NHL 16 News Post

NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

05:00 PM - September 9, 2015 by Steve_OS

The trial version of NHL 16 is available now (a day early) for EA Access subscribers. To start the download process, open up the EA Access hub, scroll over to NHL 16, click View in Store and download the trial.

For those of you that can download it, play a few games and let us know what you think!

REMINDER: You get 10 hours of gameplay, so make sure you exit out of the game if you are not playing. Don't pause and lose those precious minutes.

Game: NHL 16Reader Score: Vote Now
Platform: PS4 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 0 - View All

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# 121 canucksss @ 09/11/15 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwiggy33


	I played for about 45 minutes last night and as much as it's a more polished game, it's still the same AI. I can go 1 on 4 into the offensive zone with any player on my team. No way in hell that ever happens, EVER. It is so infuriating and ruins the game. I haven't adjusted the CPU Strategies yet but I can't imagine it will fix anything because I'm sure they're the same settings as they have been since they brought those in. CPU Strategies fixes a lot of issues I have with the game, just not the neutral zone pressure. Goalies are actually pretty refreshing other than the animations. Their movement is what I've wanted for years but they need to completely get rid of all of the goalie animations and make new non warp speed ones. Some of the ones they pull off or attempt I haven't seen since watching replays of 80's hockey. It's honestly shocking how they can possibly think the goalie animations are good. Maybe that will be a next year type of thing. Just like someone else said the framerate goes bonkers at lower game speeds. I had mine on 1 and it was fine the first 10 minutes. All of a sudden my screen was just shaking. I will probably post more as I play, but I won't lie I may not even play the 10 hours unless I start seeing some good things. Really at this state if you play online I could see it being fun but other than that it's another year of bad offline play. Quite honestly I wouldn't be so negative if this game actually changed from year to year, but since it still feels nearly identical to past versions I don't have much hope it will get better through using the rest of the trial. Nonetheless I will try and keep an open mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandon27


	So, I just got 4 games in tonight. I'm at a loss for words on this one. It's better, on the surface, but beyond that, it's the same old terrible AI. It's a bit improved in some spots, but terrible in so many others still. I actually quit a game tonight. 7 minutes in to the first period, I'd given up 5 goals, on 6 shots. All instances where my D-men just stand around and do nothing in front of my net while I fight for the puck in the corner, then they magically throw it out front, the shooter can move, basically warp into the shot while my D-man barely even moves to acknowledge the play. 4 straight shots in a row, almost identical scenario. I hoped earlier when I saw a player kick a puck out of a scrum across the ice, I hoped I was seeing things. However I saw it many more times tonight. There's still so many instances still where the AI players don't seem to be effected at all, in any way by physics. They accelerate so much quicker, turn so much quicker. It's not even close to the same in comparison as to how your players skate. Then, to top it all off. 3 games tonight. Not a single Penalty on the CPU. NOT ONE. So, the only way to enjoy the game is to just turn penalties completely off, because its ridiculous for the player to spend time on the PK all game, while the CPU apparently does nothing wrong. GM mode has some nice additions, I can say that. How it all works in the long run though is whats important. I'm not sure anymore that it's a full price buy for me. It's NHL 15, with a facelift to me so far. I'm going to mess around with the difficulty and some sliders over the weekend to see if that helps, but right now, I've got a major decision to make on what I do with this one. It feels good at times, theres times when playing it is fun, but then theres times where for some reason it's like the AI flips on it's superman switch, and you might as well just put down the sticks and take what they're about to give you. I have no problem loosing a game to the CPU. I went 2-1 tonight (well 2-2, it game me a loss int he game I quit from too) Like I said, no problems loosing, but I hate feeling cheated by the AI. I'm left feeling that quite a bit playing this so far though.

First off thank you very much for posting your thoughts about this game. I AM DISAPPOINTED AGAIN...even if this is an early access, I dont know if EA would patch this up prior to the official release. BUT with the same issues as before, I cannot really believe why EA is doing to this franchise.

AI issues, Easy access to the zone, NO NZ pressure, Lack of penalties, etc. leaves me bad memories and reminder why I skipped EA NHL for the past 3 years.

Thanks again for posting. I AM STILL TRYING TO PUT SOME HOPE, I guess its just me, a die-hard Hockey fan.

# 122 canucksss @ 09/11/15 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaiman


	Attachment 106192 This screen grab is from the latest NHL 16 cameo trailer. You can see it here: https://twitter.com/xbox/status/642096415976456192 Looks like a five-celebration cutscene to me! How about that for false advertisement. Kind of a shame, but expected I guess.

