NHL 15 News Post

NHL 15: The Legacy of the Failed to Launch Title

11:15 AM - May 7, 2015 by RaychelSnr

While we wrote extensively about NHL 15 (Xbox One, PS4) before, during and after launch, it's meaningful to look back at where the game stands in the series, especially in the context of other peers in the genre. As disappointing as the game was for those who were wanting a complete next-gen hockey experience, it managed to soldier on, selling relatively well and maintaining some level of community through several patches. None of those things fixed the overall incomplete nature of that product, but it started the baby steps towards a better future for the series.

Read More - NHL 15: The Legacy of the Failed to Launch Title

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

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Member Comments

# 1 Retropyro @ 05/07/15 03:50 PM

I love the gameplay. But the game is just too barebones in modes and content. I mean who thought it was a great idea to not allow skip ahead in Be a Pro?

# 2 canucksss @ 05/07/15 03:53 PM

Great write up!

Hopefully EA gets it. They need to improve this game and not just add the missing modes but all the glaring issues from gameplay, player/team differentiation, depth of BaGM/BaP (or whatever EA calls it), etc.

# 3 murph17 @ 05/07/15 05:02 PM

I really enjoy the gameplay, it's a shame about all the missing modes. NHL 16 isn't going to be perfect, but it's going to be a lot of fun. They are going to build on the core gameplay and bring back most of the missing modes. They have a huge opportunity with EASHL if they can do some truly next-gen stuff, and don't just port over the old EASHL as-is. Improve the team management, stats and integrate Twitch. Make it awesome and most of the haters will (begrudgingly) come back.

re: rosters
NBA Live 15 got one today. Even that game gets better support

# 4 KennyJ1976 @ 05/07/15 05:20 PM

Speaking of rosters, is anyone besides me still having a problem saving the updated rosters? I haven't been able to save the last two updates.

# 5 Rufio2031 @ 05/07/15 07:51 PM

I have the opposite opinion of most. I don't really care a whole lot about many of the missing features as I primarily play the GM mode. The gameplay however was one of the worst sim sporting experiences I've had and my multiple 2nd chances on the game re-iterate the same feeling over and over again. In a series where I typically fly through 2 seasons, I've totaled about 12 games under my belt for NHL 15 and was thoroughly displeased with every single game.

This game needs a serious AI and control overhaul. The series continues to make great aesthetic progress while gameplay quality continues to deteriorate yearly.

And seriously...implement better slider options so I can turn checking power to -148. Or...try watching a hockey game just once.

This is just MY opinion.

# 6 loldillon @ 05/07/15 08:29 PM

The thing that bothers me the most is this whole "secrecy" crap. It took them about 1-2 weeks before release saying there was gonna be all these missing features. Why not mention it about a month before. They obviously knew none of the epic stuff would be included. EA NHL has been awful at interacting with the casual/diehard fans of the franchise. Meanwhile EA UFC has been doing the complete opposite.

The EA forums are a joke though, I don't even bother going over there. You ask one simple question and it's either taken over by trolls, and or locked. Same with reddit. If it has nothing to do with HUT you're frowned upon and bashed to shreds.

I just really hope NHL '16 is done right (adding EASHL) since it's the only game mode I care for. Also I didn't mind shootout mode either. All I ask for is the return of the "Zetterberg" deke and EASHL. ;]

# 7 gjb09003 @ 05/07/15 09:19 PM

face scans....is it really that difficult?

# 8 snc237 @ 05/08/15 01:15 AM

I like NHL 15 for what it is. In saying that I want so much more. Can't wait for eashl to come back however hopefully that mode has major attention to it cause if it's "this is year one of three approach to eashl" I'm going to be disappointed. It took them 5 years until eashl was really really solid on last gen and hopefully we don't have to wait that long again.

# 9 milesizdead @ 05/08/15 02:39 AM

Worst NHL launch ever.
- Bad choices in "marketing" the game
- Missing game modes
- Arcade gameplay, everything is heavily assisted
- Lack of support through patches/roster updates etc
- Broken promises about transparency and forum activity from devs

# 10 ericromain @ 05/08/15 02:43 AM

Shame on EA for not giving NHL the necessary head count to release a game in a year.
They stripped out a lot of game modes.
It drives me nuts that 1v1 online doesn't have user controlled goalie shootouts, and NHL14's awesome highlight system is gone, you can't give me a replay of every goal one year and take that away.

