NHL 15: First Gameplay Video Emerges

[meep316]

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.

I hate everything about Pittsburgh, so it pains me to say this, but I could not agree with you more and want to kiss you for so eloquently saying exactly what I've been trying to say.

You look at this game, and they don't play like NHLers. They play like mites in instructional league. 8 year olds running around blindfolded. Just absolutely 0 hockey sense or awareness whatsoever. Even rudimentary, fundamental things, like how to position yourself on an odd man rush, or to fill an open gap, they don't do it. It's honestly some of the worst AI I've seen in any game, in any sport. Terrible.

It makes it frustrating that you can't even execute a simple 2 on 1, because your AI teammate on the weak side has no idea what the hell to do. You're honestly better off walking in and deking out the lone defenseman and then trying to deke out the goalie, than setting up a pass play. Or the cluster**** that is a simple breakout.

[Dolphins88]

Color me not impressed .. The gameplay and AI is where it's at and what I see is nhl14.5.. Just played it tonight b4 I trade it in and that gameplay is the same. So disappointed.. It really sux that a game made in 03 2 k3 immersed me more than nhl14.. I guess EA doesn't get it especially after taking 2 years in development cycle for next gen.. Cancelling my pre order until I try it out now.. Thank god for show saving sports games

[bigwill33]

Quote: Originally Posted by Segagendude

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

I wished they could've figured out how to set up with possession in the offensive zone so that I could see if the suction, er I mean EA's so-called "Tie-up" feature is still in the game in front of the net. Nothing like being warped into a suction animation and only being able to kind of roll off of it.

Take that back, I wish they would have not been allowed to play the game at all, because like 75% of the people that play these games they were more thrilled with fighting than trying to play the sport. Probably the same dudes that cuss me out online when I am winning 12-0 against them in the second period and refuse to fight them.

[bigwill33]

Meep, I know the love of hockey can overcome the biggest boundaries haha. And don't worry, I am not a bandwagon fan that has little knowledge of the team or sport. So take gratification that I have that going for me at least.

But you are right, if you play a versus or club game and have a 2 on 1 the cpu player will not even come with you, give you a clear lane to pass to, drive the net properly, or shoot the puck right should all of the above actually come together.

Just like cycling and working for that perfect pass on a guy cutting into the slot will get saved, or the goalie will make a desperation save that is probably impossible on a well worked cross-crease, but will give up a floater far side to an attacking winger that has taken two steps over the blue line and is 1 on 2 versus the d-men that are inexplicably not stepping up and closing that gap properly, or taking away a shooting lane. Not to mention that all of that wouldn't even matter if the goalie would just make the simple save that every pro goalie would turn away with ease. This has been in the game in some fashion since... well since ps2.

There is no reward for smart hockey in this series. Online has become a who can cheese better versus who can defend the cheese areas the best. If you have played it long enough, like me, you know all the tricks and can stop it 95% of the time, but one lapse and it is in your net and all the logic and hockey sense in the world won't help you win as much as working those cheese areas will.

[Moose24x]

Quote: Originally Posted by meep316

I hate everything about Pittsburgh, so it pains me to say this, but I could not agree with you more and want to kiss you for so eloquently saying exactly what I've been trying to say. You look at this game, and they don't play like NHLers. They play like mites in instructional league. 8 year olds running around blindfolded. Just absolutely 0 hockey sense or awareness whatsoever. Even rudimentary, fundamental things, like how to position yourself on an odd man rush, or to fill an open gap, they don't do it. It's honestly some of the worst AI I've seen in any game, in any sport. Terrible. It makes it frustrating that you can't even execute a simple 2 on 1, because your AI teammate on the weak side has no idea what the hell to do. You're honestly better off walking in and deking out the lone defenseman and then trying to deke out the goalie, than setting up a pass play. Or the cluster**** that is a simple breakout.

It is amazing. I downloaded NBA 2k14 because it was free this month on PSN. I don't know anything about basketball but I've been watching the finals and I'm bored. Astonishingly, the AI will run screens and pick and rolls, and react to them when you set them, and it seems pretty darn good to a non-bball guy. In NHL, the award winning, critically acclaimed masterpiece that EA loves to remind us of, the AI won't even cut to the far post and this basketball game has guys doing all kinds of intuitive, intelligent things, all over the court. Switching defensive assignments. Screens. Rebounding and actually crashing the boards instead of retreating from the loose ball. EA hockey really is a mess. The reason it wins awards and people love it so much is because... shocker, unpopular as hockey is (because most people don't find it exciting if the score isn't 6-4) it's actually a ridiculously fun sport. Dumb it down for the masses with big hits and dangle-snipe-celly fests and people get hooked. For actual hockey guys, what are we going to do? Pass on playing hockey video games? They've got the only product on the market. That doesn't mean it isn't ridiculously flawed though; most people just aren't intimate enough hockey fans to understand why it's so off.

[thegoons21]

Defensive AI at the blueline (and giving up the blueline waay too easy) and penalties are the two bits of AI I'd like too see fixed or improved. If they do that, I'm ok with this being NHL 14 with a fresh set of paint.

[KingofATL]

LOOKS DAMN GOOD TO ME!!!!!

Won me over with the NBC style presentation..... Gotta Love That!!!!

[Zuke]

^^^^ Ryan Getzlaf is the man.

To me the new NBC presentation not a big deal but looks good and is fresh.