NHL 16 Continues to Improve

[AdamJones113]

I mostly agree. I personally am enjoying NHL 16, with its additions and with its flaws alike. Played it a ton so far and I expect to continue doing so until 17.

That being said, I think there's an important point to be made after reading your article, Millennium. Not necessarily something I disagree with, but an important differentiation that jumped out at me.

You say "Defensive positioning is now an actual strategy as intercepting pucks and poke check "spamming" have become more difficult (though still possible to some extent)." This is very true. Consistently spamming the poke check button leads to more penalties than it does turnovers. But what I thought of immediately was: yeah, don't poke spam, but on the other hand, that's my only man-to-man defensive move. Sure, there's a stick lift, but that works best fighting for the puck in the corners. Sure, there's the stick-on-the-ice defense, but as you pointed out, positioning has become successful enough to mitigate that strategy. Thus poke-checking—since playing the body and shoving rarely works as intended due to the wonky pivots and imperfect collision detection—is the only man-to-man defensive move in town.

And therein lies the key perspective on EA NHL gameplay, in my opinion. NHL 16 does the big things right (gameplay wise, I mean). It has good skating, good physical player differentiation, skilled goalies, big hits, cycling, heavy defensive pressure. As you say: "Using correct hockey strategy is now an effective method of playing NHL 16 -- instead of just dangling through multiple skaters." This is true. I have more success—and more fun—cycling the puck than just skating to the slot for a wrister. Those big things are the first and major impression on the gamer, and because the big things are right, that automatically makes the game better than it has been in the past.

But the small things are still missing, unpolished, or wrong. As Jake and Sheba have mentioned above, really hardcore hockey guys are bound to notice a fair number of subtleties missing, etc. That doesn't stop us from enjoying the game—far from it—but that still makes us believe the game can be better. Take my favourite example of of a piece of minutiae, the wide one on one drive to the net. In real life it's about getting a lower center of gravity, or outmuscling the driving forward, all while trying to maintain possession or knock the puck loose with one hand. It's a good example, because it highlights the balance between body and stick. In this game, though, it's one or another, and that's why I can't completely endorse this gameplay. There's physical separation—I love how Michael Grabner outskates everyone on the ice for me—but there's no intangible differentiation—Sidney Crosby has the same hockey IQ that John Scott does.

Good write-up, Mil.

[spidertour02]

Absolutely agreed. I'm having a blast with Be A GM right now.

[saint0wen]

The fact that they haven't put out a roster update in over two months says a lot about their lack of consideration toward details.

[froghair]

Thanks for this update. Might get back into the series. Question though: when setting up a season is it possible to realign divisions?

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[Millennium]

Quote: Originally Posted by AdamJones113

I mostly agree. I personally am enjoying NHL 16, with its additions and with its flaws alike. Played it a ton so far and I expect to continue doing so until 17. That being said, I think there's an important point to be made after reading your article, Millennium. Not necessarily something I disagree with, but an important differentiation that jumped out at me. You say "Defensive positioning is now an actual strategy as intercepting pucks and poke check "spamming" have become more difficult (though still possible to some extent)." This is very true. Consistently spamming the poke check button leads to more penalties than it does turnovers. But what I thought of immediately was: yeah, don't poke spam, but on the other hand, that's my only man-to-man defensive move. Sure, there's a stick lift, but that works best fighting for the puck in the corners. Sure, there's the stick-on-the-ice defense, but as you pointed out, positioning has become successful enough to mitigate that strategy. Thus poke-checking—since playing the body and shoving rarely works as intended due to the wonky pivots and imperfect collision detection—is the only man-to-man defensive move in town. And therein lies the key perspective on EA NHL gameplay, in my opinion. NHL 16 does the big things right (gameplay wise, I mean). It has good skating, good physical player differentiation, skilled goalies, big hits, cycling, heavy defensive pressure. As you say: "Using correct hockey strategy is now an effective method of playing NHL 16 -- instead of just dangling through multiple skaters." This is true. I have more success—and more fun—cycling the puck than just skating to the slot for a wrister. Those big things are the first and major impression on the gamer, and because the big things are right, that automatically makes the game better than it has been in the past. But the small things are still missing, unpolished, or wrong. As Jake and Sheba have mentioned above, really hardcore hockey guys are bound to notice a fair number of subtleties missing, etc. That doesn't stop us from enjoying the game—far from it—but that still makes us believe the game can be better. Take my favourite example of of a piece of minutiae, the wide one on one drive to the net. In real life it's about getting a lower center of gravity, or outmuscling the driving forward, all while trying to maintain possession or knock the puck loose with one hand. It's a good example, because it highlights the balance between body and stick. In this game, though, it's one or another, and that's why I can't completely endorse this gameplay. There's physical separation—I love how Michael Grabner outskates everyone on the ice for me—but there's no intangible differentiation—Sidney Crosby has the same hockey IQ that John Scott does. Good write-up, Mil.