Still I am able to take NHL15 with a grain of salt. They clearly made the priority to maintain gameplay, and improve. I really enjoyed it.

I'm looking forward to NHL16, it'll mostly be reinstating the missing, but here's to hoping they're motivated and bring a lot of innovation and exciting fresh newness.

# 11 AdamJones113 @ 05/08/15 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gjb09003


	face scans....is it really that difficult?

Yes, yes it is actually. Takes around 18 developers, if I remember right, and the devs have more important things to focus on.

# 12 Arrowhead21 @ 05/08/15 05:19 PM

I'm willing to sacrifice aesthetic things such as face scans if it means I will get to play a game that actually feels like hockey. it would also be nice to have the Action Tracker back.

# 13 Penaltybox4ever @ 05/09/15 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arrowhead21


	I'm willing to sacrifice aesthetic things such as face scans if it means I will get to play a game that actually feels like hockey. it would also be nice to have the Action Tracker back.

Yeah, even if you dress up the pig its still a pig and NHL15 was a filthy pig...
No as you said put manpower on modes and gameplay.
I used to play previous games 3-4 days a week, now I do 1-2 games monthly, play now couch versus...
Well Im not falling for same pig, used to preorder NHL games but never more, not worth it to buy full price for a game I hardly play and selling it doesnt refund enough for the trouble.
I will read alot of comments and reviews before EA get any of my money...

# 14 Cletus @ 05/09/15 10:07 AM

I'm hoping that NHL 16 gets docked points for being too hard. How nice would it be for some metacritic guy complain about having to dump the puck in because of neutral zone pressure?

Sent from my KFSOWI using Tapatalk

# 15 actionhank @ 05/12/15 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamJones113


	Yes, yes it is actually. Takes around 18 developers, if I remember right, and the devs have more important things to focus on.

My frustration with rosters and player models has always been that EA for whatever reason (Understaffed, too many other more important focuses, all valid reasons) has never been good at all. They miss handedness, player hair, size, skills, and player moves all of the time. They're also bound to the rules that they are handed by the NHL when they sign the contract as to when players can be added (Due to the NHLPA and having to play a certain number of minutes or games, if i remember right).

This could all be easily alleviated if they just added an in-depth roster editing and player creation system. Sure, it would take time, but considering how long they've been using the same system for current player creation (I believe the Player Editor in 14 was for all intents and purposes, the exact same as 09, maybe even earlier than that, with small things added. Even the face models were largely unchanged), EA could create a new system, find a way to either allow offline file sharing through rosters that could be shared, downloaded, and installed via flash drive (no need on their end to monitor a server, track uploads, and host files), or if they really wanted to go the extra mile they could add the online side of it, and host servers to share sliders, rosters, and created players.

The Show (yet again) is a great example. Guys have throwback teams, improved rosters, improved attributes (Something the Revamped team used to be able to do, but that was taken away for whatever reason). The Show allows near total customization, but more importantly, they made it easy to share those things with others, whereas EA seems to handcuff you.

I've gone on and on before about how awesome it would be if they allowed us to share/edit rosters, and give us a better create a player interface with more options, but they could even take advantage of the powers of the new system and find a way to give access to things like importing image files for things like jerseys and face scans. Guys have been doing it in NHL04 on the PC forever, and that game still gets played by people. Doing the same for NHL would mean people could create their own jerseys, better team customization with custom jerseys for that, and then better face scans without EA having to lift a finger past launch.

EA just needs to take the reigns off of the users, because OS alone has a talented user base that's more than capable and willing to do the leg work to improve visuals and rosters, not to mention tweak sliders and attributes to get a more perfect game.

