NHL 15 News Post

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

08:44 PM - August 25, 2014 by Steve_OS

The NHL 15 demo is available now on Xbox Live for Xbox One users. PlayStation 4 users can expect the demo tomorrow afternoon when the PSN Store updates with new titles.

UPDATE: The NHL 15 demo is now available for PlayStation 4 users. If you can't find it, click this link.

Some have had luck going to "New Demos" all the way over to the right. Games>New>Demos>New Demos (all the way over to the right) and grab the NHL 15 demo. Thanks @TheFlopfish)

The demo weighs in at 2.58 GB. Here are the details.

New York Rangers vs. Los Angeles Kings
Full game with three two-minute periods
Play in Madison Square Garden or Staples Center
Gameplay Camera Angles: Dynamic Low, Dynamic Medium, and Dynamic High
Practice Mode: Master the Superstar Skill Stick with a free skate against a goalie
Difficulty Settings: Rookie, Pro, All-Star

If you can't find it, try searching for it with Bing.

Play a few games and let us know what you think of this year's NHL title on Xbox One!

Game: NHL 15Reader Score: 6.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 16 - View All

NHL 15 Videos

Member Comments

# 241 Splitter77 @ 08/27/14 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JezFranco


	Lol i missed this! http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-pu...011646287.html

he should be happy with the overblown overall rating he has.
should be more in the 0-20 range for overall rating.

# 242 Splitter77 @ 08/27/14 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigwill33


	After playing a while longer, and on both the PS4 and Xbox One, I have found a few other issues that are bothering me. When trying to adjust the settings for your defense during a play stoppage one of the prompts is the same button that is used to skip over the stoppage and advance to the face-off. Who decided that was a good idea? And how did this get past testing? But my main issue with the demo so far is this: The gameplay is boring me already because we have been there and done that. Meaning, to get positive results you do the same things over and over again and these things are the same things that you had to do for the past 5 years with this game. There is no dynamic movement without the puck on offense. No dynamic lanes that open up in the zone. I know exactly where my players will be and where the defense is positioned and that never changes! I can never set up a PP in the zone and go from the lower left wing boards and pass across the ice to the far point. I can not expect to cross corner a fly in dump and know that my far wing is crashing to get it. I can't pin the puck holder on the boards and hope that my teammate will be the second guy in to support me and win the possession. These are the types of things that wear on a long time player of this series. That and the same goals going in, over and over and over again. Almost all of my goals given up are because the CPU beats my guy under the goal line, usually because of clunky controls such as a failed board pinning or wonky skating animation, and then they quickly center it to someone that is not being tied up in front for an easy, point blank shot. Why can't my backside d help tie up their stick? Give it a quick lift or clamp it down? Why are they not even positioned correctly? I see other people commenting about their scores for the demo being like 4-2, 6-0, etc. With shots being around 12-16 for their team. How in the heck are you managing that? I fear I know the answer. Most people just cary the puck into the zone and fire, over and over again. And every so often it works. Heck I know when I am going to score if I am giving a clear shot. I can see when the goalie is leaning wrong. That means there is little incentive to play a realistic game. And that is exactly what is like to play online. Just exploits and the same routines over and over. This is because of the unchanged AI. I could probably fool myself into playing this game this fall after a purchase. I could mess with the sliders and establish my own house rules and regulations to ensure I am not exploiting too much or cheating for an advantage based off of how the game is designed to play, but after half a decade of the same thing I am tired of it. I am bored by it. Goaltending has hardly been touched since 2006! Not the game, the year. How long will it take until they fix these issues and what faith should I even have at this point that they will even get it correct when/if they ever do? That is what is so sad about this demo to me.

yup.
that settles it for me.
the repitition of the gameplay just kills this game for me. I was hoping the next gen version would be better, but it looks like its still in there.

still to this day nhl 2k3 on the ps2 has been the only hockey game where i didnt have to make house rules, or actually saw something different happen each game i played. no repetitive ****.

i was gonna pick nhl 15 up if they improved the gm mode. but looks like its the same.
nice review.

# 243 Money99 @ 08/27/14 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinisterAlex


	I've been playing on all star hardcore and haven't noticed any glaring A.I issues at all. I don't feel cheated like I did in the past when they would just magically get the puck off your stick, tap you in the back and you'd lose the puck, etc. I love how they've improved the skating and players feel like they have weight to them. Same for the A.I. In the past I found that they could make pivots and turns that we human players couldnt do. Overall I'm really loving this demo. Presentation is awesome and the new commentators are a breath of fresh air. I've rarely watched NBC games so Doc and Eddie are brand new to me.

Music to my ears! Thanks for posting this!

