NHL 14 News Post

NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions Here

06:46 AM - August 20, 2013 by CupCrazyManiac

The NHL 14 demo is available now for 360 users (queue it up here at 1.46 GB) and later today for PS3 users. We will update this post when it arrives. The NHL 14 demo details can be found here. Please post your impressions here and post your feedback to the developers here.

Game: NHL 14Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 6 - View All

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Member Comments

# 141 Moose24x @ 08/22/13 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liberaluser


	People are being way too generous in their evaluations of the hitting engine and especially the fighting engine. The hitting contact physics sometimes get you those nice pushing animations, but even on hardcore sim you can plow through anyone for ridiculously big hits like clockwork. The hitting is set really low and only goes down another notch in the sliders so it won't be better at release. Every year they claim to improve hitting with new technology and always fail to make it even decent. The fighting feels really clunky and not very fun honestly. Your forced into a jersey grab just like with the first person engine, which makes me think this is in many ways the same engine put into third person. I much rather be able to circle my opponent and set my own tempo in a fight. Hockey fights are exciting because of the anticipation of a showdown and not just two idiots wildly grabbing and punching each other.

I would venture that the hitting power is cranked up quite a bit in order for the demo to showcase it as the "newest feature". I know the sliders show otherwise, but the demo build is not the final/release build and they can tune it however they want to showcase certain things. If I wasn't fairly confident that this is the case, I would be quite a bit more concerned and in agreement with you that the hitting engine ISN'T as good as people are saying, but I feel it will be toned down significantly and you have to admit that the, although vastly over powered right now, the collisions simply FEEL a lot better.

As for the fighting, it's meh. For me, the fighting improvement is much more a presentation improvement than an actual gameplay improvement; I could care less how "fun" the fights actually are. I think they're a bit better now because you can at least see when you want to dodge and such, but for me, the main improvement that the new fighting engine offers is just a dramatic increase in presentation value. Seeing the other players on the ice, viewing the fight from the third person, it's help to make the immersion in the game much better, in my opinion.

# 142 canucksss @ 08/22/13 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwiggy33


	For me I just don't understand this series. What is the point of having options like All Star, Superstar, and Hardcore Simulation if there is no difference in the way the CPU plays? The defensive pressure is the most notable. It's so frustrating that this game has so many different game styles and options yet every one of them are still catered to people who are casuals. I should be forced to dump the puck in, pass to my teammates to create chances, etc. I feel none of that.

EXACTLY! In the past, the difference really is that the AI cheats at higher levels and that's it.

I really dont mind if EA would like to market this game to casual gamers. BUT DON"T SACRIFICE the true-blooded, SIM, hockey enthusiasts. PRO and AS should be for casuals and SS and HOF for more SIM enthusiasts. BUT NO.

EA for me is just "take away", "add some" and "improve some" kinda company. 13 will be my last...heck Im even skeptic for 15 in the next-gen console.

Quote:

Originally Posted by actionhank


	I just don't feel that there's going to be enough to keep me interested. Be a GM got pretty much ignored this year, and i don't know that sliders will be enough to address the issues i have. I was hoping the demo would alleviate any fears i might have about the gameplay not changing, and it could be fun enough for me to ignore the other problems i have with BeaGM as long as the gameplay itself was fun, but it looks like it won't be able to do that. Oh well, gives me more money to save up for a Next-Gen purchase.

When was BaGM got any attention at all? How many times did the consumers requested for a reduced # of games per season? How many times did we ask that if we can control each team so we could somehow alter the game style since all teams play the same thing?

Actually I was planning to get Xbox Live for 3 months just to see how this demo CAN change my mind and not give up 360 so i could play 14. Good thing I read these 2 posts.

I saved $25 there for Live and $60 for 14. Time to pre-order the 2nd game for my upcoming PS4

# 143 Cletus @ 08/22/13 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canucksss


	EXACTLY! In the past, the difference really is that the AI cheats at higher levels and that's it. I really dont mind if EA would like to market this game to casual gamers. BUT DON"T SACRIFICE the true-blooded, SIM, hockey enthusiasts. PRO and AS should be for casuals and SS and HOF for more SIM enthusiasts. BUT NO. EA for me is just "take away", "add some" and "improve some" kinda company. 13 will be my last...heck Im even skeptic for 15 in the next-gen console. When was BaGM got any attention at all? How many times did the consumers requested for a reduced # of games per season? How many times did we ask that if we can control each team so we could somehow alter the game style since all teams play the same thing? Actually I was planning to get Xbox Live for 3 months just to see how this demo CAN change my mind and not give up 360 so i could play 14. Good thing I read these 2 posts. I saved $25 there for Live and $60 for 14. Time to pre-order the 2nd game for my upcoming PS4

