NHL 16 News Post

NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

08:38 AM - September 15, 2015 by Steve_OS

NHL 16 has officially launched for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Get a few games in and post your impressions!

On another note, NHL Legacy Edition is available for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 gamers.

Game: NHL 16Reader Score: Vote Now
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# 201 sweetjones @ 09/21/15 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BL8001


	Something I am not liking at all and the same thing runs rampant in the fifa series when you play the cpu on different difficulties. I played hut on rookie, the starting offline season. My players did what the cpu players do on pro and above, skate to the net and park and wait for the tap in while the cpu defenders cannot knock them off their spot. You get to enjoy that on rookie level. So what they do on pro and above is clog the slot, your players never "post" up and they stay moving, suspiciously moving away from the puck. This is EA's stupid way of making the game more difficult for the user. I hate with a passion that ea feels a need to nerf your defense but also dumb down your players too as you raise difficulty. Just make the cpu smarter, leave my team alone.

Wow. I thought I was the only one to notice this in this franchise. It is so obvious that's how this game is programmed in the different difficulty levels. It's like we have to lower our standards/meaning of the phrase "competitive cpu". Too much BS has to happen for the cpu to be "competitive". Instead of a smart cpu, they make our players play stupid or wierd things happen such as a missed aimed passed right to the cpu. When the control sticks on the replay screen shows where you really aimed the pass. It just pisses me off, because that's the only way they can think to make the "cpu competitive".

# 202 Splitter77 @ 09/21/15 02:25 PM

sonething minor.
but they didnt fix how the officials dont have their arm in the air to show a delayed penalty.

# 203 1908_Cubs @ 09/22/15 12:31 AM

Overall, the game is fun. I'm really enjoying my time with the game. And I think in the end, that's the most important thing.

Is it perfect? No. Not perfect. Legacy issues have yet to be fixed. Some AI issues. Yes the game is following what you'd expect from a 2nd iteration on a "next gen" (adding back stripped modes after visual-heavy 1st iteration). But in the end, the game is enjoyable. I've got a slider set up that makes for fun-enough gameplay, and games that are difficult to win. Are the stat-outcomes perfect? No. I end up heavily outshooting the AI, where as the AI gets a couple of...iffy...goals, but the games aren't gimmies, I lose a fair amount, and I've had a good time.

I skipped 15. Glad I got 16. There's a really solid base for EA to get to work on the legacy issues and get this game from "fun/enjoyable" to really awesome. They seem to be listening to a decent degree to the outspoken few. If they continue to do that, I think they'll get close to making a really excellent hockey game in the future. Or maybe that's just silly optimism...

# 204 THESHAMISASHAME @ 09/22/15 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetjones


	Wow. I thought I was the only one to notice this in this franchise. It is so obvious that's how this game is programmed in the different difficulty levels. It's like we have to lower our standards/meaning of the phrase "competitive cpu". Too much BS has to happen for the cpu to be "competitive". Instead of a smart cpu, they make our players play stupid or wierd things happen such as a missed aimed passed right to the cpu. When the control sticks on the replay screen shows where you really aimed the pass. It just pisses me off, because that's the only way they can think to make the "cpu competitive".

Its the one thing Ill rip the series on as far as boosting and gimping the game as needed and its gets worse if you max cpu strategy

but the good thing is you can adjust most of the garbage out with sliders .

I found making pro level harder eliminated the cheap stuff but sadly on that level penalties are very hard to get and I wish all modes played like play now does because it plays clean hockey but for some reason all modes are programmed differently ?

Well another small thing that impressed me was Price and Subban doing a victory celebration where they tapped gloves up and down and then did a jumping hip bump

# 205 phillyfan23 @ 09/22/15 02:28 AM

This is why i played nhl 15 and previous games exclusively on play now. No BS ai issues....nhl 15 was a fair game even on superstar level. Blew worse teams out without a fight a few times. 6-1 or 4-0 scorelines

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk

# 206 headzapp @ 09/22/15 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Splitter77


	nice. is there an option to play with the crowd netting on during gameplay?? or is it only shown in replays

If you play going north and south, The netting on the south is invisible and the netting on the north is there. If you play true broadcast the netting is on both sides.

# 207 phillyfan23 @ 09/22/15 07:35 AM

played 4 games after purchasing xbox one and nhl 16.