# 244 bwiggy33 @ 08/27/14 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaLiveKing


	Anyone else hate the factthat the cpu doesn't dump the puck in, but rather skate with the puck along the blue line before entering the zone, this was a problem in NHL 14 also

Have you ever adjusted the strategies for the teams? There is a slider for Dump and Carry that will no doubt fix your problem. All you have to do is adjust it to your liking and you can also do it by line. Obviously the more skilled lines don't dump and chase that much but 3rd and 4th lines do. You can adjust quite a few sliders in the strategies area and it makes this game way better than it is out of the box. The only way I get any enjoyment out of this game is if these strategies are adjusted.

# 245 indcolts18288 @ 08/27/14 10:10 AM

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.

# 246 Shortyman96 @ 08/27/14 10:21 AM

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.

# 247 Cletus @ 08/27/14 10:22 AM

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.

# 248 indcolts18288 @ 08/27/14 10:27 AM

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.

# 249 gator3guy @ 08/27/14 10:38 AM

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.

# 250 ricky24 @ 08/27/14 10:40 AM

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.

# 251 indcolts18288 @ 08/27/14 10:49 AM

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.

# 252 half-fast @ 08/27/14 10:56 AM

Can't manual pass. I couldnt pass one off the boards to a teammate. It went where it wanted me to pass it. That alone is a huge disappointment for me. I play all manual controls on FIFA and am generally happy with the results, and not being able to choose where I pass the puck in NHL will mean no purchase. I'm sure a slider will be in there for the full game, but I'll have to check first. How can you not bank it off the boards?

# 253 m_maclean24 @ 08/27/14 10:58 AM

I was able to play three games last night, I played as the Rangers each time - Hardcore Sim, Allstar. I lost my first game 1-0, won the second 1-0 in SO, and lost the final 1-0 in SO (notice I haven't scored in regulation yet). I do not bother looking for exploits to score every time down the ice, I just play hockey like I think it is supposed to be played, and hope for the best.

First of all, I am not one of those guys who plays 1,000+ games in a year, I played Be a GM last year, and got through three seasons, playing all games, and also farted around with a few of the other modes, but only to the tune of >100 games I would say. I have always shied away from online modes.

I found the "feel" of the game to be different. I know that some people are saying that the players still feel weightless, but I feel like there has been some work done in this department, and I certainly felt the weight of the players in their movements.

As far as the checking went, I found it much more difficult to lay out the CPU opponent - In my GM mode last year, I really struggled to have realistic numbers for hits, because it as the easiest way for me to thwart any offensive threat, just run them over. In my three games, that hasn't been the case.

That being said, I agree with many who have posted that the O-zone entry is a breeze again, it absolutely is - nothin has been addressed here from what I can see.

As far as the skills stick goes, I LOVE the new deking. It is a much more accurate representation of the movements of an actual hockey player. The past versions of the game, with the long arm, wind-up and whip wristers were garbage, and this has been changed.

I really hope they are doing some work on goalie animations for next year, they REALLY stood out to me as being terrible given the improvements to the player animations.

I also think the graphics and presentation are stunning - and I didn't have a HUGE issue with the commentary, hearing someone else was refreshing, but obviously room for improvement.

Also have to agree with others, in-that the AI has not really changed a tonne. I did notice some improvements, and clearly by the results of my three games, I have found it somewhat challenging, but I still see some head-scratching decisions quite frequently by AI teammates and opponents.

All of that being said, there are some improvements, but bottom line, it is OBVIOUS that you are playing an EA NHL series hockey game. Some of the legacy issues continue, but I have to disagree with those claiming it is "just a port" or NHL 14 with prettier graphics. I do feel that it is much more than this.

In summary, I think that the feel has changed, but it is still to be determined whether it has changed enough to allow for a less stagnant gameplay experience. I feel like it is a good effort by EA Canada, but there is still a long, long way to go to get to where thigns could and should be. I think I will make the dive and buy this one, but for those EASHL hardcore players who were so sorely disappointed, you may want to hold onto your $70 for another year to let things play out.

# 254 GROGtheNailer @ 08/27/14 11:02 AM

So gave this game a try and since we only have the demo to analyze (which should represent the meat of the game) here is some impressions.

I like the new physics of the puck a lot, I think that is a consensus here. That directly relates to gameplay. Not going to talk about graphics. It is hard to nail down concisely how I feel about the demo at this point because I have had maybe 10 games, the 2 min periods are ridiculous though. I would rather get a 6 min final period to be honest.

I strongly suspect we are going to see some negative **** that has been in the game the last 3-4 years because it feels very similar. It is hard for me to gauge atm. The big question that needs to be answered is will the new stuff be enough to prod us over the hump of the old legacy stuff they have not touched. I suspect it will be there because they do not know how to get rid of it at this point. I do not think it is laziness, I just believe they do not know how to make it better with the current engine.

So will the new stuff be enough to counter-act the negative parts of the legacy stuff...I am not sure at this point. I will be buying the game because I love hockey, and I may or may not regret it.

