Now that the novelty has worn off...

[BadassBookworm]

This game was fun at first. Then I started winning every BAP game 8-0 so I bumped up the difficulty. Now I'm ready to take a rusty nail to the disk. What garbage.

It seems that developers are catering to two kinds of gamers: the ones who like to play at "beginner" and have a blow out win every game or the ones who play the code, find all the cheese and so the game bumps up the things you can't control to compensate.

My last game I had 46 shots on goal vs. the other team's 23. I lost 3-0. That is simply ridiculous. How is that fun?

EASHL is just as bad. Skate on the rush, get checked, chase the other team so they can execute the same one timer shot. It goes in 4-5 times. Get the puck, set up a play, get checked, chase the other team down the ice...rinse and repeat.

It's all so frustrating! Whew...I feel better now. Flame on.

[PaddyOReilly]

I imagine you might get several replies akin to mine, but I have had some success with slider edits here and there. I began on Pro and found that I could just keep the CPU to low numbers of shots and one shot attacks. All-star on the other hand, while more even, just led to low scoring games but mainly 0-0 till shootouts.

Now I'm playing Pro with changes to aggression, shot power, accuracy and more importantly changes to the way I play the game. Before the patch I found myself using that toe-drag top corner shot most of time, with its elimination I have vary my offensive completely; I find the one-timer to be a really low percentage shot for me to boot.

My Avs dynasty (coming soon when I get the time to post it) I win say 60-70%, shots are generally even and I am having fun. I will agree with you that there are instances where the CPU is "the man" all game; (generally as Minnesota as I'm the Avs) getting advantages to speed on the D, and the amount of posts you hit trebles.

I do get just as frustrated as you though; as the second attempt on an empty net goes flying over/wide or a speed push by a fast winger is snapped up by a D-man skating backwards while he's rolling a cigarette (I'm English, that wasn't a swear ).

However since the last NHL game I had was 04 on PC I'm still happy to keep playing, I can see where people who had 08 are miffed though.

[mudtiger]

I'm doing fine on superstar. I'm 18-16-6 with the Blue Jackets. I'm getting realistic games, scores, and stats and really loving the game. I don't consider myself a cheeser and try to play real hockey. I played BAP for about a week and I've had no interest in it or online since though. Dynasty 100%.

[Azamien]

It amuses me that people who can't win at higher game skill levels think that anyone who can cheeses to do it.

I'm by no means a great console gamer, but I get realistic results on All Star with the aggressiveness slider turned all the way up. I use no cheese. I enjoy real hockey, so I try to play real hockey. And I'm enjoying the game just as much now as I did when I first got the game. Probably more so since the patch.

If you can't score without cheese on higher difficulty levels, adjust your sliders and practice some tactics. If you try the same stuff over and over, of course you'll have no goals on 46 shots.

[Roscosuper II]

Quote: Originally Posted by Azamien

It amuses me that people who can't win at higher game skill levels think that anyone who can cheeses to do it. I'm by no means a great console gamer, but I get realistic results on All Star with the aggressiveness slider turned all the way up. I use no cheese. I enjoy real hockey, so I try to play real hockey. And I'm enjoying the game just as much now as I did when I first got the game. Probably more so since the patch. If you can't score without cheese on higher difficulty levels, adjust your sliders and practice some tactics. If you try the same stuff over and over, of course you'll have no goals on 46 shots.

Agreed, I'm playing on SS with realistic results (with the Isles). I use 10 min periods with the game speed at zero and a few minor adjustments. I find the game needs to be vastly improved to enhance the "realism" and "authenticity", but it is certainly capable to be competitive on the higher levels.

[btown12]

Quote: Originally Posted by BadassBookworm

My last game I had 46 shots on goal vs. the other team's 23. I lost 3-0. That is simply ridiculous. How is that fun?

The caps outshot the Flyers 48-28 today (25-6 in the 1st period alone)...and lost 7-1.

This stuff happens in real hockey and I've seen it happen in this game. The best advice, as others have said, is to take the time and find sliders that work for your game. Unfortunately most sports games are not going to play perfectly out of the box for each person and this game is no exception. It might take 10+ games to find the correct sliders but if you don't put forth an effort there's really no sense in complaining.

[Azamien]

Quote: Originally Posted by Roscosuper II

Agreed, I'm playing on SS with realistic results (with the Isles). I use 10 min periods with the game speed at zero and a few minor adjustments. I find the game needs to be vastly improved to enhance the "realism" and "authenticity", but it is certainly capable to be competitive on the higher levels.

Yeah, I've adjusted most, if not all, of the sliders. You have to in order to get closer to realistic play. I was just pointing out the maxed aggressiveness specifically because I find it to give nearly-SS difficulty without the CPU cheating that seems to come with SS.

[Roscosuper II]

Quote: Originally Posted by Azamien

Yeah, I've adjusted most, if not all, of the sliders. You have to in order to get closer to realistic play. I was just pointing out the maxed aggressiveness specifically because I find it to give nearly-SS difficulty without the CPU cheating that seems to come with SS.

My bad, I didn't direct my post clearly. I was agreeing with your post and saying to the OP that the higher levels are competitive.