NHL 14 News Post

NHL 14 Available Now - Post Your Impressions Here

02:07 PM - September 6, 2013 by RaychelSnr

The NHL 14 early release for season ticket subscribers is available now. Be sure to share your impressions of the full retail version of the game below!

Impressions only! Q&A here.

Our review for NHL 14 is coming up next week!

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

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Member Comments

# 141 DJ @ 09/14/13 11:17 PM

Played my first game and overall I enjoyed the experience. For those expecting a big leap forward from NHL 13, you're not going to find that here. I do think the refinements made to the game make for a more-polished prodcut, but is that worth $60? I can't answer that question, it is up to you to decide. For me, this is one of the handful of games I buy every year, so I am happy with the purchase and how much money I spent.

The skating is better than last year. Not as herky-jerky and players seem to have more weight to them when moving along the ice.

There's a lot more contact in this game, and that's for the better. I like being able to ride Selanne into the boards with Erik Johnson to slow down the opposition's offensive rush.

The new L-stick hitting is cool (you can still use the R-stick like I did several times out of old habit) and the game does a good job of recognizing when you are pulling up to avoid a hit, so you don't feel suctioned into contact.

There was one fight in my game, which was played on All-Star/Hardcore Simulation, 9-minute periods with no slider adjustments. CPU tried to engage me a handful of times, but I ignored the request to drop gloves.

CPU took 3 penalties (charging, interference, tripping) in addition to the fighting penalty, so that was good to see.

Goalies are going to have to be monitored, and may need a bump down (or two) in reaction time. Saw a few too many highlight-reel saves, but it was only one game so I won't overreact just yet.

Teammate AI seems about the same, but did notice a bit more off-puck movement from wingers trying to get in position for a one-timer or shot attempt. CPU offense is very similar, too. They'll make some efforts to cycle the puck, but still mostly it is pass-shoot or pass-pass-shoot.

Noticed that the Pepsi Center rights are gone, it is now Colorado Stadium. Boo! I know that's not EA's fault, though.

Commentary and presentation are near-identical to last year. I really hope these two areas are addressed with the move to the new consoles because they are a sore spot currently.

Off to play some more ... enjoy!

# 142 topside @ 09/14/13 11:33 PM

Let's face it guys this game is horrible. Worst 60 bucks I've spent since umm last year on NHL 13. They never fix any of the issues from the past. Penalties are still an ongoing problem. The easy entry into the zone is just laughable.. I mean in what world do defenseman just skate straight back into their own goalie?? Hardcore simulation sliders lol were they serious with this? Hardcore sim sliders should be high impact sliders. EA has offended me with this crap. I've tried everything to make this game more realistic and enjoyable to no avail.

Oh yeah the rosters and player ratings are just ridiculous. How is it possible everyone and their mother has a 85 wrist shot power, 80+ pass accuracy? Drew miller is just as good a skater as Datsyuk for heavens sake.

Sorry fellas I'm just so irritated with EA.

# 143 Money99 @ 09/15/13 09:24 AM

Maybe many of you have already figured this out, but it seems to me that if I stick to L-stick hitting only, there are hardly any 'big' hits or fights that follow.
I've noticed that whenever I use the right-stick, that's when most fights start to break out.
I'll have to experiment with a game and try to force myself to use L-stick only (habits are hard to break).

# 144 Money99 @ 09/15/13 10:48 AM

Just had two very enjoyable games with San Jose (me) vs Vancouver (CPU).
Both games ended 3-2 with each team splitting victories.

All the goals were great and the action was back and forth.

My only real gripe at this point, and has been for several years now, is that your CPU teammates aren't as aggressive as the CPU is against me.
But I've learned to deal with that.

In the 2nd game, Vancouver was all over me in the 1st period firing 16 shots on Niemi> If it weren't for him, I should have been down by 3 goals, not 1-0.
So I committed to playing better defense and held them to 18 shots over the next 2 periods combined.