The root of any issues will probably be:

It should be easier to play defense that offense which historically has not been the case with EA's hockey, I suspect weak defensive aspects will be in play here along with its equal partner: how easy it is to gain the zone. But we will see.

# 255 ggazoo @ 08/27/14 11:12 AM

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'm a bit underwhelmed by the demo. I dunno... it doesn't feel "next gen". Even graphically... maybe I was expecting too much, but it's not the huge leap that I was expecting.

# 256 GROGtheNailer @ 08/27/14 11:24 AM

One thing to everyone who is put off with the AI, try All-star hardcore settings, post your thoughts on that setting if you wouldnt mind.

# 257 kerosene31 @ 08/27/14 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GROGtheNailer


	One thing to everyone who is put off with the AI, try All-star hardcore settings, post your thoughts on that setting if you wouldnt mind.

That's what I was on and the AI felt like last year. Good skaters can still skate circles around the zone. Hardcode mode makes passing harder, so it kind of encourages puck hogging.

I was using the same moves from 14 (and 13). Skate in over the wing. If the D is slow, blow past them. If not, hit the brakes and either cut into the slot or dump the puck back to your D and try again. I know some people would say "don't play that way" but it is tough not to, especially on hardcore. This zone entry works almost every time as long as your player is a decent skater (often even if not).

I'm not even sure if it is the AI or the skating engine (maybe both), but the entire CPU 5 man side is always a step behind and slow to react.

# 258 lockjaw333 @ 08/27/14 11:56 AM

Skipped NHL 14 due to the minimal amounts of improvement (and sometimes steps backwards) from year to year. I also only played EASHL from 09-12 because I always found playing offline against the CPU mind numbingly horrible. EA NHL has always had the worst AI of any of the major sports games IMO.First impressions of the demo after playing a handful of matches over the last few days: feels 95% the same as NHL 13. Goalies are identical (terrible), skating is slightly different, faceoffs are the same (was cool the first year implemented, now its stale), physics are just as ridiculous, and the AI is perhaps even worse than I remember. They refuse to dump the puck in, instead choosing to skate in circles in the neutral. They make ridiculous centering passes when the lanes are covered (that still seem to get through), they make inhuman cuts and turns, and they generally don't play in any way that remotely resembles hockey.Skill stick is more nuanced (people think its worse because you can't whip the puck side to side like its on a string anymore), and the default speed of the game is slower and much more realistic than in the past. NBC presentation is well done as well, but they ruin it with the SAME EXACT cutscenes theyve had in the game for 5 years. That's about all the good I can say about it.Still see the same awful backhand stab wristers and one-timers. The puck phsyics to me seem just as bad as always. The puck reacts the same way in certain situations that I'm used to...popping up off blocker saves, rolling up goalies shoulders, bounces like a tennis ball on dump-ins, and worst of all rocketing off poke checks and warping to other CPU controlled players. The puck may behave slightly different but its still bad.Game is obviously lower resolution, probably 720p. Definitely doesn't look high res. And Rammer claimed both consoles will "run at 60fps". I'm not even sure the regular gameplay runs at 60fps, and the cutscenes certainly are at a lower framerate.Overall a pretty pathetic effort for a 2 year dev cycle (which in reality was probably 1 given the size of the NHL team, but still). I've always found offline vs the CPU horrendous in the past, and its still bad. And given the fact that this is pretty much all the game has given removal of EASHL, I feel like there's no reason to buy it. This is the type of effort that makes me think this series might not exist in a year or two.

# 259 jake19ny @ 08/27/14 12:16 PM

I played a few games already (Ps4) and I was going to post each detail good or bad but decided I can sum up my impressions in short. The graphics and presentation are an outstanding much needed improvement. The gameplay had subtle changes but for the most part is not much different than NHL14. The subtle changes are for the better and as usual I'm hoping sliders will make the game better (we shouldn't have to always battle with sliders). two biggest disappointments 1) Goalies were bad and make the same bone headed mistakes they have made for years. On one play I attempted a pass with Kreider from the side of the net to the slot area and the pass went right at Quick who was a good foot off the post allowing the slow pass to hit his pad and enter the net.....lame. 2) three games 1 penalty total. I know its hard to tell with just 2 minute periods so maybe I'm worried for nothing but this has been a problem for years. Overall I managed to tweak sliders enough to enjoy 14 so I'm sure I can do it again. If the offline season mode is indeed absent this may end up being a trade in after a month or two. Playing a whole season as my team is always my favorite and I like to control all the teams and rosters so it will be pointless to keep for so long.

# 260 Pezell04x @ 08/27/14 12:18 PM

One good thing I saw is that the 1 game I played, there were two penalties. A minor penalty against the Rangers (AI) and a major penalty against me, but the major was for interference. It was a pretty lame "major" penalty.

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