. It really does feel like last year's version. Like I said, why can't we have the CPU fight itself, especially during COACH mode. I mean, EA gave us that feature, but no fighting?? C'mon EA!

[bigwill33]

Not really feeling this demo at all, tbh. Feels like a slight improvement over last year, which wasn't that great at all, when you boil it down. I play the NHL series more than any other game, 2012 was by far the worst game in quite some time in the series. Last year was an improvement over that, but that is not saying much.

-Fighting is greatly improved, yet the reasons to fight are very poorly executed. Any big hit pretty much results in being acosted. Clean, dirty, or suicide pass, it doesn't seem to matter. That means we get players that would never fight being always involved in altercations. I lay someone out in a good clean hit, that shouldn't mean I get jumped and have a penalty. I see no way of turtling in a fight. I would be jacked if my star player gets hurt in a fight because of this. The one time I declined a fight I didn't want, when I was getting jumped, I still got a roughing call. I didn't drop my gloves... the other guy did! Why am I getting a penalty on a clean hit?!

-The game still has the same cheesey goals as usual.

-"Tie-ups" in front of the net were not addressed at all. This is not a hockey play, this is holding! In real life you box someone out with your body, get positioning on them. Then they can roll off of you. They are not glued to your hip and could seperate if they want. They can still get their stick down if you play their body. They need a stick tie-up button. That is what net front defense is all about.

-They negated the effect of the poke check. That is fine, but now how to I get the puck on defense? I have to hit, which really isn't what hockey is like.

-Passing out of the zone on the rush up the boards is still money. So frustrating to see this! Where is the adaptive AI? After about 10-15 times of someone going hard up the boards on a breakout pass to the far blue line you would think the defense would adapt. Maybe clog that up with a winger or d-man? There is no setting that takes this outlet away in the strategy settings. What a joke!

-Puck seems more alive. Which is great. Screens and tips work better. Yet rebounds and shooting or stickhandling in tight is still non existant because of the holding that occurs and the magic goaltending that doesn't need to push off to go post-to-post to make a save.

-Goalies are still stiff and robotic. They do a better job of kicking things into the corners and deflecting live pucks. But they still float off thier posts for no reason quite often and the same old curl and drags work like a charm. Not to mention the breakaway money goals. Where is the variety? I should be able to come in and stickhandle one-on-one and put a nice move on and be rewarded. Not the same S curve goal or the back and forth move that has worked for decades!

-They didn't touch the overlays or broadcast stuff at all. This is far and beyond tired and just boring. I know there is no pregrame stuff in the demo, but will just be skipping over all of that again this year. No reason to watch. Lazy, if you ask me.

-NHL 94 stuff is a complete joke! What a waste of time and resources. I don't care if it took a half an hour to implement. It is useless. I turned that off after 2 mins. I'm not 5, EA. Take your arcade crap elsewhere, please. I still own my sega and the original NHL games, including 94. There is a reason I don't play that game anymore.

Basically it will come down to club and online GM for me. If those are improved enough then I may barely waste any time playing this game this year. New consoles drop soon. And with GTA and other games out I just can't be frustrated watching scrubs win at this game because the computer AI wants to help a team that is getting out shot and where time of possession is 10mins to 1min in my favor, yet they lead 1-0 going into the 3rd period because I play a real style of hockey and cycle and set up the point shots and they come in and float one on the net on their 2 shots and at least one goes in. Not to mention how my AI defensemen are a complete joke in club if we only have 3 players playing forward. They are never where you set them to be. If you are up late in a game you can be sure the other team is getting a breakaway chance unless you keep a forward beneath them in the zone. But I guess that is what hockey is to Rammer and company at EA Vancouver.

[Rwings832]

Quote: Originally Posted by Steven547

I wish EA would finally allow the CPU to fight itself. Especially during COACH mode...or has this been fixed? This was something we mentioned last year and hoped they would fix for Coach mode this year...allow the CPU to fight. Or has anyone experienced this?? Anyway, after playing a few games, honestly, I had to ask myself if I was playing NHL 13. The "differences" I see are basically the "patch" that should have happened last year. Presentation....same. Gameplay...more fluid but with EA restricting the sliders, it's hard to make a decent review. Commentary....definitely need to upgrade...been 3 years too long. Penalties....again...no slider options = hard to say. Probability of purchase: 60% right now. It really does feel like last year's version. Like I said, why can't we have the CPU fight itself, especially during COACH mode. I mean, EA gave us that feature, but no fighting?? C'mon EA!

Hey Stevens, I am an avid coach mode player and I am happy to report that yes there is fighting. Was playing as the Bruins, and Lucic came in and drilled Kane. Seabrook jumped in and started wailing away at Lucic and actually won the fight. So you are in luck. This was huge for me to. I really like the hardcore sim sliders, and with tweaks once the game comes out I believe will be a good game.

[Steven547]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rwings832

Hey Stevens, I am an avid coach mode player and I am happy to report that yes there is fighting. Was playing as the Bruins, and Lucic came in and drilled Kane. Seabrook jumped in and started wailing away at Lucic and actually won the fight. So you are in luck. This was huge for me to. I really like the hardcore sim sliders, and with tweaks once the game comes out I believe will be a good game.

That is definitely good to hear then! I'll have to play again and hope to see it. But, like I said, with such a limited DEMO (why would this be limited but EA Madden has a ton more options?) It's hard to get a good feel for this game.

[Gagnon39]

I like the fact that it has a hardcore simulation slider. However, if they really want to make it a "hardcore simulation" then they have to have WAY, and I mean WAAAAAAAAAAAY more loose pucks. That's the number one complaint I have year in and year out about this game is that the puck is too attached to players sticks. The ability of players to control rebounds (often on the backhand) and magically get the puck to their forehand and get a shot off (on net) is completely unrealistic. If they could tweak this one area it would make it so much closer to the real thing. Sliders definitely help and unfortunately we can't adjust those in the demo. I'll be turning puck control all the way down, poke check all the way up and pass accuracy way down. That creates a few more loose pucks but still not enough.