First impressions: gameplay has imprioved in some areas and regressed BIG TIME in others.

+ more bumps and little checks
+ atmosphere took a bump up
+ better overall polish and of course edit players

THe BIG BIG regressions imo are 2 basic AI things that were great in nhl 15 ps4 that I played well into the summer.

- CPU passing is back to constant tape to tape and very very very rarely are there errant passes where the cpu just flat out misses everyone. This was one of the greatest things of nhl 15. It created a more realistic and organic experience. Game's difficulty is still pretty much the same, but the CPU ai passing has reverted back to nhl 12-14. The only way they will miss the large large majority of the time is an interception or bad pass reception. This is a HUUUUGEEE regression and singlehandedly overrides all the little improvements for me. If you played madden 16 ( cpu qb ai is the biggest improvement, errant throws) and compare to madden 15 ( cpu qb only misses by interceptions and pass breakups)...well this is how it is but switched.

NHL 15= madden 16
NHL 16= madden 15

AI CPU offensive logic has also gotten worse....and again this was not the case in nhl 15 last year with proper sliders. One issue last year on default was that the cpu was overreliant on one timers. I turned down cpu one timer accuracy and it was much much better. I have one timer accuracy on 0 for 16 , pass accuracy on 0 and the cpu are one timer fiends and their main strategy is to pass around and look for the lot one timer. The lack of variety is evident right off the bat.

I heard impressions for the past week that nhl 16 gameplay was identical to 15 and I was pretty happy, but as it turns out, in my view, they have improved some areas, but the CORE gameplay AI has taken an unfortunate and surprising step back. The cpu passing accuracy is the main cause for this.

I haven't downloaded the recent patch for xone, maybe they tuned it back to 15 levels, but if not, I will be going back to NHL 15 and manually editing rosters.

# 208 Armor and Sword @ 09/22/15 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillyfan23


	played 4 games after purchasing xbox one and nhl 16. First impressions: gameplay has imprioved in some areas and regressed BIG TIME in others. + more bumps and little checks + atmosphere took a bump up + better overall polish and of course edit players THe BIG BIG regressions imo are 2 basic AI things that were great in nhl 15 ps4 that I played well into the summer. - CPU passing is back to constant tape to tape and very very very rarely are there errant passes where the cpu just flat out misses everyone. This was one of the greatest things of nhl 15. It created a more realistic and organic experience. Game's difficulty is still pretty much the same, but the CPU ai passing has reverted back to nhl 12-14. The only way they will miss the large large majority of the time is an interception or bad pass reception. This is a HUUUUGEEE regression and singlehandedly overrides all the little improvements for me. If you played madden 16 ( cpu qb ai is the biggest improvement, errant throws) and compare to madden 15 ( cpu qb only misses by interceptions and pass breakups)...well this is how it is but switched. NHL 15= madden 16 NHL 16= madden 15 AI CPU offensive logic has also gotten worse....and again this was not the case in nhl 15 last year with proper sliders. One issue last year on default was that the cpu was overreliant on one timers. I turned down cpu one timer accuracy and it was much much better. I have one timer accuracy on 0 for 16 , pass accuracy on 0 and the cpu are one timer fiends and their main strategy is to pass around and look for the lot one timer. The lack of variety is evident right off the bat. I heard impressions for the past week that nhl 16 gameplay was identical to 15 and I was pretty happy, but as it turns out, in my view, they have improved some areas, but the CORE gameplay AI has taken an unfortunate and surprising step back. The cpu passing accuracy is the main cause for this. I haven't downloaded the recent patch for xone, maybe they tuned it back to 15 levels, but if not, I will be going back to NHL 15 and manually editing rosters.

Max out puck control, zero out passing accuracy/reception ease. I had missed passes by the CPU last night on several occasions. I never played 15 so I can't compare.

I think the game is pretty amazing and the best NHL gameplay I have ever experienced. I also think tuners will solve a lot of minor gameplay issues that can arise.

It's not perfect. And I am a casual hockey gamer so the hardcore guys will eat my lunch and find things wrong in the game far more than I.

But for casual hockey gamers this is a AAA title.

# 209 Smirkin Dirk @ 09/22/15 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armor and Sword


	Max out puck control, zero out passing accuracy/reception ease.

Are you saying you set puck control for User and CPU to 6?