I'm not surprised you had this outlook based on how you felt about 13. Honestly, I don't see the huge improvements. They "fixed" the skating but took away the hustle or speed burst or whatever they called it. In the demo I felt zero separation between skaters, I didn't notice the new strafing, I just noticed the D skating backwards as fast as I was going forwards. I'm really gonna miss this game but I just can't do it.

Honestly though, if you spend any time on the EA forums, you can see why the game is like this. The forums and the people that play it are a mess. Everyone complains about online stuff to the point where offline gets buried. The devs don't spend a lot of time there because it's like the Lord of the Flies or 6th grade with a Wild West mentality.

# 144 liberaluser @ 08/22/13 11:52 PM

One thing I would recommend if you want a more realistic experience playing the demo is taking left stick checking off.

You won't accidently knock people over just by breathing on them, you can get a better range of hits depending on how fast your going, and your not losing any right stick functionality since it still isn't being used for anything but checks on it's own.

# 145 savoie2006 @ 08/23/13 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liberaluser


	People are being way too generous in their evaluations of the hitting engine and especially the fighting engine. The hitting contact physics sometimes get you those nice pushing animations, but even on hardcore sim you can plow through anyone for ridiculously big hits like clockwork. The hitting is set really low and only goes down another notch in the sliders so it won't be better at release. Every year they claim to improve hitting with new technology and always fail to make it even decent. The fighting feels really clunky and not very fun honestly. Your forced into a jersey grab just like with the first person engine, which makes me think this is in many ways the same engine put into third person. I much rather be able to circle my opponent and set my own tempo in a fight. Hockey fights are exciting because of the anticipation of a showdown and not just two idiots wildly grabbing and punching each other.

Its merely someone else's opinion, there is no right or wrong. Personally I feel both are improved nicely, even if not great yet. Something most have got to realize and or accept is that hockey is probably the most difficult sport to replicate in video game form. That means it likely will never be as realistic as we would like it to be, because if it was most would probably throw their controller in frustration. It's also important to remember that EA is out to make money, so they have to balance arcade/realistic to draw both hardcore and new fans.

# 146 bwiggy33 @ 08/23/13 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savoie2006


	Its merely someone else's opinion, there is no right or wrong. Personally I feel both are improved nicely, even if not great yet. Something most have got to realize and or accept is that hockey is probably the most difficult sport to replicate in video game form. That means it likely will never be as realistic as we would like it to be, because if it was most would probably throw their controller in frustration. It's also important to remember that EA is out to make money, so they have to balance arcade/realistic to draw both hardcore and new fans.

I fully agree. There is no doubt that hockey is the hardest to replicate. There are just too many little things that happen during games that are hard to recreate without making the game boring.

I would honestly be happy if they just re-programmed the AI so that I was provided a challenge. The fact I can carry the puck in the zone and enter scoring areas with ease is why I get so frustrated with the game. It's no fun. Improvements to the AI would do this game wonders, in fact it would almost make the game fresh again. I still cannot comprehend how a game style called Hardcore Simulation cannot provide a challenging game.

# 147 Pearly @ 08/23/13 03:09 AM

The skating feels improved, the backhand shots feel better and I'm liking the feel of the new checking, as long as the penalties end up working right and the amount of huge hits gets toned down from the demo. Goalies feel and seem better too although I only played a few games so far. It's not a huge improvement over 13 but I'm still gonna get it.

One thing that's still unfixed and that bugs me is that when you do line changes, if you have like 3 guys rushing to change, they'll step in one by one instead of, you know, some stepping over the board, etc. for a quicker change. It's annoying and has bothered me in 12 & 13.

# 148 bigwill33 @ 08/23/13 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwiggy33


	I fully agree. There is no doubt that hockey is the hardest to replicate. There are just too many little things that happen during games that are hard to recreate without making the game boring. I would honestly be happy if they just re-programmed the AI so that I was provided a challenge. The fact I can carry the puck in the zone and enter scoring areas with ease is why I get so frustrated with the game. It's no fun. Improvements to the AI would do this game wonders, in fact it would almost make the game fresh again. I still cannot comprehend how a game style called Hardcore Simulation cannot provide a challenging game.