This game is very close to 2K3 in many aspects. When I first played 2K2 I hated it. I was so used to EA's up-and-down, odd man rushes and breakways, that I got mad that I couldn't do the same with 2K2.
But then I realized I was complaining about playing a realistic hockey game.
So I started playing like a real hockey game; cycling, dumping the puck, shots from the point, etc.
That's what I have to do in NHL14 as well. As soon as I started doing that, my offense started to work and so did my defense.

I was even able to break through the D a couple of times with guys like Couture and Burns.

Speaking of which, I noticed a massive difference when my first two lines were out there, compared to my 3rd and 4th.
The top 2 have guys like Marleau, Couture, Thornton, Burns and Torres. Large, strong players.
The bottom two lines have guys like Sheppard, Pavelski, Kennedy.. Not exactly figures of intimidation.

This game still has it's problems, but I'm really enjoying it thus far.

# 145 DJ @ 09/15/13 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money99


	Maybe many of you have already figured this out, but it seems to me that if I stick to L-stick hitting only, there are hardly any 'big' hits or fights that follow. I've noticed that whenever I use the right-stick, that's when most fights start to break out. I'll have to experiment with a game and try to force myself to use L-stick only (habits are hard to break).

L-stick is all about speed and momentum when delivering a hit. I've laid out a couple of guys (took a boarding penalty with McLeod on one) with L-stick hits. It is definitely an adjustment and I'm still learning, but I like this system. If I can't line a guy up, I'll lay off the stick and allow my player to glide towards the CPU and then look to either ride that player into the boards or utilize a poke check.

Played another game last night and was drilled 4-1 by the Predators. I took 2 early penalties and the CPU scored on both power plays, including one shot that deflected in off my defenseman.

Down 4-0, I lost all semblance of disciplined hockey and was playing like a frustrated team; too much one-on-one, not enough cycling and too many rushed shots. Hence, why I scored just one goal, which came when I finally got my head out of my butt, played smart hockey and scored off a one-timer.

# 146 CanuckJ @ 09/15/13 12:39 PM

I'm enjoying the game, I haven't played it that much yet but it's a good game, my 1st full game Vancouver vs. Chicago was great, lots of hits, scoring chances, goals were good, great goaltending. I'm looking forward to starting a season

# 147 Nomah5 @ 09/15/13 06:49 PM

Mt oread... playing all star play now what is the shot totals do you remember? The one game I played on all star was a huge discrepancy in totals in my favor but when switching to superstar it was even.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

# 148 Qb @ 09/15/13 10:40 PM

After playing some good ol' offline games this weekend, there's one thing I'm certain of... you need to crank up aggression to get anything close to a 200ft game of hockey.

# 149 18 eighty 5 @ 09/15/13 11:22 PM

Getting into Live the Life and my RW was picked up by San Jose in the first round. The skating is much smoother across the board and the crazy physics antics of last year have largely been corrected. Really enjoying LtL and find the games exciting. The interview questions are a good touch in conjunction with the fan/family/team mate/management tracker.

Play Now is much better fun with the more balanced on ice action. Though, the CPU still has some typical EAisms but I don't find to be as blatant but I am reluctant to start a BaGM.

14 is a better experience than 13. Haven't gone online for anything yet so this game is playing as shipped, no patches, rosters updates or tuners. I should have an internet connection for the first time in ages later this week so EASHL and Battlefield 3 are up for a work out :-)

# 150 Nomah5 @ 09/16/13 12:54 AM

Just played a game down a level on all star and what a gongshow it was. Here is my stats...I won in the shootout as the nucks playing the cpu.

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# 151 Splitter77 @ 09/16/13 11:29 AM

i know i havent played the games as much as i did 5 years ago, but i think the scoring this year is worse than nhl 13.
I like nhl 13 because the goals you should score on, actually went in most of the time. This year it seems as though they changed that. Im consistantly outshooting the cpu on susperstar level and only getting 1 goal a game.

The cpu gets 3 or 4 goals. All the same way. Me either giving them the puck with my goalie, because Ea refuses to put a quick whistle in the game, or the cpu doing their money goal wrap from behind the net.

Im really getting annoyed with the wrap goal though. Every time cpu takes it around the net, comes in front and goal. that was not there last year.

# 152 DJ @ 09/16/13 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qb


	After playing some good ol' offline games this weekend, there's one thing I'm certain of... you need to crank up aggression to get anything close to a 200ft game of hockey.

