NHL 16

[MizzouRah]

Woo Hoo! NHL 16 is out on EA Access!

Will get some time with it tonight. My wife is going to kill me with Madden, NHL and FIFA all this year.

[SlyBelle1]

Until they get the penalties right, I refuse to buy another version

[heybrad]

I've heard the next gen versions haven't been great. Is there something about this years version that gives some hope?

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by SlyBelle1

Until they get the penalties right, I refuse to buy another version

I always turn them up all the way.. going to play some now. Just played the default Blackhawks vs Lighting - which is defaulted to 4 minutes per period while the game finished downloading.

Like what I did see overall in that one game though. Penalty wise only had one, but I play 8-10 minutes.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by heybrad

I've heard the next gen versions haven't been great. Is there something about this years version that gives some hope?

There has only been one.. NHL 15 and it was "ok" if you only like to play franchise. It was missing a lot of other modes.

[SlyBelle1]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

I always turn them up all the way.. going to play some now. Just played the default Blackhawks vs Lighting - which is defaulted to 4 minutes per period while the game finished downloading.

Like what I did see overall in that one game though. Penalty wise only had one, but I play 8-10 minutes.

I just played 2 games full penalties on...zero penalties called. Just can't play hockey without realistic special teams. hopefully some year they get it right like madden did this year. Looks like no purchase again for me, shame because the rest looks decent.

[MizzouRah]

Did you turn up the CPU and AI teammate penalties?

[SlyBelle1]

Yep..turned on everything max like I try every year, but same results. I really miss 2k hockey in this way, they always got penalties right.

[MizzouRah]

Yeah, I just played a full game and there were only 3 penalties.

[SlyBelle1]

Well, at least it will save me money for the second year in a row. In all seriouslness, I just wish they could make the penalty sliders work......people who dont want them can make it real low and people like me who want them realistic can crank them up....just can't understand how hard is that to do after all these years

[The Jackal]

NHL15 pissed people off and rightfully so. The gameplay was good/fine, but it was missing a ton of features, most of which I think have been restored to this version. I pre-ordered it awhile ago, I'm a sucker for buying NHL and FIFA every year. At least I gave up on Madden awhile ago.

I know frequency of penalties will always be a complaint but I've been pretty happy with gameplay accuracy the last few years with some slider tweaks.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by SlyBelle1

I just played 2 games full penalties on...zero penalties called. Just can't play hockey without realistic special teams. hopefully some year they get it right like madden did this year. Looks like no purchase again for me, shame because the rest looks decent.

But... but... EA said this would be the most realistic version ever!

[Icy]

Only played a few BAP games with my created two way forward Center in the CHL and I must say BAP is fun again.

You can sim when you are not in the ice to the next shift, your team mates are competent, the coach feedback is ok and the progression method is RPG like, the more successful passes you do, the more your pass attribute increases etc.

I skipped NHL15 but seems 16 is what 15 should have been. Only issue so far is the lack of CPU penalties.

[Honolulu_Blue]

The only time I ever play this game is with a friend and my brother. We make up our guys, put them on a team, and then all play on the same team.

We rarely, if, ever win. Usually we get blown out, badly. We take a ton of a penalties.

We are not very good at this game.

[MizzouRah]

There was a tuner update.. last game there were a total of 6 penalties.

[SlyBelle1]

How many penalties on cpu versus the player?

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by SlyBelle1

How many penalties on cpu versus the player?

3 and 3

Will play more tonight..

[SlyBelle1]

Interesting...I'll be watching. If the issue truly has been solved the might give it a go.

[Mike Lowe]

Yes, please keep us posted on the penalties.

[SlyBelle1]

I didn't realize I had early access time still left, but did...so tried it with the new tuner and I did see penalties....only played about half a game, but saw 4 penalties called....the only downside, all of them were call against me, none against the CPU. Hard to judge on one game, but it certainly looked like penalties were there now...hopefully if played more, will see some against the CPU too.

[MizzouRah]

People are reporting penalties are much better. I'll get some time in tomorrow night I hope.

[Jon]

What settings are you guys using? Any sliders?

[tarcone]

I loved the 92 version on sega.

[EagleFan]

Picked it up. Only one game in but a devastating loss. 6-5 in overtime. Had a three goal lead with one minute left. Is there catch up code in this. Tampa scored on each of their next four shots and only one was a real scoring chance. Hope that was just a one off.

[EagleFan]

Okayed. Four games in. Each game has seen at least 7 goals with an average of 11. This is with five minute periods. Seriously mad at myself for making the purchase.

Edit: also, not one penalty on the computer yet.

[SlyBelle1]

Just curious, what level are you playing? Also, did you download the newest tuner? That tuner is the one with increased penalties. It did not download right away for me, I had to start an online game and back out for it to ask me if I wanted to install it.

[MizzouRah]

I have a slider set over at Operation Sports.. I'll have a 6-5 game and then a 3-2 game.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Okayed. Four games in. Each game has seen at least 7 goals with an average of 11. This is with five minute periods. Seriously mad at myself for making the purchase.

Edit: also, not one penalty on the computer yet.

Was listening to a couple of gaming podcasts which both have big fans of the NHL franchise. They listed almost identical concerns. Said it was ping-pong on ice rather than hockey. Really frustrating to see all the negative feedback because this is the one EA franchise that I'll buy on release normally.

[MizzouRah]

With the penalty slider maxed out and CPU Player penalty slider at 6 (max) and AI Player penalty slider at 5 - I just had a game with 11 total penalties. Even saw my first CPU charging call.

So there is promise! There is also a tuner you need to grab by acting like you are going to play an online vs game.

I'll report back after some more games...

[EagleFan]

I gave up on this, turned it into Mad Max. Good decision.