# 210 phillyfan23 @ 09/22/15 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armor and Sword


	Max out puck control, zero out passing accuracy/reception ease. I had missed passes by the CPU last night on several occasions. I never played 15 so I can't compare. I think the game is pretty amazing and the best NHL gameplay I have ever experienced. I also think tuners will solve a lot of minor gameplay issues that can arise. It's not perfect. And I am a casual hockey gamer so the hardcore guys will eat my lunch and find things wrong in the game far more than I. But for casual hockey gamers this is a AAA title.

Just tried using your suggestions to raise puck control to max ( already had 0 cpu pass accuracy) and it's still the same. I even went down to ALL STAR level and it's still the same. tape to tape cpu passes galore, and it wasn't like this in NHL 15 which is quite disappointing.

NHL 15 plays a different game, rougher around the edges, but the core gameplay AI for me was a bit tighter for offline play. I played 15 minutes per period and still had realistic stats AND penalties.

# 211 Armor and Sword @ 09/22/15 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hot Kidd


	Are you saying you set puck control for User and CPU to 6?

That is correct. The higher the value the less control.

# 212 Smirkin Dirk @ 09/22/15 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armor and Sword


	That is correct. The higher the value the less control.

Nice find.

One of my great sporting game gripes is the ambiguous wording of some sliders; particularly as some devs go out of their way to not explain them.

# 213 THESHAMISASHAME @ 09/22/15 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillyfan23


	played 4 games after purchasing xbox one and nhl 16. First impressions: gameplay has imprioved in some areas and regressed BIG TIME in others. + more bumps and little checks + atmosphere took a bump up + better overall polish and of course edit players THe BIG BIG regressions imo are 2 basic AI things that were great in nhl 15 ps4 that I played well into the summer. - CPU passing is back to constant tape to tape and very very very rarely are there errant passes where the cpu just flat out misses everyone. This was one of the greatest things of nhl 15. It created a more realistic and organic experience. Game's difficulty is still pretty much the same, but the CPU ai passing has reverted back to nhl 12-14. The only way they will miss the large large majority of the time is an interception or bad pass reception. This is a HUUUUGEEE regression and singlehandedly overrides all the little improvements for me. If you played madden 16 ( cpu qb ai is the biggest improvement, errant throws) and compare to madden 15 ( cpu qb only misses by interceptions and pass breakups)...well this is how it is but switched. NHL 15= madden 16 NHL 16= madden 15 AI CPU offensive logic has also gotten worse....and again this was not the case in nhl 15 last year with proper sliders. One issue last year on default was that the cpu was overreliant on one timers. I turned down cpu one timer accuracy and it was much much better. I have one timer accuracy on 0 for 16 , pass accuracy on 0 and the cpu are one timer fiends and their main strategy is to pass around and look for the lot one timer. The lack of variety is evident right off the bat. I heard impressions for the past week that nhl 16 gameplay was identical to 15 and I was pretty happy, but as it turns out, in my view, they have improved some areas, but the CORE gameplay AI has taken an unfortunate and surprising step back. The cpu passing accuracy is the main cause for this. I haven't downloaded the recent patch for xone, maybe they tuned it back to 15 levels, but if not, I will be going back to NHL 15 and manually editing rosters.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armor and Sword


	Max out puck control, zero out passing accuracy/reception ease. I had missed passes by the CPU last night on several occasions. I never played 15 so I can't compare. I think the game is pretty amazing and the best NHL gameplay I have ever experienced. I also think tuners will solve a lot of minor gameplay issues that can arise. It's not perfect. And I am a casual hockey gamer so the hardcore guys will eat my lunch and find things wrong in the game far more than I. But for casual hockey gamers this is a AAA title.

Pretty much what Armor said and if you have shot accuracy low too the cpu will keep passing it till they get a good shot so expect low shot totals and many one timers .

The sliders do work in NHL 16 and I even tried Armors sliders last night for fun in Playoff Mode on pro level and they were very organic and nothing felt cheap or boosted and surprisingly I even saw 3 penalties in 2 games on 5 minute periods

On passing with Armors sliders if Im even close to the passing lanes the cpu has errors as I was 52% pass accuracy and the cpu was 59% and normally on default there in the 70%.

Im a hardcore NHL fan and Hockey player and I dont know how the guy does it but he counter balances the sliders and always paints a pretty realistic picture of each sport so today I will try it on Allstar level .