Could you please elaborate as to why you think that's so? I always appreciate your thoughts on the game.

Played a game last night and CPU took 6 penalties against me on All-Star/Hardcore Simulation. Two were for fighting, the other four were minor infractions.

# 153 iaxy @ 09/17/13 06:12 AM

Whilst the demo gave me some mixed feelings (suffice to say I did not even pick up the game on release day), I am actually quite impressed with the full game.

My first two games were Winter Classic 2011, All Star difficulty, stock sliders. The first game I got smoked by the CPU whilst trying to get used to the controls, but the second game was a very gratifying experience staying together with the CPU right till the end and then winning 2:1 with a shorthanded one-timer 30 seconds from time.

Whilst I will continue to maintain that NHL 14 should have been what NHL 13 never was, I find noticeable improvements in pretty much every department. More than ever the game feels and looks like real hockey, with momentum, inertia and fluidity playing a major part. Position your player incorrectly and the opposition blows by you with momentum. Conversely, applying patience to your own offensive game and then hitting a clever pass to a flying skater, results in a great opportunity. What I like the most is how players will now react to receiving a pass. The motion is fluid, they do not lose momentum. This is especially useful when passing the puck between your D-men. The other noticeable improvement is control. Powerplays are immensely enjoyable, with the ability to cycle the puck around without accidentally going offside or turning over the puck because of clunky controls (like all previous installments). I love setting up plays being just patient and cycling around till I see an opening. The one touch dekes are also very well implemented and very useful in pretty much all contexts. For the first time the game plays and feels organic with stock sliders (though the speed seems too high on True Broadcast camera).

Defense is more of a challenge, but not necessarily in a good way. Similarly to FIFA, playing defense is a mixed bag. The CPU is too good at dangling with the puck, stopping and turning leaving your human-controlled skater hopelessly out of position. Sometimes it’s more useful just standing in front of goal and hope for a rebound. That said, I love how D-men look when they skate backwards. It feels so fluid and organic.

Fighting is a mixed bag for me. I am aware most people welcome this new addition. For me it is a non-event. I dislike fights in hockey – they detract from the game experience and EA has done exactly this here. To me it’s an unnecessary destraction that you can’t seem to turn off.

Online is also fun. I only played one game, which was competitive, fair and very close. My opponent ended up winning 4:3 with an OT goal, but all the action was very exciting and I loved the verity of goals and plays. There was no lag – everything worked to perfection.

I wish EA would not persist in recycle their commentary and visual presentation. This is the weakest part of the game for me. The cameras are identical (still no customization available for True Broadcast) and the commentary is just plain dated. I do have to concede though that some visuals have improved. The ice looks amazing, including the degrading of it as the period progresses.

Overall a good job, EA. A good title to say farewell with to current gen consoles. I bought NHL 13 and played it for about 2 weeks before losing interest. I think NHL 14 will maintain my interest much longer than that.

# 154 CanuckJ @ 09/17/13 09:19 AM

The thing about fighting is not true, I dislike fighting in hockey myself so I turned it down to nothing and have yet to see a fight since that time.

# 155 Qb @ 09/17/13 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ


	Could you please elaborate as to why you think that's so? I always appreciate your thoughts on the game.

In my experience, raising the aggression slider to 5 or 6 does as much as anything (outside of maybe pass assist) to change the gameplay from flowing end-to-end rushes to something more uneven and unpredictable. Of course, I'm lowering acceleration, puck control, pass accuracy/reception, along with raising fatigue effect, but I think the increased aggression ties it all together.

CPU players on both teams make more of an effort to attack the puck, disrupting break outs more often, and keeping the puck in the attacking zone for extended periods. There are times when I really feel the need to clear the puck after getting pinned in my zone (fatigue!), but I can also do that to the CPU more effectively. This leads to more realistic scoring situations & chances and less "hot dog hockey" as someone (Kerosene31?) called it earlier.

