NHL 14 Available Now - Post Your Impressions Here

[Asphoria]

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[ggazoo]

So I finally picked this up last week - really great game, but Live The Life is a bit odd.

In my first preseason game after being drafted (to The Sharks) I scored 2 goals and was rated "A" across the board during the whole game. After the game was over (we lost), the front office tells me that I'm not living up to expectations, and I'm down to the 2nd line! I' m wondering if this game forces you to eventually go to the minors first, regardless of your play in the NHL?

[letsgopens66]

I'm about 70 games through my season in BAGM, and I have to say this game is a 6/10 at best. Here's all the things that need to be fixed, in my opinion:

-The brain dead AI is terrible. My players have no idea where to be on the forecheck, and often all drift to one point the ice, leaving their assignments. In the offensive zone, my forwards can never seem to settle in the correct spot in the slot, no matter the formation. Also, they are absolutely terrible providing support along the boards. Oh, and get rid of that 'play' where the D will pinch towards the slot every time I move up the half boards with a winger in the offensive zone.

-Speaking of board play, it needs to be completely redone. There still a ton of suction going on, and the fact that players can kick it in any direction is ridiculous. For instance, just today I was playing a game where Wayne Simmonds was pinned on the boards behind the net and managed to kick it out perfectly into the slot where a Flyer (can't remember who) one-timed it past my goalie. Absolutely ridiculous and not realistic at all. Overall, board play is just a vast simplification of the actual board play in the NHL and it needs to expanded on and fine tuned.

-Hitting. Not every hit needs to be a huge hit, EA. It's dumb that I can't even skate towards a lose puck without accidentally running into an opposing player and getting two for elbowing/charging/boarding. I've also lost two defensemen for the season in my BAGM because they were steamrolled at the blue line while just standing in the offensive zone. They both broke their legs. Seriously, how often do defensemen get crushed at the blue line while cycling the puck? The hitting engine needs a decent overhaul.

-CPU AI quirks. Because god forbid I ever get the puck standing still within two feet of a CPU player. Whenever that happens, I'm instantaneously spam checked until the puck magically flies off my stick and right to another CPU player. It's like the CPU players go into overdrive and I just have to hold on for dear life.

-Goalie puck cover logic needs to be rewritten. Half the goals I give up are because Fleury misses a puck he tries to cover.

I mean I'm 40-22-4 in my BAGM right now (playing on default Superstar hardcore), so it's not like I have problems winning. The problem is that this game is not even close what we all want in a hockey simulation. NHL 08 got everyone pumped for the future of hockey gaming, but the games haven't progressed like I imagined they would. There's always next gen hockey, but I doubt it gets any better.

[CommonDreads94]

Anyone ever start a Live the Life as a goalie? Most of the questions aren't edited to reflect the fact that you're the goalie. I trashed "the goalie" which is me in a post-game interview and my teammate grade went down.

[13whitebread]

After a hockey hiatus I played NHL 07 briefly at my nephews really like that skill stick but waited for NHL 08 I thought it was simply an amazing game. NHL 09 was ordinary a slight step back from 08 and NHL 10 slightly better than 09 but the last few years not much improvements the same problems plague the series from practically no presentation, peanalties not being called plus ice tilt. I am really hoping with the new systems this will open the door to fix these issues. I know the NHL is making more money hopefully this will translate to EA sports hiting a home run with NHL 15 no more excuses.

[jengo]

Sorry Ea Sports but this years game is horrible. First off is the penalties or lack there of. Second is the overall play of the a.i. The only strategy the a.i uses is a long pass up to center ice. Every time I have the a.i pinned in their own zone as soon as they get the puck it's a long stretch pass up ice. Would be a lot more realistic if the a.i would try to clear the puck off the boards once in awhile. On top of that is the 9,257 passes the a.i makes every 5 seconds and the lack of any time of possession in my zone. Very seldom does the a.i ever close me off along the boards and force me to dump the puck in. I could go on and on but overall the true essence of hockey is missing. Really thought by now the game would be much better. I honestly can't find any settings on this years game that even make it playable. This is the 1st year I am at a point of shelving it.

[HingleMcCringleberry]

playing goalie in online is a nightmare... does anyone online play D in online? i can't stand how nobody understands that forwards aren't supposed to cherry pick all game and that defenders aren't supposed to just go for hits instead of cutting off passing lanes. then when it comes down to it, i get 3 or 4 hate messages since i can't save 95% of the 3 on 0 breakaways at goalie.

I really hope they make a lobby for legitimate players vs. the EASHL dangle and cherry pick kiddies who use the goalies as scapegoats when they can't do their jobs on either side of the ice.

[jermball]

Lots of input lag and very slow loading on PS3.