# 214 phillyfan23 @ 09/22/15 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THESHAMISASHAME


	Pretty much what Armor said and if you have shot accuracy low too the cpu will keep passing it till they get a good shot so expect low shot totals and many one timers . The sliders do work in NHL 16 and I even tried Armors sliders last night for fun in Playoff Mode on pro level and they were very organic and nothing felt cheap or boosted and surprisingly I even saw 3 penalties in 2 games on 5 minute periods On passing with Armors sliders if Im even close to the passing lanes the cpu has errors as I was 52% pass accuracy and the cpu was 59% and normally on default there in the 70%. Im a hardcore NHL fan and Hockey player and I dont know how the guy does it but he counter balances the sliders and always paints a pretty realistic picture of each sport so today I will try it on Allstar level .

I don't mind that they pass it around, I've played with default, low and high shot accuracy but it's the same. 99 percent of the cpu passes will reach their target. There's just not nearly enough ERRANT cpu passes where they pass and miss everything. This was unlike NHL 15, where the cpu sometimes misses on a cross ice defenseman pass point to point. I don't see this on NHL 16. This is how it was if I'm not mistaken from nhl 2010 to 2014....

nhl 15 had a more balanced pass error distribution, some cpu ai passes are intercepted, deflected, bad reception by cpu teammate and flat out errant missed passes.

NHL 16 has all those EXCEPT the errant passes which gives off the robotic cpu ai feel and really really felt during the powerplays. The game isn't harder, 5 games play now on superstar I've won 3, lost 1 and lost a shootout. It just doesn't feel right when compared to nhl 15 as far as cpu passes are concerned.

I will try to edit one cpu team passing ratings ( since we have edit game this year) and see if the cpu has more errant passes like nhl 15.

# 215 onlybygrace @ 09/22/15 10:44 AM

99 percent??? Give me a break. If you're gonna complain, then fine. But if the CPU is completing 99 percent of their passes, some of that falls on your shoulders.

# 216 bad_philanthropy @ 09/22/15 10:57 AM

So one thing I do not understand at all is "precision skating." When I do it (Hold L2 and move the left stick according to the control instructions) I can't tell the difference between its effect and the old vision control that's been in the game forever.

It certainly doesn't look anything like what the trailer showed. Anyone else know what's up with this?

# 217 THESHAMISASHAME @ 09/22/15 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillyfan23


	I don't mind that they pass it around, I've played with default, low and high shot accuracy but it's the same. 99 percent of the cpu passes will reach their target. There's just not nearly enough ERRANT cpu passes where they pass and miss everything. This was unlike NHL 15, where the cpu sometimes misses on a cross ice defenseman pass point to point. I don't see this on NHL 16. This is how it was if I'm not mistaken from nhl 2010 to 2014.... nhl 15 had a more balanced pass error distribution, some cpu ai passes are intercepted, deflected, bad reception by cpu teammate and flat out errant missed passes. NHL 16 has all those EXCEPT the errant passes which gives off the robotic cpu ai feel and really really felt during the powerplays. The game isn't harder, 5 games play now on superstar I've won 3, lost 1 and lost a shootout. It just doesn't feel right when compared to nhl 15 as far as cpu passes are concerned. I will try to edit one cpu team passing ratings ( since we have edit game this year) and see if the cpu has more errant passes like nhl 15.

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlybygrace


	99 percent??? Give me a break. If you're gonna complain, then fine. But if the CPU is completing 99 percent of their passes, some of that falls on your shoulders.

99% ? I highly doubt that because I can keep the cpu in the 60% pass accuracy range if I hustle a bit more on the fore-check and stay in the passing lanes and thats on default Allstar .

IMO the key is you gotta put some effort into it and be disciplined kinda like blocking shots its timing to as it just doesnt happen magically and of course by using your proper skill level and sliders to compliment your style .

# 218 phillyfan23 @ 09/22/15 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlybygrace


	99 percent??? Give me a break. If you're gonna complain, then fine. But if the CPU is completing 99 percent of their passes, some of that falls on your shoulders.

Regarding the 99 percent comment,what I meant to say was if the puck had a clear path to his teammate, it would reach it 99 percent of the time. Because as it is, the only time the cpu misfires on a pass is 2 things:

1) human interception/deflection
2) or a bad pas reception by the receiving player.

there should be a number 3, which are errant passes that misses EVERYONE.
NHL 15 had this and created a much more lively and sloppier gameplay, nhl 16 doesn't have it nearly enough or at all.