They reworked the AI going into last year and that is how broken it still is. They added all those strategies that barely work they way they are meant to. Ask anyone that plays a club or OTP game with CPU players on their team in a game (especially on defense), the positioning and logic is a complete joke. Humans just cherry pick at the boards near the far blue line and wait for the homerun pass. Walk in at an angle as the defense gives you the zone and then idle near the slot and watch them get flat-footed as you accellerate and blow past them for the same short side goal, over and over.

And how does a goalie come of a post from a deke that an attacking player makes that is nearly on the side of the net near the goal line? I probably have 500 out of my 1200 club goals by doing that alone. And everyone can say what they want about cheesing. My team sets up the most beautiful plays and one touch passes, cross creases, drop passes, and behind the back no look dishes, and sure tap-ins are miraculously saved by a CPU goalie, while these glitch shots and cheese goals constantly go in. Where is the logic in that? What is the point of trying the realistic or pretty play when stepping over the blue line in transition and dumping a slow moving shot along the ice give a goalie the most problem. Then he either gets beat 5-hole or kicks a rebound right to an attacker that should be getting tied up by the defense (that is standing around doing nothing unless they are blocking me from getting back on defense from my LW position to break up a breakaway that they let up).

Don't get me started again on the holding in front of the net that should be a penalty that EA thinks is a tie-up. I mentioned that on page 4 already. Or how it is pointless to poke or hit players with the puck because it somehow usually winds up going to the next guy on the other team rather than being loose or a 50-50 puck. Usually in such a manner that it works out better than if the guy had passed the puck himself.

All of this has been in the game for years now. None of this stuff if any different in this demo. But hey, NEW AND IMPROVED FIGHTING! Yay!

# 149 @legendm0de @ 08/23/13 04:39 AM

My impressions, I'm so torn by this demo, I need to get my hands on the game and put the fixins & seasoning on it anyway.

Obviously hitting is overdone in the demo, same as 13' out of the box. It needs to be toned down by alot, players don't go falling out of control on every decent hit thrown their way. Alot of times they braces themselves, or avoid the hits, take the hit and stumble, Things that actually happens sort of often in NHL13, which is why i respected their effort in improving the contact in that edition. Big hits were rarer, and little bit special when you got to connect on one. I'm sure when i get my hands on 14' I'll find the right balance for the whole issue of hitting. Just going to be a long 1 month to wait.

Other issues, The players have far to much ability skating and the demo, appears to have ruined the skating enhancements we got in 13 in my opinion. I mean chara is pirouetting all over the ice spinning and all kind of crap. Lol really? They need to make sure, the full version, we can get the skating alot more under control. Near the boards, players skate with to much ease just all over the ice, one word to sum up the skating right now in this demo version unfortunately is: Arcade.

Skating is an issue I'm concerned they won't be able to correct (to my liking) for the retail copy but I'll remain hopeful.

This game is phenomenal, and those are the only two issues I truly have. AI in the neutral zone is much improved, the defensive stances and goalie improvements are very welcomed. Contact is a dream come true right now as well, aside from being overdone, it's presence is wonderful and I'm sure when we get our hands on the game we can adjust the contact to our liking as I mentioned above. NHL 13 was the goat, and now NHL 14, has been an excellent follow up so far. OH YEA AND I LOVE THE NEW FIGHTING

# 150 jb1 @ 08/23/13 11:36 AM

For the most part I liked NHL 13, I played through a whole 82 game season before losing interest in the playoffs and trading it in. The three main issues I had with 13 were the fact the games felt repetitive, different teams didn't feel different when playing them (which I don't see changing unless we can control all 30 teams in Be a Gm), the number of penalties (more so at release) and that the AI wouldn't start fights.

14 to me feels like the same game as 13, albeit a more smoother version of it with impoved hitting and fighting. I'm pleased that the AI will now start fights although I feel there are too many right now and there needs to be an option to turn a fight down. EA also need to have another look at who is fighting and in what situations (i.e 1 goal down late in the 3rd period).

I still have issues with the general gameplay in that there is little or no effort needed to gain the offensive zone, they might aswell just take the dump puck controls out! There are still two issues (or maybe they are supposed to be this way?) with the goalies that resulted in me scoring the majority of my goals last year. For example

Spoiler

I still have concerns over the number of penalties although at least I saw an elbowing call in the demo that I don't recall seeing once in 13.