I disagree that poke checking is the only move. Positioning and forcing the man outside is my main defensive tool, and then keeping my man between the puck and the slot as I make my way to the skater for a check. Bumping a player this year is more effective at getting rid of the puck, and (especially against the AI) they are aware to avoid body contact due to this.

I think the major issue most users have on defense is two fold:

- The inherent need to switch players. This (in most cases) the easiest and fastest way to pull players out of good defensive positions and cause other AI defenders to make bad decisions.

- Rushing the puck carrier. Causes you to pull guys out of position and, again, makes your AI defenders choose between two offensive players.

Those are the reasons I think defensive positioning is the number one tool, with poke, body, and stick lift checks evenly behind.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[Millennium]

Quote: Originally Posted by saint0wen

The fact that they haven't put out a roster update in over two months says a lot about their lack of consideration toward details.

Curious where you got your information - there have been two updates within the last month to my knowledge.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[Millennium]

Quote: Originally Posted by froghair

Thanks for this update. Might get back into the series. Question though: when setting up a season is it possible to realign divisions? Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I do not believe you can. Would be something I'd like to see in future versions with possibly a more fleshed out version of Be A GM.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[AdamJones113]

Quote: Originally Posted by Millennium

I disagree that poke checking is the only move. Positioning and forcing the man outside is my main defensive tool, and then keeping my man between the puck and the slot as I make my way to the skater for a check. Bumping a player this year is more effective at getting rid of the puck, and (especially against the AI) they are aware to avoid body contact due to this. I think the major issue most users have on defense is two fold: - The inherent need to switch players. This (in most cases) the easiest and fastest way to pull players out of good defensive positions and cause other AI defenders to make bad decisions. - Rushing the puck carrier. Causes you to pull guys out of position and, again, makes your AI defenders choose between two offensive players. Those are the reasons I think defensive positioning is the number one tool, with poke, body, and stick lift checks evenly behind. Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

I absolutely agree that pulling guys out of position is a problem, and combined with the poor pivots that makes getting guys out of position a foolish move.

The offensive CPU does a very good job of cycling, highlighted by long passes that catch you out of position.

Here's the chart I made when I recorded a full game's worth of zone entry (green circles), the first pass made in zone (yellow circles), and the shot chart (red circles):



Notice that the CPU passes early more often than not: they rarely carry the puck deep before making their first pass. That pass leads to defensive movement, which the CPU can capitalize on with their passing (super passing or regular), and bam, your defensive positioning has been rendered ineffectual.

Completely agree.

Man-to-man is another story. I'll make a chart of my defensive interactions (poke/stick lift/check) later today, but with all that moving and shaking by the CPU (very often they make a deke to the outside, which is good, but that mitigates direct contact at the blue line) body checks often pull you out of position rather than being an effective weapon. The best checks come right at the blue line, yes? Then that's rush defense, that's only a portion of man-to-man defense.

Think of the Datsyuk dangle on Logan Couture:



Couture is trying to use his body for positioning to cut Datsyuk off. When Datsyuk's positioning changes, Couture's stick is his last resort, and he goes for a poke check. In the game, if a CPU player is moving up and down the halfboards, what do you do? You can't check him—perhaps for fear of boarding, but more likely he'll be out of the way before you get to him. You can't sticklift him due to the long animation time and likelihood (since you're face-to-face) of a slashing penalty. Your only option is to poke—stick gets in there before he can make a move, and hey, if you're facing him, probably no penalty! On a rush, when your defenseman gets turned around, your option is to pokecheck.



Notice how (when the puck gets into the zone) the defender is using his body for positioning, but at the same time has his stick OUT to put more pressure on the puck? That's what we can't do on defense (works perfectly with the skill stick on offense) in NHL 16. The stick is either out in a poke animation or it's at your side normally.

That's why a defensive skill stick would be an incredible addition to the series.