I like one of the comments there, "we get it the mascots are there". Where's the 5-man team celebration which is in the real NHL game?

# 123 S�dy @ 09/11/15 05:29 AM

Whoa the same lame menu tunes again? I want a real soundtrack!

# 124 Simple Mathematics @ 09/11/15 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyoung


	I was hoping that the crowd atmosphere would be better for playoff games than it is for regular season games, so I simmed ahead to a Stanley Cup Final clinching game between Anaheim and Tampa. Unfortunately, the crowd is still really quiet even in Cup games. NBA Live still has the best crowds in sports gaming IMO. NHL's crowds are near the bottom of the genre as far as activeness and excitement go. It also looks the like Stanley Cup celebration scene is pretty similar to what it was in NHL 15. The cup ceremony starts at timestamp 26:30 if anyone just wants to see that.

Wait. Didn't they say they changed the SC celebration last year? Looked the same as the one that's been in the game for about 12 years now.

# 125 ComaFaction @ 09/11/15 08:34 AM

As someone who has been fairly critical of this year's game, I just jumped into Play Now as the game installed and had a very enjoyable first experience - MUCH better than my experience with '15!

A few things I noticed:

- Some AI issues are still there, as people have mentioned, but I found the computer AI played a fair but competitive game of hockey on All-Star/Hardcore. They actually outshot me 29-10, but Bishop held me in the game. I thought the CPU took what I gave them for the most part and made some creative plays in my zone as well.

- Goalies played very well and I didn't see too much flopping which was refreshing.

- Tyler Johnson felt quick and slippery, while Stamkos was dangerous everytime he touched the puck. Similarly, Kane was shifty with the puck for the CPU. The players felt and looked to have more range in ability (at least from the 1 game I've played).

All in all, I'm excited to spend more time with the game - which I wasn't expecting. Kudos, EA!

# 126 18 eighty 5 @ 09/11/15 08:58 AM

Just down loading now for a trial but having read comments on here I am pretty confident I know the game will not be that much better than what we have had for so long now.

Rocket League gives a free, unscripted, organic sporting experience. If they could get that type of puck physics going in NHL it would be terrific. Not believing it will happen this year though.

Sorry, quick edit ... very glad I get to have a go of the trial version because for the first time since I signed up on Operation Sports I haven't followed the development of the new NHL game. I highly doubt I will buy it as I still have 15 sitting on the shelf and it has been un installed from my PS4 for months now. This series is just not winning in my book. It is meandering toward an eventual pulling of the pin. I am so confident that despite a new veneer the same old game will be beneath it that I have no interest in this year's product. I'm sure the trial will prove this.

# 127 Money99 @ 09/11/15 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComaFaction


	As someone who has been fairly critical of this year's game, I just jumped into Play Now as the game installed and had a very enjoyable first experience - MUCH better than my experience with '15! A few things I noticed: - Some AI issues are still there, as people have mentioned, but I found the computer AI played a fair but competitive game of hockey on All-Star/Hardcore. They actually outshot me 29-10, but Bishop held me in the game. I thought the CPU took what I gave them for the most part and made some creative plays in my zone as well. - Goalies played very well and I didn't see too much flopping which was refreshing. - Tyler Johnson felt quick and slippery, while Stamkos was dangerous everytime he touched the puck. Similarly, Kane was shifty with the puck for the CPU. The players felt and looked to have more range in ability (at least from the 1 game I've played). All in all, I'm excited to spend more time with the game - which I wasn't expecting. Kudos, EA!

Very encouraging to hear. Thanks for the impressions!

# 128 bad_philanthropy @ 09/11/15 09:20 AM

The game sounds about right where I expected it to be this year. I'll have fun with it, and I look forward to seeing what gets patched this cycle. I'll play the game a lot, and I do support what the NHL team does. They've made a lot of games I've enjoyed immensely over the years, and I can appreciate the difficulties of developing a fairly niche title with a small team in a big corporation. The transition to gen 4 was a disaster, and now it looks like there is at least a stable foundation.

Next year I desperately want to see gameplay and AI get a huge look. Madden did a tremendous job improving gameplay this year in terms of quality, player differentiation based on ratings, and adding new mechanics that work out of the box. CFM is a disaster in that game, but the meaningful improvements to gameplay is what the NHL series needs on gen 4.