[MizzouRah]

You gave up too soon.. it's a fantastic game.

[Mike Lowe]

Does the game still look like guys are walking on ice as apposed go skating? Watching aome live streams and this still seems to be the case?

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

You gave up too soon.. it's a fantastic game.

Far from fantastic game. It's pinball on ice but with skaters that are stuck in mud. Not worth the price at all.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Far from fantastic game. It's pinball on ice but with skaters that are stuck in mud. Not worth the price at all.

There are sliders.. I've adjusted many of them and the game is excellent. To each their own I guess. Out of the box yes.. pinball on ice.

[The Jackal]

So far I've been pretty pleased with it. Mostly just played a few EASHL games.. which was one huge thing I missed. I'll have more to say once I actually get into building a Flyers team.

[MizzouRah]

Had 11 total penalties my last game.

[MizzouRah]

New tuner and poking players aka poke spamming will result in more penalties if you just poke check like mad. I just had a game against the CPU with 12 total penalties. I guess I need to tone it down.. lol...

[Mike Lowe]

Mizzou, you need to get FHM2. Very impressive!

[JonInMiddleGA]

My son broke down & bought this despite my cautions to the contrary.

I've now played a handful of games in franchise mode, even on the lowest difficulty it's still an utter mystery to me. I can do nothing right. And I mean nothing. AI rarely misses, I rarely hit anything. This isn't my first NHL rodeo, and my skills haven't atrophied THIS much. Penalties virtually non-existent UNLESS I go into pokefest style.

The offline mode of whaddya call it, the collect-a-card mode thing, seems a bit more competitive to me than last year's version.

The game just feels .. broken as shit, at least to me.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

My son broke down & bought this despite my cautions to the contrary.

I've now played a handful of games in franchise mode, even on the lowest difficulty it's still an utter mystery to me. I can do nothing right. And I mean nothing. AI rarely misses, I rarely hit anything. This isn't my first NHL rodeo, and my skills haven't atrophied THIS much. Penalties virtually non-existent UNLESS I go into pokefest style.

The offline mode of whaddya call it, the collect-a-card mode thing, seems a bit more competitive to me than last year's version.

The game just feels .. broken as shit, at least to me.

ROOKIE!

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Mike Lowe

Mizzou, you need to get FHM2. Very impressive!

Oh I will.. very soon. EHM was cheap.. but that interface is blah.

[SlyBelle1]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

New tuner and poking players aka poke spamming will result in more penalties if you just poke check like mad. I just had a game against the CPU with 12 total penalties. I guess I need to tone it down.. lol...

Is the CPU still taking a lot of those penalties, or most of those user induced?

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by SlyBelle1

Is the CPU still taking a lot of those penalties, or most of those user induced?

They removed the tuner.. LOL! Back to 4-6 per game.

[jaygr]

Checking in with those of you who purchased this. MS has it on sale right now for $24 and I was just wondering if you think it is worth a purchase at that price?

For the record I am a very casual NHL fan / NHL video game player. I used to play the games over the years, dating back to 94-95. But I haven't played a version in probably a good 5 years at least. I'd most be interested in the Be a Pro mode.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by jaygr

Checking in with those of you who purchased this. MS has it on sale right now for $24 and I was just wondering if you think it is worth a purchase at that price?

For the record I am a very casual NHL fan / NHL video game player. I used to play the games over the years, dating back to 94-95. But I haven't played a version in probably a good 5 years at least. I'd most be interested in the Be a Pro mode.

Best NHL game in years! A few patches and tuners and this has become a favorite game of mine. I'm 50 games into my BeaGM season with the Blues and loving every minute of it.

[SlyBelle1]

I had to look a this thread...this year I haven't purchased, seems I always think they will get penalties right, but I end up being disappointed...but for $24...just might try again,

[Mike Lowe]

Maybe a PSN discount soon? I can't stand how penalties are done (typical EA Sports) and the fact that goalies never got hurt, and healthy scratches never happened so some guys would end up playing zero games lol.

[SlyBelle1]

Originally Posted by Mike Lowe

Maybe a PSN discount soon? I can't stand how penalties are done (typical EA Sports) and the fact that goalies never got hurt, and healthy scratches never happened so some guys would end up playing zero games lol.

Yep, although they did make good strides with penalties in Madden this year. I have said it before, just boggles my mind on how special teams/penalties are an afterthought in the hockey game considering how important they are and how they can decide crucial games.

It does sound like the penalties have been improved through tuners/patches, but every time I hear that and take the plunge, seems I don't see those same kind of results and end up shelving the game. I am also concerned that I have still seen some people have 0 or 1 PP games, especially for the human player. That just doesn't happen often in the NHL and using the Penguins as an example, this year they have had only 1 game where they had 1 PP opportunity. So I am ok if it happens a few times a year, but if it is frequent and my team as usual ends up as the team with the fewest PP chances, then I would be disappointed.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by SlyBelle1

It does sound like the penalties have been improved through tuners/patches, but every time I hear that and take the plunge, seems I don't see those same kind of results and end up shelving the game.

The tuners are a ridiculous crutch by the developers and, IMO, have been a huge part of the decline in sports gaming. The gameplay out of the box is FAR worse now than it ever was before the advent of sliders/tuning.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by jaygr

Checking in with those of you who purchased this. MS has it on sale right now for $24 and I was just wondering if you think it is worth a purchase at that price?

For the record I am a very casual NHL fan / NHL video game player. I used to play the games over the years, dating back to 94-95. But I haven't played a version in probably a good 5 years at least. I'd most be interested in the Be a Pro mode.

The game is awful. It does not play anywhere close to real hockey. Need to go back a few years to find a good version. But I should have known when the big marketing push was the mascots... yeah, that's what I want in my hockey game...