Presentation bugs me aswell, the fact they keep taking things out (presumably to cater for the online crowd who press X ten times a second?), I was annoyed that we lost the 3 stars and the goal celebrations are horrible plus the cut scenes look the same. It's quite annoying to see that guy on the bench who looks like the lead guy from GTA IV after every game, doesn't matter who wins he seems to jump ship to that team to celebrate!

I know we can't tell from the demo but there seems to have been little effort put in to improving Be a GM which is a shame, I just hope it's a lot faster and doesn't feel like moving in quicksand when trying to get to the next day. For me Be a GM needs a total overhaul for next gen but that's for another thread.

Still, I know i've moaned a lot but it is overall a solid game, it's just frustrating to think how much better it could be. This demo hasn't done anything to make me think I must buy this game but at the same time hasn't totally put me off either.

# 151 Money99 @ 08/23/13 12:19 PM

I really notice a difference between Simulation and Hardcore Simulation.
The hits, speed and shots are all toned down considerably. Looks a lot more like real hockey.

Last night, in one of my games against Boston, Krejci made a great little deke to get around one of my defenders.
I also noticed that I was able to slip a pass by Boston's 'lesser' dmen, but up against Chara or Seidenburg, my success rate was a lot lower.
I hope this is the case for the final version as well.

I guess my greatest concerns at this point is how the final version plays, and how all the tuners, patches and updates will affect the game.
Will we get a playable NHL14 on September 10th, only to get something entirely different after the first update?

I'm definitely picking up NHL14. I swore I wouldn't, but I've enjoyed the demo, but even better, my kids are ga-ga for this game. They keep pestering me to play the NHL94 mode.
Even if I grow bored/frustrated with this game, I think having the ability to play with my boys will justify the $60 purchase.

# 152 bwiggy33 @ 08/23/13 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money99


	Even if I grow bored/frustrated with this game, I think having the ability to play with my boys will justify the $60 purchase.

To me, this is would be the best way to play it. I don't have kids, but the only time I have consistently enjoyed playing NHL the past 4 years is with my friends. The game is North South with very few whistles and that's what makes playing with another person fun. The NHL dev team does it right in that area. When playing against the CPU not so much.

# 153 Dolphins88 @ 08/23/13 02:07 PM

I didn't notice much difference between 13 and 14 albeit fighting which happens too frequently now and wrong players. Fighting is much better though w 3 rd person view. Gameplay is where this game needs attention. There needs to be more player ability separation. There should be noticeable differences in skills, speed, size, hitting, shooting , etc. the puck needs more variability resulting in more organic gameplay. Team differences and line matching... Ex chara on ice against Toews , etc.. Boston plays hard forecheck, Chicago speed, skill, LA speed and hitting.. I wish sports gaming would take that turn in making the gameplay more organic, player separation, strategy. Nba 2k and show r best we have do far.

# 154 Dolphins88 @ 08/23/13 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dolphins88


	I didn't notice much difference between 13 and 14 albeit fighting which happens too frequently now and wrong players. Fighting is much better though w 3 rd person view. Gameplay is where this game needs attention. There needs to be more player ability separation. There should be noticeable differences in skills, speed, size, hitting, shooting , etc. the puck needs more variability resulting in more organic gameplay. Team differences and line matching... Ex chara on ice against Toews , etc.. Boston plays hard forecheck, Chicago speed, skill, LA speed and hitting.. I wish sports gaming would take that turn in making the gameplay more organic, player separation, strategy. Nba 2k and show r best we have do far.

I think Ea needs to do address this in NHL and madden.. Add more ratings for players and make them actually mean something. If they want to make a hockey or football game for casual game make an arcade version.

# 155 adayinthelife @ 08/23/13 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dolphins88


	I think Ea needs to do address this in NHL and madden.. Add more ratings for players and make them actually mean something. If they want to make a hockey or football game for casual game make an arcade version.

I agree with most of this. I think if they grew the rating scale to 0-100 and had those ratings mean something, that would be a great start. Add in the same type of thing when it comes to sliders and I just feel like that would be enough to satisfy both sets of people, without creating 2 totally separate games. They put out that 3 on 3 arcade game, that's not the answer IMO.

