NHL 15: First Gameplay Video Emerges

[bigwill33]

Quote: Originally Posted by Schmackity

Definitely did not like the goalie passing. Tossed the puck as strong as a normal skater from the net to the boards. AI looked as dumb as ever. I don't think you can say "It was on easy" for an excuse. Dumb that Gaborik even has the ability to get into a fight. So it's obvious that engine for the process of who fights and stuff hasn't been worked out. Refs looked like they were getting lost half the time and skating side by side on blue line. Graphics and presentation are a definite plus though. Much more immersion.

All of this, plus it looks like the way to "breakout" according to EA is to just wing it up the boards and get a free entry into the offensive zone... yet again.

[Devilsfanatic]

game looks like trash. I'm very, very disappointed by what I saw. They are not getting my money, it's NHL 14 but with updated visuals. NHL 14 Remastered.

[bigwill33]

Quote: Originally Posted by ERA

Just remember guys, Chris gave us a positive overview. Its hard to form an opinion over this video. I skipped on 14, so I'll be getting this game regardless. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk now Free

Unfortunately when the company that makes the game doesn't provide us with any media of the actual gameplay themselves this is all we have to go off of until we see otherwise with our own eyes. Trying not to be overly negative, but I play the heck out of this series and it is a broken game in many, many ways. Even in watching a 2 minute clip with two morons playing the game I can already spot things that are wrong or are still broken after 5+ years now.

Hockey is part of my life, a big part. This is the only video game representation that is afforded to us (and I wasn't a 2k fan, unfortunately) and if you truly know the game inside and out then it fails in so many ways that it is just frustrating. I want them to get it right, I want them to create an entertaining and true sim style game. One that if you have enough hockey sense that you should be able to easily work people who rely on nothing but cheese and stick skills. But this game is not that. It is exactly the opposite and it is a shame.

[canucksss]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gagnon39

Each player should have an attribute/rating of what I could call "pass reception." Players like Jonathan Toews or Patrick Kane (sorry, Blackhawks fan here) should be able to receive just about any pass. I've seen Kane receive and control many bad passes into his skates, behind him, etc. However, lesser players should not be able to handle these types of passes. And on some occasions, passes that are made well should hit off the player's blade and be missed. It happens.

One of the the things, IMO, that EA should focus on in regards to gameplay. What is Puck physics if every passes, even the difficult ones, are easily received by less accurate players?

Quote: Originally Posted by bigwill33

All of this, plus it looks like the way to "breakout" according to EA is to just wing it up the boards and get a free entry into the offensive zone... yet again.

Its hard to tell in this short video, plus 2 noobs playing the game, but I want to see good Neutral zone defense.

Quote: Originally Posted by ERA

Just remember guys, Chris gave us a positive overview. Its hard to form an opinion over this video. I skipped on 14, so I'll be getting this game regardless. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk now Free

Same as you skipped 14 but will not get 15 if EA will give us NHL 13.7

[Moose24x]

Quote: Originally Posted by bigwill33

Unfortunately when the company that makes the game doesn't provide us with any media of the actual gameplay themselves this is all we have to go off of until we see otherwise with our own eyes. Trying not to be overly negative, but I play the heck out of this series and it is a broken game in many, many ways. Even in watching a 2 minute clip with two morons playing the game I can already spot things that are wrong or are still broken after 5+ years now. Hockey is part of my life, a big part. This is the only video game representation that is afforded to us (and I wasn't a 2k fan, unfortunately) and if you truly know the game inside and out then it fails in so many ways that it is just frustrating. I want them to get it right, I want them to create an entertaining and true sim style game. One that if you have enough hockey sense that you should be able to easily work people who rely on nothing but cheese and stick skills. But this game is not that. It is exactly the opposite and it is a shame.

Exactly. I don't play other sports titles (might fart around with Madden once every three weeks or something) and I'm not really a "gamer". This isn't just about whether or not the EASHL is fun or the game wins awards for me. I'm a hockey nut. I play hockey 2-3 times a week. I spend thousands of dollars on tickets. I have an unnecessary and large jersey collection. If you're intimate with the sport and not just a gamer or general sports fan looking for a fun "hockey experience" and you actual want a realistic representation of the game, EA continues to disappoint. In all facets. Gameplay obviously is chief, but even when they "revamp" the presentation, they still manage to fall short on the aesthetics.