I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. Because what separates a sidney crosby from a 4th liner in passing is the ability to be ACCURATE and tape to tape passing. If crosby were to pass to a moving target with a clear passing lane, he should hit him 19 times out of 20. The 4th liner? maybe 13 or 14 times out of 20.

This aspect isn't represented in nhl 16 on the cpu ai passing, it was in nhl 15.

I do hold the cpu to 70-80 percent passing on all star in 16, but even so, it still doesn't represent the real NHL where bad passers REGULARLY just miss their intended targets. What happens now is even a bad passer, would pass an accurate puck, but a stick from the human player or human cpu ai would intercept. The pass for all intents and purposes was accurate, but a good defensive play was made.

What I wanted to see was a cpu crosby would make those tape to tape passes and rarely miss his target , and a 4th line scrub would regularly miss his passes without a defensive play from the human player. THAT is what separates a crosby from a 4th line goon as far as passing and playmaking are concerned. I hope I made myself clearer this time.

# 219 actionhank @ 09/22/15 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillyfan23


	Regarding the 99 percent comment,what I meant to say was if the puck had a clear path to his teammate, it would reach it 99 percent of the time. Because as it is, the only time the cpu misfires on a pass is 2 things: 1) human interception/deflection 2) or a bad pas reception by the receiving player. there should be a number 3, which are errant passes that misses EVERYONE. NHL 15 had this and created a much more lively and sloppier gameplay, nhl 16 doesn't have it nearly enough or at all. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. Because what separates a sidney crosby from a 4th liner in passing is the ability to be ACCURATE and tape to tape passing. If crosby were to pass to a moving target with a clear passing lane, he should hit him 19 times out of 20. The 4th liner? maybe 13 or 14 times out of 20. This aspect isn't represented in nhl 16 on the cpu ai passing, it was in nhl 15. I do hold the cpu to 70-80 percent passing on all star in 16, but even so, it still doesn't represent the real NHL where bad passers REGULARLY just miss their intended targets. What happens now is even a bad passer, would pass an accurate puck, but a stick from the human player or human cpu ai would intercept. The pass for all intents and purposes was accurate, but a good defensive play was made. What I wanted to see was a cpu crosby would make those tape to tape passes and rarely miss his target , and a 4th line scrub would regularly miss his passes without a defensive play from the human player. THAT is what separates a crosby from a 4th line goon as far as passing and playmaking are concerned. I hope I made myself clearer this time.

I think it would be nice if passes not only missed, but guys had to try and pick the puck up.
Sometimes it all just seems too automatic for the AI. A lot of turnovers and offensive chances happen because a guy might bobble the puck. He gets a hard pass, bounces over his stick, and he has to turn to gather the puck off the boards. Suddenly, there's a forward crashing down who pokes the puck, and he's racing up ice around the defender to get the now free puck.
Things like that are harder to have happen in game. Sometimes you can poke a puck loose, but it doesn't really seem to happen as organically as it does in real life. The AI hasn't really ever seemed to struggle with possession, even if they were guys with lower ratings in their pass attributes. It would be really nice to see 4th liners maybe struggle to catch a hard breakout pass fired to them. So, if you get a guy like Steve Ott who breaks behind the defense and gets a perfect pass, instead of smoothly catching it on his stick, a hard pass might hit the backside of his blade and bounce a bit, requiring that extra second to corral the puck, and settle it down before you get a chance to shoot, which is a huge difference when a guy like Ott is skating in who shouldn't be a terrifying threat to a goalie, compared with someone like Tarasenko would could effortless catch the hard outlet pass, and then go straight into deking the goalie.

# 220 norml @ 09/22/15 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bad_philanthropy


	So one thing I do not understand at all is "precision skating." When I do it (Hold L2 and move the left stick according to the control instructions) I can't tell the difference between its effect and the old vision control that's been in the game forever. It certainly doesn't look anything like what the trailer showed. Anyone else know what's up with this?

When you're holding the precision skating/vision control button, to get the animations in the trailer just very slightly move the left stick or use quick flicks. If you push to hard the guy will just start skating backwards. It is wonky though and difficult to control.

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