NHL 15 Video, Screenshots & Blog Featuring the Superstar Skill Stick

[Aggies7]

Quote: Originally Posted by ERA

Does anyone know what next weeks trailer will highlight? I'm hoping to see Be a GM. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk now Free

They didn't mention it at end of the blog so I would say not in the immediate future.

[Sparkles]

It doesn't look like net physics are the real deal. i could've sworn someone at E3 stated that net physics were hell of a lot better

[MizzouRah]

I will say, the crowds look fantastic.

[jake19ny]

Not trying to be a negative nelly here but the lack of actual gameplay video this late in development makes me think that most of what will be new is the presentation. That's not a bad thing we have all been screaming for that for a while but I suspect aside from a few minor things the game play will be very similar to the past few years. The latest issue of Game Informer did not have NHL15 in its top 50 from E3. Madden and FIFA where in it. Take that for what its worth since hockey does not get much love aside from us hardcore fans. I guess if they had to spend much of the time on one thing for Next-Gen it had to be the over all look of the game first. Imagine the rage if gameplay was improved but we still had the same crowds, arenas, and commentary. I think the idea was to give it a whole new look first and then attempt gameplay improvements with future releases. I'm still a release day buyer because despite its flaws I always find a way to enjoy the game. Just my thoughts maybe I'm wrong.

[Sip_16]

Quote: Originally Posted by drog1602

This line said it all..."embarrassing defenders". " The left and right stick now act independently, allowing for more moves to embarrass the opposition" Watching the first few dekes, you can see how the AI is backing up, not closing the gap, and is in very poor position. You can see how the d-men can't change direction smoothly and have issues turning. A recipe for disaster. This game is geared towards offence and everyone and their dog will be Datsyuk on every rush. Lack of game balance is killing the series. The thing that really bugs me, is it looks like they have added even more animations, making it easier for everyone to deke. We don't need more animations that play the games for the users. Dangle, dangle, dangle. There is more to a real hockey game than ESPN highlights.

Its possible you are right and its possible you are wrong. There is no way to know until you actually play the game. You have your opinion and everyone has theirs, but no one can predict how the game actually plays from these trailers. People just need to wait and see for themselves, only way you can truly judge.

[johnnyg713]

Quote: Originally Posted by bigwill33

Fair enough. And no need to apologize. I was simply asking based off of what do you consider this game to be a gothy candidate? Because they have literally shown 2 full minutes of actual gameplay and have discussed none of the improvements that would touch on any of the numerous aspects that have plagued this series for the past half decade, from what I have seen. I would just like to tap into your optimism or see what you are at least basing it off of. At the very least the other sports genres are into their second iteration of games on the ps4 and xbone and have seemingly attempted to crack the issues most of their hardcore gamers complain about by now. And even from the latest screen captures the NBA Live series has seemingly figured out their lighting system and how to light up an arena with more than the first 20 rows of fans. Because after all, that is 75% of what this part of EA Vancouver is resting their hat on, "authentic arenas", so far anyway. That is unless they've released any other screenshots in the prior 2 months that we are unaware of.

Well.. NHL has won sports game of the year before. Multiple times if I remember correctly. It is not so absurd for me to claim that it could win again. This isn't madden, a game that is widely known as a disappointment every year (even though I know it is turning a corner this year).

Most critics believe this game is flat out fun to play. IMO the most fun sports game every year. It's been rated 85% or higher every year. From blogs, E3 impressions, and claims I have read, the game is "shaping up" to be sports game of the year.

I say this because gameplay-wise, I think the game has already been there for years (again, to win multiple SGOTY awards, this game must be doing something right). Yes things can always be improved but that can be said for any game. I do not see absolute game breakers in this title that I see in other games.

You take all the "claimed" improvements they've made to an already fantastic gameplay engine (obv a lot of people on here don't see the game the way I do), along with all the improvements to physics, visuals, arenas, atmosphere, and "claimed" presentation and I see a game that is in the same category as NBA 2k.

There are many of you guys saying you need to see more gameplay footage but from my experience, the claims of this dev team have always showed up in the final product. I have always enjoyed this series and gameplay consistently improves from year to year.

Instead of focusing on what isn't in the game (i've read people claiming about some sort of defensive skill stick which I dont think EA has ever claimed as an idea), my optimism comes from focusing on what the dev team claims to be putting in the game.

Edit: not that there is anything wrong with people wanting new mechanics in the game. It's just I appreciate what the game already has.

[bigwill33]

Fair enough, I wasn't trying to put you on the spot, but was literally wondering where your opinion was coming from and you've answered it.

I hope that they can deliver a great game. There just has been a few too many glaring gameplay issues in the series for me to truly enjoy the modes that I play the most. That is why I struggle to trust what they are claiming at times without more first hand, or at least visual, proof.

[actionhank]

Quote: Originally Posted by thedudedominick

Really not sure how anyone can get anything definitive out of this trailer except how far towards realistic the appearance of all these moves has gone. I will not try to dissect the video to see defensive ai because more than likely whatever ea did for this video was to solely make the offensive skills look good. Same reason I won't bash or praise ea for goalie play based on videos to showcase other things. They wanted to show off the puck handling and a little bit of after goal emotion again. I'm looking forward to this game and despite the flaws of past nhl games, I've always enjoyed this series. I'm not about to pretend it's a perfect representation of hockey, but it seems like the team has taken steps to get there every year. Hoping with the upgraded systems we see even more innovation moving forward.

I understand not wanting to judge the other non-focus parts of the video, but my problem is, i don't see EA neutering the AI just for the sake of making the video. And even the limited gameplay videos kind of hint towards the defensive AI being the same. It's still early, and AI routines could be something they start knocking out after getting the exterior work done, hell, it might not be implemented at all yet.
But, it is a bit worrying to see that the AI still just backs into the zone with their sticks in their hands and a blank look on their face. Defensive AI that would skate backwards while maintaining some distance, and trying to poke check, maybe ride guys into the boards trying to go around, and then having forwards who come down the ice and actually try to back check would address a big issue which is neutral zone pressure, and the ease of skating into the zone. In NHL14 the AI just escorted you face-to-face into the zone, and would only really steal the puck when you go right on them, or passed near them. The "suction" type puck stealing made it difficult to do things like split defenders, or even just skate near them. Avoidance was always the best policy.
If the AI actually had to get stick on puck, but also went out of their way to try and knock it loose, hit sticks, and push players towards the boards between the blue line and the net it would not only play a lot better, but it would do a lot to lower the ease with which you've been able to skate in and just go around the defenders, circle towards the middle, then pass around until you scored.
That's what i'm hoping they add. Hell, it might even be something we don't get until NHL16 based on them still having to support past-gen systems. But, i definitely hope for at least more pressure, if not some new animations with players trying to bump guys off the puck while still moving, and forecheckers coming in trying to break up passes, or cover guys who are open coming down the middle.