As for the gameplay itself. It's next gen; can we get some player differentiation with different animations so not every guy on the ice does every single thing on the ice exactly the same? Not every player skates the same way, handles the puck the same way, has the same shooting mechanic, stops and pivots the same way, etc. Can we see a difference in goaltender styles? Even a casual fan watching the Cup has to see the difference between Quick's crab like style and Lundqvist's square, economic movements. In the NHL series all the goalies and their backups move identically. Does the new gen of consoles still not have the power to simply keep your feet moving while stick handling? Is it possible to have your player sprint with all of his energy to win a race for a puck or chase down a breakaway, turning what would normally be a 60 second shift into a 20 second one because of the fatigue incurred, or does every player in the league play with the same intensity and urgency at all times? Will I still see players whose real life counterparts are snails in the NHL catch me when I have a bonafide speedster, fresh off the bench, breaking in for an opportunity?

I could come up with 100 or more things like the above that I doubt have been addressed, added or changed, and that's before I get into the aesthetics, like my rant about jerseys up above. EA can give us improved arenas and new commentary and a puck that's slightly more lively but, in all honesty, considering they skipped 2014 on the next gen, the amount of change from last gen to 2015 seems like it could have been a downloadable patch (I know that in the literal sense it couldn't be; the point is, it's all very marginal when put in perspective).

[bigwill33]

Great post, Moose! This guy "gets it" haha.

I am glad that they have the aesthetics that have been worked on. But the game never looked awful. However, there are still some glaring issues with some of the looks and what not going on with the game. Knowing a tad about the inner workings of how this game is made I know that they have an art department and they are not so much associated with the gameplay production of the game. On the bright side this means that we don't really sacrifice gameplay for graphics or looks, or vice versa.

For a hockey guy like myself and a graphics wh*re this game could've just upgraded the graphics to next gen levels and been fine in the looks department in my book. But the gameplay is so messed up and truly pathetic at times it is downright scary. I have a list that is over 3 pages with notes of common errors in the gameplay. Things that truly cause the outcome of games to go one way or the other when they shouldn't. And what gets me is when year after year we see hardly anything on that list even sniffed at or touched that it is remotely better. I know that it is not easy to program games and everything you potentially "fix" could break 5 other things, but the lack of what can only be described as effort by the EA Vancouver staff when it comes to gameplay and AI is putrid and laughable.

I know they care, I know they are trying, but something needs to change there. The series has been in a downward spiral since David Littman was originally pulled off of the lead, for whatever reason. If they keep trudging out the same problematic game each year then it will never get fixed. They need to blow some things up and start from the ground up on certain aspects, and the time to do that was probably best suited for the jump to next gen and it is apparent that it simply did not occur. Heck, they are just finally figuring out how a puck should move it seems.

[canucksss]

Quote: Originally Posted by Moose24x

As for the gameplay itself. It's next gen; can we get some player differentiation with different animations so not every guy on the ice does every single thing on the ice exactly the same? Not every player skates the same way, handles the puck the same way, has the same shooting mechanic, stops and pivots the same way, etc. Can we see a difference in goaltender styles? Even a casual fan watching the Cup has to see the difference between Quick's crab like style and Lundqvist's square, economic movements. In the NHL series all the goalies and their backups move identically. Does the new gen of consoles still not have the power to simply keep your feet moving while stick handling? Is it possible to have your player sprint with all of his energy to win a race for a puck or chase down a breakaway, turning what would normally be a 60 second shift into a 20 second one because of the fatigue incurred, or does every player in the league play with the same intensity and urgency at all times? Will I still see players whose real life counterparts are snails in the NHL catch me when I have a bonafide speedster, fresh off the bench, breaking in for an opportunity?

IMO, all of these should be there in 2015 and not just the "new presentation". Heck...Im tired of hearing the same commentators for the past years...but nothing beats when the gameplay of this game is SO FAR from the real NHL. I can mute the commentators....but we cannot improve the gameplay on our end, especially if the sliders don't work properly. Player and Team differentiation should be in 15.

[Segagendude]

Wish one of these guys scored a goal so we can see the celebrations..