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

[Al_Tito13]

I played more than 20 games on All-Star/Hardcore. Here are my thoughts:

Likes:
- Overall gameplay feels good
- Slower game pace for a more realistic game
- Graphics and presentation are great
- Hockey atmosphere is definitely there
- Puck physics are way way better than before
- Interceptions and deflections on players, which result in more loose pucks
- Toned down deking for a more realistic gameplay
- Skating is good with players having some weight while turning and changing direction
- Shot release feels and looks better
- Hitting and collisions are good even if they are sometimes a bit over the top

Dislikes:
- Even if it's better, general AI still needs some work
- AI players still don't use their sticks quite enough
- Too much open ice, still leading to a lot of up and down hockey, odd man rushes and breakaways
- Backhand shots are too effective, especially on breakaways
- Goalies are weak in some situations and would definitely need an overhaul next year
- Poke checking is too restrictive, not effective enough and with no left to right control on the stick
- Even if I saw the CPU missing sometimes, there are still way too many tape to tape passes
- Player jerseys are floating a bit too much
- Sticks still go through things (players, other sticks, nets, boards)
- No new gameplay sliders and still only with a 0 to 6 scale

Will need more time to make a final idea:
- Commentary: is it really an improvement or not?

Overall, I really liked what I saw from the demo and I can't wait to get my hands on the real game.

[DIRK41NOWITZKI]

Is it still not out on PS4 yet?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Cossin75]

Still can't find it on PS Store.. So I guess not..

[ThaLiveKing]

Remember, they can improve the game throughout the year, I'm sure the demo is missing a lot of things, which is why I'm not judging the game fully until it comes out. UFC is a prime example, that game is way better now after the first update, now there's a second update!!!

[actionhank]

Quote: Originally Posted by ThaLiveKing

Remember, they can improve the game throughout the year, I'm sure the demo is missing a lot of things, which is why I'm not judging the game fully until it comes out. UFC is a prime example, that game is way better now after the first update, now there's a second update!!!

I feel like i'm starting to sound negative in every post, but EA Vancouver's track record of fixing game issues isn't too great after release. We actually had a massive problem added that i don't remember being there at launch, which was the sky-high puck bounce in the corners that was never patched out. It's still there to this day. EA is slowly making me lose hope in this game.

[Drakar]

Quote: Originally Posted by actionhank

I feel like i'm starting to sound negative in every post, but EA Vancouver's track record of fixing game issues isn't too great after release. We actually had a massive problem added that i don't remember being there at launch, which was the sky-high puck bounce in the corners that was never patched out. It's still there to this day. EA is slowly making me lose hope in this game.

The next-gen console are better build for that purpose. It will be a lot easier for EA to patch the games.

[actionhank]

Quote: Originally Posted by Drakar

The next-gen console are better build for that purpose. It will be a lot easier for EA to patch the games.

I hope so. The lack of actual patches drove me insane with NHL 12-14. There's only so much that a tweak in a tuner ever seemed to accomplish. The bouncing puck still frustrates me. It just kills gameplay in the corner.

[JezFranco]

Have played about 20 games now (PS4) and while I'm not blown away it plays nice and looks good.

The poke works good, but I was let down that not more manual stick control was there for the defence this year. Stick lift also works better (not an auto-slash).

Buy or not?

Well, the demos have always played pretty good, but the last years I've been let down by the final product.
And this year no GMC, which means that 90% of the games I would've played (with my mates are not included in the box). So EA, is the game coming at a reduced price to the PS4?


P.s. I found the demo under "demos", but not when searching for "NHL" (EU Store).