# 16 nddurst @ 05/12/15 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by actionhank


	My frustration with rosters and player models has always been that EA for whatever reason (Understaffed, too many other more important focuses, all valid reasons) has never been good at all. They miss handedness, player hair, size, skills, and player moves all of the time. They're also bound to the rules that they are handed by the NHL when they sign the contract as to when players can be added (Due to the NHLPA and having to play a certain number of minutes or games, if i remember right). This could all be easily alleviated if they just added an in-depth roster editing and player creation system. Sure, it would take time, but considering how long they've been using the same system for current player creation (I believe the Player Editor in 14 was for all intents and purposes, the exact same as 09, maybe even earlier than that, with small things added. Even the face models were largely unchanged), EA could create a new system, find a way to either allow offline file sharing through rosters that could be shared, downloaded, and installed via flash drive (no need on their end to monitor a server, track uploads, and host files), or if they really wanted to go the extra mile they could add the online side of it, and host servers to share sliders, rosters, and created players. The Show (yet again) is a great example. Guys have throwback teams, improved rosters, improved attributes (Something the Revamped team used to be able to do, but that was taken away for whatever reason). The Show allows near total customization, but more importantly, they made it easy to share those things with others, whereas EA seems to handcuff you. I've gone on and on before about how awesome it would be if they allowed us to share/edit rosters, and give us a better create a player interface with more options, but they could even take advantage of the powers of the new system and find a way to give access to things like importing image files for things like jerseys and face scans. Guys have been doing it in NHL04 on the PC forever, and that game still gets played by people. Doing the same for NHL would mean people could create their own jerseys, better team customization with custom jerseys for that, and then better face scans without EA having to lift a finger past launch. EA just needs to take the reigns off of the users, because OS alone has a talented user base that's more than capable and willing to do the leg work to improve visuals and rosters, not to mention tweak sliders and attributes to get a more perfect game.

Great points.

The fact is EA doesn't have to make a perfect game. Just improve some of the fundamental engines driving gameplay, give us sliders that actually work, and allow us to fully edit players. It would make the game 100% better.

# 17 actionhank @ 05/12/15 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nddurst


	Great points. The fact is EA doesn't have to make a perfect game. Just improve some of the fundamental engines driving gameplay, give us sliders that actually work, and allow us to fully edit players. It would make the game 100% better.

Exactly. I think the more games borrow from sandbox styled games, the better. Let the people have their NHL player likenesses, give them the arenas and the physics and AI to simulate hockey, then let them tailor the rest to suit themselves.

Sliders that properly work would be another huge addition. If i want an arcade experience with 100mph wristers and diving goalies, let me adjust that. But if i prefer to create plays, and get rewarded for playing realistic hockey, i should be able to. The AI behavior would be another thing that would be a huge plus. Being able to set 'behaviors' for players in create-a-play, and then make routes around the offensive zone/breakout would be huge. If I've got a guy like Backes, let me create a play and not try to force him in front of the net, but set him to 'Screen' and then watch the AI strategically place Backes in the highlighted area i 'draw' on the ice, and then have the AI try to keep him between the goalie and the puck. Then, this behavior set would allow him to try to deflect the puck, dodge out of the way, and turn on a shot to try for the rebound. Similarly, you could set a players like Ovechkin or Stamkos to a 'One-Timer' behavior set, then 'draw' the area you want them to perform this behavior in. They will move in the determined area to stay open in regards to where the puck sits, trying to avoid passing lines, and scoot up and down the circles as the puck moves behind the net, or out to the walls. Then they would break and chase down loose pucks, only when it appeared to be heading to the corner near them, or along the boards.

Just small additions like that (obviously small in terms of the idea, I'm sure it's a mountain of coding and testing) would make a huge difference from the current AI that either gets hit with point shots and blocks them, or stands still until they wander into a poor position for the play. Cross-ice passes were never really useful to me on the PP. Even if i managed to find the guy in the circle, the goalies moved too quickly post-to-post to be an effective strategy, but some simple AI changes, and gameplay additions could make it a huge tool. AI players being useful would be huge. I can't count the number of times I had AI d-men skating up ice with me on a 2 on 1, only to have them stop just past the blue line to wait in their determined spot, or the number of times I just had 2 forwards on a powerplay crosschecking back and forth with defenders while the guy with the puck moves around in the corner with no one to pass to.

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