Gameplay difference?

[Mtume]

Could you please give me some input on how the offline gameplay is different in 16 compared to 15.

I only play be a GM and I'm not sure if to buy 16 or not.

All thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks

[Steven547]

Re: Gameplay difference?

Could you please give me some input on how the offline gameplay is different in 16 compared to 15.

I only play be a GM and I'm not sure if to buy 16 or not.

All thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks

Obviously you'll get different opinions here. But my opinion is this....I feel EA worries so much about the visuals and things people don't care about like Mascots this year, that EA could have addressed the AI more.

In my games I have unfortunately experienced the following:
- Cross crease passes by the AI are a goal 99% of the time. This was an issue previously and still again.
- Breakaways happen far too frequently and no matter who has the puck you can't catch him.
- The goalie doesn't hug the post, leaving it open for a goal all the time.
- The AI defenders, no matter what aggression slider rating, skate away from the player with the puck. CPU was attacking....my defender was on him until he was in my zone at which point, my AI defender (I'm position lock on another player) leave the attacking player for the middle, leaving the attacking player with an open net goal.
- A majority of my games have ended with the CPU scoring the winning goal with under 10 sec left to play in the game. And it's always some impossible type goal.
- Playing on PRO feels like Superstar mode.
- Don't think you can save strategies.
- Hardly feels like any player separation.

Now, others might feel differently. These have been my unfortunate experiences. Yes, I'm a position lock player but I've seen this same AI behavior in CPU vs CPU games. Is it worth buying? I would do a lot of research and maybe wait for a patch or two. But it's up to you. Others can give you feedback as well.

[Smirkin Dirk]

Re: Gameplay difference?

Ive just played 3 full games.

And there really isn't a heap of difference at all. Overall, I'd say it's slightly smoother with some better animations. But if I played this side by side with NHL 15, I couldnt tell the difference.

[Mtume]

Re: Gameplay difference?

Sounds like you confirmed my suspicions :/

[schlitz73]

Re: Gameplay difference?

Ugh... Those are the exact types of things that put me off the NHL series for a couple years and I was really hoping to get back into it this year. The game sure looks fantastic but the biggest sticking points have always been your teammates defensive AI and the CPU being able to pull off ridiculous passes and shots and scoring at will when it wants to. Sounds like these issues are still there which means I may have to pass yet again on my favorite video game sport.

[Smirkin Dirk]

Re: Gameplay difference?

Sounds like you confirmed my suspicions :/

It seems like lots of work went into the modes, less into gameplay.

I liked last year's gameplay, faults aside.

But I dont think even experienced hockey heads can point to 3 tangible and obvious gameplay improvements.

[Diehardfan]

Re: Gameplay difference?

I've been telling this to anyone who listens...until EA gets a new development team in there, this will continue. They really need someone who has played hockey and knows NHL hockey to be in charge. But who knows? Maybe they are just doing what they are told to do....I think we all know how corporate BS works.

[Steven547]

Re: Gameplay difference?

It seems like lots of work went into the modes, less into gameplay.

I liked last year's gameplay, faults aside.

But I dont think even experienced hockey heads can point to 3 tangible and obvious gameplay improvements.

Exactly. If EA spent half the time on AI as they did creating mascots in the game (which I don't recall that being on a wishlist??), we would have less issues.

The issues from previous games are still around. In my experience working with developers and applications at my job, fixing things in the app was always a priority for next release. The "nice to haves" took a back seat.

Same issue with slider settings from last year are not saving again this year.
AI def is horrible.
Pinpoint passing by CPU still exists, etc etc.

Hopefully with the next gen technology, these things can be patched and RETAIN for next release. Otherwise, guess we'll get more mascots next year.

[Caniac94]

Re: Gameplay difference?

From these posts I am feeling really glad I didn't buy the game. I have been tempted to buy but until I see the AI is improved and until the focus gets placed on gameplay, I'm gonna stay away from the series. It's a shame because I really want to try out this new GM Mode, with the morale and everything, but I also want to play off line game modes and not feel like the CPU is going to go into "God mode" and pull off a miracle victory by scoring some goal that would be physically impossible in real life. That just feels cheap and I cannot stand that cheap feeling when I play the CPU. It would be so amazing to have a nice, flowing, organic feel from the game. Player separation is a huge one for me, probably the biggest. We can't have fourth line players playing just as amazing as first liners. I want to see players in the game playing more like their real life counterparts. They don't have to get every last detail but at least make it so we can see a tangible difference between a guy like Sidney Crosby and say... Brian Boyle. These kind of things put me off from buying the game. It's cool though because I can look into buying a different title this year. Maybe MLB The Show?

[BBWalk]

Re: Gameplay difference?

Thanks for the feedback, I've held off on getting NHL xx for a while now. NHL 16 is $90 with tax in Canada, I guess the better buy would be a new copy of NHL 15 for $10.

[TDKing]

Re: Gameplay difference?

Nhl 15 is not worth 2 cents imo.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[Vmascarello]

Re: Gameplay difference?

I wouldnt pay $2 for NHL 15. I can see people saying its not worth the money. Im an avid gamer and a huge hockey fan, and Ill play it. I have no intentions of trading it in. Its a very imperfect game but its the best release in a few years, and its still alot of fun to play, if youre not looking for every AI imperfection.

[RicoLaguno]

Re: Gameplay difference?

Ill also add that i've had the game for a few days now and played over 11 games in season mode controlling many different teams to get a feel for the seperation and distinctions between players and team styles of play.

Unfortunately, there just isnt any....each game feels the same and the way players attack into the offensive zone is always the same. There really is no neautral ice gameplay. The CPU never really infiltrates the zone and patiently sets up an offensive attack that consists of cycling the puck around. its usually just penetrate and shoot, then quickly back out of the offensive zone....Players dont scrumm and scrap enough in the corners to fight for possession. Players just turn up ice and get transition to defensive coverage

The most annoying thing for me is the way EA toned down the aggressive hits and checking system of years past. Rather than just reworking it and realistically fixing the problem, they just band aided it by making all the players slide off each other like they are made of crisco oil. SO players really never realistically interact with each other and trying to make contact with players feels all slippery and unsatisfyingly 'hollow' There's just no sense of momentum, contact, or follow thru with players now when trying to lay a hit. I've so many times wished I could ride up a player onto the boards with a nice forward momentum crunch and its just not really possible....They're all like slippery geese.

Not enough offensive zone dirty and dynamic play fighting for control of the puck....and too much ping pong back and forth end to end cross ice zig zag passing-shoot-then clear out of the zone hockey....Not realistic, not gritty NHL style of play. Sorry

Im really not enjoying the game. I actually had more fun and thought NHL 14 on the PS3 played a better more solid game minus some of the technological and graphical enhancements. But pure gameplay, NHL16 really needs alot of work imo.

I wish there was a way I could sell my digital copy