I want to see Duncan Keith manage the puck like Duncan Keith not Mike Komisarek. I want to see neutral zone play, and I want to see the cpu use the same tools as human players, and not ignore the laws of physics. I want to see the AI have a basic awareness of obstacles and space and not buzz into the net.

I want the cpu to possess a level of awareness to the point that they are able to understand the limitations of movement with respect to skating. What that means is I want cpu players to loop or hard stop to turn and get back up the ice instead of going into a weird circle and backward skate and tearing back at unbelievable speed, or covering a crazy amount of ice laterally.

I guess what I'm saying is I want the cpu to be good, NHL quality skaters rather than just sort of being able to slide and navigate the ice in a physically impossible manner.

# 129 MizzouRah @ 09/11/15 09:22 AM

My biggest complaints so far are once again the lack of penalties (all penalty sliders maxed) In fact, I think you get more with just the main penalty slider maxed and leave the other two alone... and the framerate issues on game speed of <3. Even on 3, the cut scenes will get choppy at times. I hope this can be cleaned up. I doubt penalties will ever be fixed.. Madden finally fixed theirs it's time NHL does the same.

# 130 nddurst @ 09/11/15 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyoung


	I was hoping that the crowd atmosphere would be better for playoff games than it is for regular season games, so I simmed ahead to a Stanley Cup Final clinching game between Anaheim and Tampa. Unfortunately, the crowd is still really quiet even in Cup games. NBA Live still has the best crowds in sports gaming IMO. NHL's crowds are near the bottom of the genre as far as activeness and excitement go. It also looks the like Stanley Cup celebration scene is pretty similar to what it was in NHL 15. The cup ceremony starts at timestamp 26:30 if anyone just wants to see that.

This is downright laughable. Absolutely ZERO desperation shown by the team losing by 2 goals late in the clinching game, and the cut scene is so damn stale. The Stanley Cup is the biggest part of NHL hockey and we are stuck the same boring sequence that we've had since the beginning of last-gen.

If I spent hours and hours playing Be A GM and won the Cup, only to be rewarded with that joke of a celebration, I'd feel cheated.

# 131 therizing02 @ 09/11/15 09:47 AM

Some good, but it still seems like every goal I give up, no matter how hard I try to stop it, is the CPU one timers from the slot. It's absolutely ridiculous that Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are too stupid to cover the backside winger.

This game just really feels scripted to me. We've all been there when the CPU goes berserk with the unrealistic passing speeds and one timers. Just like FIFA, I never feel like the goals I give up are because of bad matchups or tactics. It's always because it's time for a goal.

I haven't played a lot of NHL, but I have played a ton of FIFA over the years, and I get the same feeling as I play NHL. The "oh boy here it comes" feeling.

These devs just can't program a smart CPU with adaptive AI. The CPU "adapts" when the ratings get juiced. I will also add that this does happen for the USER.

The FIFA and NHL teams try way too hard to create the "holy ****" moments of late goals and it is painfully obvious.

Next gen graphics, great player movement, good presentation, and old school cheesy AI. Pathetic.

# 132 18 eighty 5 @ 09/11/15 10:06 AM

Have only played 2 periods of the very first Tampa v Chicago match as the trial version is installing in the background. Whilst I can feel some changes through the controller the game is essentially the same as every other year.

Also the animations don't look as good this year. The skaters move a bit funny and the game doesn't look much better over last year.

Just saved myself some money. I am almost ready to uninstall and move on. NHL 16 is not worth my time this year as it is just a tweaked NHL 15 with the same ai buffs and boosts that will drive me insane.

No thanks. Disappointing.

# 133 brandon27 @ 09/11/15 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therizing02


	Some good, but it still seems like every goal I give up, no matter how hard I try to stop it, is the CPU one timers from the slot. It's absolutely ridiculous that Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are too stupid to cover the backside winger. This game just really feels scripted to me. We've all been there when the CPU goes berserk with the unrealistic passing speeds and one timers. Just like FIFA, I never feel like the goals I give up are because of bad matchups or tactics. It's always because it's time for a goal. I haven't played a lot of NHL, but I have played a ton of FIFA over the years, and I get the same feeling as I play NHL. The "oh boy here it comes" feeling. These devs just can't program a smart CPU with adaptive AI. The CPU "adapts" when the ratings get juiced. I will also add that this does happen for the USER. The FIFA and NHL teams try way too hard to create the "holy ****" moments of late goals and it is painfully obvious. Next gen graphics, great player movement, good presentation, and old school cheesy AI. Pathetic.

