NHL 14 Available Now - Post Your Impressions Here

[DJ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

LOL! Not even close! I'm on PRO for crying out loud (don't judge me!). Yes, I'm that bad at games these days, haha. But I am playing on hardcore simulation mode. I had a blast with the demo and even more fun with the retail version last night. I plan on getting in more quality time tonight. DJ, I really do think it was burnout. The last 3 years I've added sports games I never, or barely played, into my rotation. I've been playing basketball and baseball games a lot more. So after 2 or 3 years off, when getting the latest b'ball, baseball or hockey game, the games feel a lot more fresh and you notice all those little changes a lot more - changes that I might not have appreciated if I had purchased the game on an annual basis. I mean, just look at the NBA2K forums. That series is unbelievable, but some of the comments I've read there, you would think that 2K13 and 2K14 (which only has videos online) are terrible. (I'm not judging, just look at some of my comments about the NHL series over the past 3+ years). So I believe taking a break from all these games every 2 or 3 years has really helped appreciate and enjoy each game.

Agreed. It's probably why I've enjoyed Madden 25 this year because I didn't play much of 11, 12 or 13. Conversely, The Show 13, while an amazing game, hasn't really drawn me in as much because I played 10, 11 and 12 for a full calendar year, so I'm a little burnt on baseball games.

FIFA Soccer on my Vita dominates my gaming time and I'm not a big soccer fan, but it's different and I am enjoying all the game immensely.

[bad_philanthropy]

I disagree about defense being too hard. It's pretty much the same as it has been for years. I play with the poke check slider at one because it's way too overpowered otherwise.

You really just can't be overly aggressive when defending. Contain your man until you get good, close, body position, and then you can use the poke check in the appropriate direction. The cpu is going to possess the puck, and the best way to defend them is a combination of knowing when to have good gap control. You can't just dispossess the cpu whenever you want. Sometimes defending and turning the puck over is about a sequence of good containment and attacking the puck carrier.

Another big key to poke checking and shot blocks is to make sure you aren't still accelerating while attempting them. It is way less effective if you are striding into your poke check or shot block.

[bad_philanthropy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Qb

I played about a quarter of a season as a tough guy in the OHL with NHL13, but it wasn't too fun due to the poor hitting & fighting. I haven't tried it yet, but I suspect it would be a lot more fun this year. Are there any enforcer specific tasks? Eg, "_____ is their star player. Get after him." I assume you get prompted to fight when your teammates get hit, but it'd be cool if the coach/team acknowledged your role. I don't remember much, if any, of that with 13.

Not really any enforcer specific things. But when we were down by a goal and I initiated a fight my stats went up, and I got praise from the coach for trying to spark something out there.

I have also had the coach instruct me to get a big hit on the forecheck.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by bad_philanthropy

Not really any enforcer specific things. But when we were down by a goal and I initiated a fight my stats went up, and I got praise from the coach for trying to spark something out there. I have also had the coach instruct me to get a big hit on the forecheck.

How much TOI do you get as a goon? And what league is your BAP currently in?

[bad_philanthropy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

How much TOI do you get as a goon? And what league is your BAP currently in?

Currently on the second line for Lake Erie getting about 10 mins because I'm usually in the box for at least 5 a game. If I don't fight I'll get ~13 minutes. 63 overall.

[Steven547]

My quick impressions:

Well, I picked up NHL 13...err..I mean NHL 14. I had to do a double take when I walked out of Gamestop because even the cover, minus the 75 year old goalie, looked the same as last year.

Presentation:
What? Where? It's identical to last year. EA said they listened to the community? Who was the community, bunch of blind people? Nothing has changed. There is not group celebration after a goal....score in OT and get the same cutscene you had the past 3-4 years.

Commentary?
Oh where to start. Let's just say that I was playing against Washington as Chicago, and the commentators said, "That's why Nashville picked him up....." Wait...what? I'm playing as Chicago against Washington....

So I'm playing as Chicago again and the commentators mention winning the Cup in 2010 not 2013....also saying that the Chicago fans are like New York fans (or something like that). I heard that line I think in NHL 12! Update much EA? And the amount of mispronounced names in this game.......ugh! Well, at least we get 5 new songs to listen to...after all the BIP music doesn't work.

Presentation is VERY stale and needs a drastic change. To me, this is a sign of lazy developers. Fire away if you want, but when the presentation hasn't changed in years, you have to ask why.

Gameplay?
Not bad, but not where it should be and definitely don't know what EA meant when they said they listened to the community. This game is NHL 13 1/4....not even 1/2. What they've addressed gameplay wise, could have been done with a patch last year.
It's still "fun" but should never have been $60 for what was basically an "update".

NHL 94 anniversary mode?
IMO, waste of effort. It's basically a different rink with all rules turned off (something we can do ourselves.) If they wanted to bring in a cool new "Game mode", they should have included Mutant League Hockey (for those that remember) as an added bonus instead of NHL 94 Anniversary mode (when did we even start having an anniversary for NHL 94??)

Overall, it's good but not worth the $60. If you can, hold off until it's used or drops in price. I still haven't seen anything in this game that has made me say "WOW!" Again, just my opinion.

[Dolphins88]

As far as 94 mode they should have the actual genesis game with updated rosters and stats for nostalgia rather than game now w blue ice and no rules. I thought that's what it was at first which would of been great but this is a waste of space.

[elvis_13]

Very disappointed with this new release so far. Spent all of about three hours playing. Lots of glitches, unbelievable comebacks by the cpu when they're down. The list goes on etc....etc.

I think I'll be shelving this title for a while, if I don't end up trading it in @ Gamestop next week for the new GTA. As much as I love NHL 13, to me this newest release has come up way short in overall enjoyment. Typical EA. They work a franchise up to a certain point. Use a lot of PR to entice gamers at how great the next release will be. Put together a slough of flashy produced videos. You're on the hook and they reel you in. This is why I haven't purchased anything from EA sports football franchise in well over seven years.

Business as usual from the folks @ Electronic Arts. What really sucks is that I'll trade this in next week and lose out 35-40% of what I paid for it. This is what pisses me off most. When you purchase a dud of a release.