NHL 15 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (Xbox One, PS4)

[indcolts18288]

I'm downloading now for PS4 but not liking what I'm reading so far. I guess we can just hope the finished product will be a lot better but knowing EA it won't. They can make a beautiful title like UFC and fail on NHL? Looks like Madden was their main focus this year.

[Shortyman96]

From what I've noticed they removed the top of crease battles. Attempting to get the best of your opposition position wise in order to get a rebound and the like. There is still some pushing and such, but from what I can tell the AI doesn't tend to stick around the crease very long. This is a little concerning for me. Looks like they are attempting to encourage the "pretty" goals instead of the "greasy" ones. To me the hard earned goals in the crease feel much more rewarding, I hope with tuners it makes it feel less like an arcade game. All of this leads me to believe they couldn't fix the "glue" aspect when players had to peel off the battle to get a puck and just removed it all together. We'll see in 2 weeks.

[Cletus]

Played quite a few games, it looks like the best way to get a balanced game is to play on simulation settings. Whatever advantages they strip away from you on hardcore brings back the old magic puck and agility cheats for the cpu. Outside of that, this is a pretty solid game considering what it's been and what we get (not many game modes).


The AI still doesn't trap you at the blueline, but good look trying to skate past Slava Voynov in the slot on the rush. That's at least something. I haven't even been able to get into the slot to try a glitch shot that people love to do. The AI uses their sticks more, but not as much as a real NHL player, but it's still better than PS3. Goalies are eh, but looking at the sliders they are turned down a little bit. I figure it's because of the 2 minute periods. Breakouts are still hit or miss, but mostly because the cpu is trying to guess where you are going.

Here's my favorite part, on defense everything works. Poke checks work, although they're not strong enough but can be fixed by sliders. My AI doesn't seem to stand around much, although there are times when my opposite side DMan looked lost and let in a cross crease. I have only noticed that when I was playing as the NYR so it made be an attribute formula at play.

Overall I don't mind spending 60 bucks on this game. I was going to anyway, but before the demo I didn't know if I was going to be happy about it. I am, I know there are going to be some frustrations, but the EA team actually did a half decent job with the AI. Now if only there was a way to direct them, hmmm.

[indcolts18288]

In the middle of playing and call me a fan boy but it's not as bad as it's made out to be. Graphically it's decent but with the actual game it will improve. Controls are smooth as silk. I'm sure I'll find negatives soon, I've only played one period.

[Jattbreed]

What the **** is wrong with the jerseys? The numbers look distorted like hell and it looks like the numbers were stitched on the jerseys by a drunk lady. The 61 on Nash's jersey just looks horrible! It's as if the numbers are narrow up top and get fatter near the bottom, I didn't know numbers were meshed and not stitched in real life. Just don't understand this is the PS4, there really is no excuse for this, played at a friend's house and still wasn't fun at all, no buy for me.

The goalies are the exact same, for more than half a decade in a game that is in the technology generation has remained the exact friggin same, I had such anticipation for them waiting a year and this comes out...very VERY disappointed.

[gator3guy]

My very initial impressions...

+ Shot power feels good. Slappers feel powerful. I actually scored on a backhander in the slot and it felt great. I feel like I said this in previous years and it didn't seem to translate to the retail after tuners and such. We will see.
+ Like the "free style" aspect of the skill stick. Pulled off some smooth moves. Little hurky jerky at times. Need more time but has potential.
+ Saw AI defensemen step up at the blue line. Not always with success or a good angle, but nice to see for once.
+ AI seems to make some moves when attacking. Even saw a spin-o-rama on a breakaway.
+ My AI teammates haven't beaten me offsides..yet
+ Like how my defensemen hold the line in the offensive zone. This has been a big gripe of man for years.

- Passes are way too fast. I turned the puck shadow off and it looks like a game of pong on speed. Especially back hand passes.
- Poke check where are you?
- CPU goes offsides too often still
- No 4v4 OT in the demo? C'mon!!!
- Ice looks bad. There's no "POP" to it

Edit line screen looks good in theory, but not sure it's going to be feasible to edit lines for versus play in a timely fashion.

Finally get a PP at the end of the thrid but can't get to see it as there is no OT.

Also should note I can count on one hand how many times I played head to head against the CPU last year so these opinions are based off of what I saw in previous versions of AI teammates in EASHL/ OTP/ Versus.

[ricky24]

I'll try this tonight. Don't see it convincing me to buy this stripped down game though. Unless I start the demo and 30 bucks comes out if my One's disk drive.

[indcolts18288]

I'll admit the graphics are better than last gen but not great. But demos always leave more to be desired I don't know how this isn't common knowledge that they'll be improved upon release. There are a ton of little things that are an improvement. The way the center skates to the faceoff dot. Cut scenes are great. Obviously the NBC package is amazing. Skating is great and so is puck handling. The new puck physics are well done. I'm getting owned on defense right now I tend to over skate my guy. Nothing about the game feels clunky and if this was the finished product I would be happy and give it an 8/10. EA might squeak a 9 out of me if the graphics are slightly improved with the retail version. I can't wait for HUT.