It's not a panacea for all the gameplay issues and your opponent's strategies play a large part in how the game plays out (max out CPU strat adj to help with in-game variety). Zone entry is still easier than it should be and I'm sure one could skate in circles if they really wanted to, but I played several competitive games with balanced shot & TOA totals on All-Star. The big thing for me is that feeling of "I need to do something with the puck NOW" that really isn't there by default. Combine that with looser settings for puck control & passing, and it makes for a better game of hockey.

# 156 bad_philanthropy @ 09/17/13 01:52 PM

It's a big disappointment for me that the cpu doesn't use the puck chop. It has been one of the better defensive tools the past two years, and it's nicely refined this year.

# 157 Nomah5 @ 09/17/13 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qb


	In my experience, raising the aggression slider to 5 or 6 does as much as anything (outside of maybe pass assist) to change the gameplay from flowing end-to-end rushes to something more uneven and unpredictable. Of course, I'm lowering acceleration, puck control, pass accuracy/reception, along with raising fatigue effect, but I think the increased aggression ties it all together. CPU players on both teams make more of an effort to attack the puck, disrupting break outs more often, and keeping the puck in the attacking zone for extended periods. There are times when I really feel the need to clear the puck after getting pinned in my zone (fatigue!), but I can also do that to the CPU more effectively. This leads to more realistic scoring situations & chances and less "hot dog hockey" as someone (Kerosene31?) called it earlier. It's not a panacea for all the gameplay issues and your opponent's strategies play a large part in how the game plays out (max out CPU strat adj to help with in-game variety). Zone entry is still easier than it should be and I'm sure one could skate in circles if they really wanted to, but I played several competitive games with balanced shot & TOA totals on All-Star. The big thing for me is that feeling of "I need to do something with the puck NOW" that really isn't there by default. Combine that with looser settings for puck control & passing, and it makes for a better game of hockey.

Qb did you post your slider set by chance?

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# 158 Qb @ 09/17/13 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomah5


	Qb did you post your slider set by chance?

I didn't. I won't put anything up unless I play a lot more offline. I haven't done that the last year or two, so we'll see. For now, here are some of the changes I'm playing with, working from the Hardcore Simulation preset. For now my User/CPU sliders are the same, but that could change if I play enough to dial them in. In no way am I saying these are "final" or the optimal setting... mostly me moving stuff up or down a click to see if how it plays.

Fatigue Effect: 4
Fatigue Recovery: 2
Puck Control: 0
Acceleration: 3

CPU Strategy Adjustment: 4 (I think, maxed it out)
Face-off Difficulty: 4 (I think, raised it one click)

Pass Assist: 1 or 2
Pass Accuracy and Reception: 0
Pass Interceptions: 4 (probably could go higher, but haven't yet)

Shot/Slap/One-timer Accuracy: 2

Aggression: 5 or 6
Hit Power: 0
Poke Check: 2 (could see raising CPU for challenge)

Goalies are the hardest for me. I'd ultimately like to raise screen effect and lower reaction time based on the idea of making it harder to create good scoring chances, but more rewarding when you do. I went a click in each direction for now and I haven't seen anything too noteworthy; most games have 4-6 goals total on around 60 combined shots playing 10 minute periods.

My plan was to start an offline GM to track some stats over a decent stretch of games. We'll see if I can find the time.

# 159 Hockeynut99 @ 09/19/13 08:09 PM

So what is the verdict? And is the Xbox version better?

# 160 Money99 @ 09/22/13 10:44 PM

Really noticed some cool animations today.
Not sure if this was in NHL12 or 13, but in the previous versions I've played, it seemed that no matter what position the receiver was in, or how bad the pass, the one-timer always got off perfectly.

But I've noticed in '14, that it's more like NHL07, where if the pass is bad, or if the receiver isn't in a position to receive it on their forehand, the player will get off a weak one-timer, or they engage in an animation where they coral the puck, and then got off a different shot.

For example, in a game with the Sabres, Grigorenko took a pass from the right-wing boards, but had his back to the puck. So instead of just getting off a perfect one-timer, he took the pass on his backhand, then did a wrap-around type back hand shot on net.
The shot was pretty weak and the goalie stopped in easily.

I've been bugging EA to go back to how they did it in NHL07 and I'm glad to see it's returned.

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