That's my biggest complaint right now. It happens still, and it happens often IMO. There's too many times still that the AI just does ungodly things that in no way shape or form you can do as the player. Might as well just put down the controller, wait for that pass into the slot that will result in a goal no matter what you do.

I don't mind the AI ratcheting up the pressure on me in a close game when they're trying to tie it up, or when they've pulled the goalie. I want to see that, that's realistic. However, the way the AI pulls it off in this game, is unrealistic, and you just end up feeling cheated, and that's the problem.

I played another game this morning. I love it. Absolutely love it, there's many awesome improvements. It looks fantastic, and it plays a good game of hockey, until you hit the insane AI momments, and the lack of penalties.

If they could patch that up, We're working with something really good here. Big step from last year.

# 134 GDumaresq @ 09/11/15 10:21 AM

Does anyone know where "sim to next shift" is ?!?!?

# 135 Drakar @ 09/11/15 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandon27


	That's my biggest complaint right now. It happens still, and it happens often IMO. There's too many times still that the AI just does ungodly things that in no way shape or form you can do as the player. Might as well just put down the controller, wait for that pass into the slot that will result in a goal no matter what you do. I don't mind the AI ratcheting up the pressure on me in a close game when they're trying to tie it up, or when they've pulled the goalie. I want to see that, that's realistic. However, the way the AI pulls it off in this game, is unrealistic, and you just end up feeling cheated, and that's the problem. I played another game this morning. I love it. Absolutely love it, there's many awesome improvements. It looks fantastic, and it plays a good game of hockey, until you hit the insane AI momments, and the lack of penalties. If they could patch that up, We're working with something really good here. Big step from last year.

The truth is that momentum swing also happen in real life. Your team get pinned in their zone, they get tired and the opposite team just keep cycling the puck around. It's not unrealistic at all.

# 136 Al_Tito13 @ 09/11/15 10:48 AM

I played a few games so far and I liked what I saw. All missing options and modes are back, which was a must. Menus are faster and better looking. I have to say that this looks like a real game compared to last year. And in general, the gameplay is pretty similar, but with a lot of minor improvements that are really important to me:

- Hitting is better. Less big hits and more subtle bumps make the puck carrier more likely to loose the puck from contacts.
- Skating has been changed, I will have to play more to comment more precisely on it.
- Passing is improved, with less assist. Receiving passes is better too.
- Pass interceptions and deflections are better, which makes positioning on defense more important.
- Sticks collision detection also seems a bit better, even if I would still like more.
- Goalies don't pass the puck as easily with their glove, which is good.
- Pinning against the board seems more effective, which creates more board play.
- I found the AI better in the few games I played, but it's still a pretty small sample.

There are definitely more but this is what comes to my mind right now. To sum things up, the gameplay is improved and more fluid in general, no doubt about that.

My biggest complaint and huge concern so far (and I really hope it will get fixed as soon as possible) is that sometimes the frame rate becomes the worst I've ever seen (like others have said, it seems to happen more when we play with lower game speed from default 3, for example with game speed at 1). The screen just starts to flash and becomes so choppy, it's simply unplayable.

# 137 brandon27 @ 09/11/15 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drakar


	The truth is that momentum swing also happen in real life. Your team get pinned in their zone, they get tired and the opposite team just keep cycling the puck around. It's not unrealistic at all.

Absolutely it isn't unrealistic. I said that. It's the way the game handles it though, is the unrealistic part. I have no problem with the momentum swings etc. Just have the AI do it legitimately. Instead, you'll see AI skaters have no effects of physics or momentum, they become able stop/start/turn on a dime where as you can't because player weight and momentum are in play for you, but not them. They skate faster, they aren't effected by contact, they make ridiculous impossible passes etc. etc. Things that aren't physically possible, happen.

That's the issue. The issue isn't that it happens, it's how the AI makes it happen.

# 138 HokieB @ 09/11/15 12:20 PM

Sounds like there's little to no penalties called this year. That's not a true hockey experience. No buy from me unless they fix this.

# 139 ComaFaction @ 09/11/15 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HokieB


	Sounds like there's little to no penalties called this year. That's not a true hockey experience. No buy from me unless they fix this.

From what I've seen, you can hack the opponent 20 times to Tuesday with your stick and get away with it.

# 140 GROGtheNailer @ 09/11/15 01:19 PM

After reading through this thread, I will not be getting the game. Seems like the same historic issues with the gameplay AI once again.

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