There's a market out there that wants to play something that is a blend of realism and video game-ism and that's who the games are made more for. I'm not too happy about that only because I'd love a more realistic hockey game. At the same time, I can actually see their side of things because I prefer a game like Madden to something ultra realistic simply because I'm not a huge football guy the way I am a hockey guy.

# 156 ggazoo @ 08/23/13 05:40 PM

I have to agree with the comments about the NHL '94 mode feeling gimmicky. Picture a mash-up of NHL '94 and NHl 14... doesn't work. It would have been better to just include the old game on the disc with updated rosters.

# 157 Gerg04 @ 08/23/13 05:56 PM

Ive been reading all your impressions the last couple days gentlemen. Just got back from a camping trip with the fam, playing my 1st game as I type this.

Number 1- the big hits are....well, as often as you want to pull them off. Kind of taken back by this it seemed like you all said it was toned down. However whenever I want it feels like I can wind up and uncork a monster at any time. Disappointing.

2- outside of a (slightly at best?) Polished skating engine, and more deflections, '14 feels nearly identical to '13. Again, disappointing.

I had been dead set on NOT buying this. Then about 2 weeks ago I was reading and watching vids and knew that it would be nearly impossible to pass on a hockey game and decided to pay it off at gamestop. After literally 5 min playing the demo I'm pretty disappointed an considering canceling that pre order.

I'll give it a little more time before I decide for sure. However there's one fact that remains true and will for the foreseeable future.

If EA continues to be the only product available, with no competition from other developers, WE WILL CONTINUE TO GET THE SAME REHASHED, RECYCLED GAME WITH UPDATED ROSTERS YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT. It's the same with Madden and honestly its a damn shame. As a gamer and sports fan I don't have enough discipline to NOT buy these games, for my personal entertainment. And minus a mass revolt from all of us, we will never see a change.

/end rant

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4

# 158 savoie2006 @ 08/23/13 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerg04


	Ive been reading all your impressions the last couple days gentlemen. Just got back from a camping trip with the fam, playing my 1st game as I type this. Number 1- the big hits are....well, as often as you want to pull them off. Kind of taken back by this it seemed like you all said it was toned down. However whenever I want it feels like I can wind up and uncork a monster at any time. Disappointing. 2- outside of a (slightly at best?) Polished skating engine, and more deflections, '14 feels nearly identical to '13. Again, disappointing. I had been dead set on NOT buying this. Then about 2 weeks ago I was reading and watching vids and knew that it would be nearly impossible to pass on a hockey game and decided to pay it off at gamestop. After literally 5 min playing the demo I'm pretty disappointed an considering canceling that pre order. I'll give it a little more time before I decide for sure. However there's one fact that remains true and will for the foreseeable future. If EA continues to be the only product available, with no competition from other developers, WE WILL CONTINUE TO GET THE SAME REHASHED, RECYCLED GAME WITH UPDATED ROSTERS YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT. It's the same with Madden and honestly its a damn shame. As a gamer and sports fan I don't have enough discipline to NOT buy these games, for my personal entertainment. And minus a mass revolt from all of us, we will never see a change. /end rant Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4

And mass revolts equal the end of series (NHL 2K). There isn't enough popularity in hockey gaming for more than one. Out of curiosity, did you change the skill level or anything before you started playing?

# 159 havoc00 @ 08/23/13 07:47 PM

I really love what they did for the fighting. So far the only time i've been forced to fight is when I've gone out of my way to take a run at a start player.

So to avoid getting into these fights I have to pull back on the hitting and only hit when necessary or not go full speed into people. It's kind of the whole point of having an enforcer engine like this.

In real hockey if there were no enforcers then some of the hitters would just start running everybody with no one to keep them in check. It's the same in the game now. If you think you can freely run people then you're going to get pulled into a fight and have to sit. Makes a lot of sense

# 160 liberaluser @ 08/23/13 08:10 PM

I effing hate it when this forum logs you off after writing a long post and eats it. WTF is that about?

So I'll summarize: this series doesn't seem to have any higher ambition than being smooth arcade hockey. That's fine I guess, but it could be so much more next gen if the developers wanted it to be.

Imagine if every interaction wasn't so clean, if rough shots and dirty plays became a part of the game. If physics actually mattered in anything other than flashy hitting that is so stupid you have to hold yourself back to prevent it from getting out of hand. Good luck online with such a gentlemanly agreement.

The game will continue to feel lifeless until they make the minute to minute action more robust and interesting to watch.

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