NHL 19 Open Beta Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here - Extended to August 3

[Cletus]

Re: NHL 19 Open Beta Available Now on Both Xbox One & PS4, Post Your Impressions Here

I'm sure in the demo it is just people playing.

The problem is I don't want to play online against the dudebros who play for 10-12 straight hours and who then can skate circles around me. It is like I weigh 100 pounds going against a pro athlete.

The casual fan need not apply. I've messaged people and asked them how they got so high level literally half a day after the game comes out. "I've been playing non-stop since launch".

Ultimately, people with way more free time than me make my experience less fun.

I'd love to know the secret of people who can play constantly like this.

It isn't for me. I hope people enjoy it. I miss the days of playing offline.

I played on a team with a guy who was top ten on xbox 360. He was terrible, had no hockey sense, tried the same moves over and over. Because he played all the time he was top 10. His secret? "I should really go out and get a job, but I love playing this game too much." That really is a direct quote after he had been playing the game for 10 hours or more that day. I don't want to give the guy's XBL tag out, but I assure you it's true.

[Cletus]

Re: NHL 19 Open Beta Available Now on Both Xbox One & PS4, Post Your Impressions Here

Everyone else has added their 2 cents, so I might as well. This is probably the best hockey game EA has made this generation. Then again, that's not exactly high praise. This skating engine is far overdue, but it is great. I love coming to a stop and being able to accelerate past defenders. Defense is also better. I'm sure the poke checking will get tuned, but the only problem I have with it, is that there are times when the puck is in front of the guy and your off to the side. Instead of poking the puck, the animation goes to the guy's skates.

Speaking of pucks, can we please, please, please, please get some kind of improved puck physics? The puck doesn't act like it's a separate object in this series. There are plenty of times the cpu will just take the puck from me. I don't lose it, they don't poke, it just morphs to their sticks. That shouldn't happen this generation. I played a ps3 version of one of the PES soccer games and was blown away that if i kicked the ball too hard, it would roll on it's own. Why can't I do that in NHL? Why is every pass (even the bank passes off the boards) within inches of the player? Why can't i chip and chase? Why is the puck so easy to elevate? I have a harder time hitting a ground ball with Delino Deshields in my MLB Rangers games than I do picking top corner with J.T. Brown.

The A.I. is better, they play smarter, so far. It seems like every year the AI starts out playing competent and then it gets tuned. Can we get Build an AI for franchise mode or coaching strategies or something?

Finally my last gripe. Why do we have just one attribute for "hands"? If you look at the EASHL builds grinder has 90 hand eye. I understand that grinders are supposed to be great at deflections, but hand eye also includes receiving passes and one timers. Snipers have a hand eye of 79. So, by that logic a grinder like Chris Kunitz (who did have some nice deflection goals this season) is better ate one timers than Stamkos?

Sorry for getting off track, this is the best they've done yet. Unfortunately, I love the grittier parts of the game and EA's NHL series doesn't deliver that. If my friends weren't playing it, I wouldn't and I still might not. To me, this seems like a game I would much rather wait for a sale on, especially with lots of great games coming out later this year.

[JohnDoh]

I like the same things most everyone above is talking about, but the poke check/tripping penalties need to be tuned way down. Way too many tripping penalties faced up to an offensive player when it should have just knocked the puck away. Tripping from behind... got it. Tripping faced up with the offense skating backwards down ice... no bueno. Happened at least 15 times last game.

[jake19ny]

Re: NHL 19 Open Beta Available Now on Both Xbox One & PS4, Post Your Impressions Here

I like the same things most everyone above is talking about, but the poke check/tripping penalties need to be tuned way down. Way too many tripping penalties faced up to an offensive player when it should have just knocked the puck away. Tripping from behind... got it. Tripping faced up with the offense skating backwards*down ice... no bueno. Happened at least 15 times last game.

The problem with EA is they don’t ever just tone it down they eliminate it then the game becomes poke fest....they are out of control though...After my first gane where myself and my opponent took over 44 min in penalties I really triedt to time my pokes and stick sweeps better and everything still resulted in a trip. Like someone mentioned above, while skating backwards when you try and play sound defense and sweep the stick to knock the puck away it goes right to their feet instead. It should be if you poke from behind a trip is more likely, if you poke from the side it could’ve 50/50, but if you poke from the front it should be a higher success rate. Sweeping while facing a guy should almost never be a trip. Even the worst NHL defenseman wouldnt sweep 2 feet behind the puck and catch a leg. Not saying it shouldnt happen but not every time. I bet EA has no idea how to make this right. It’s either a penalty all the time or not.

[KomicJ]

Re: NHL 19 Open Beta Available Now on Both Xbox One & PS4, Post Your Impressions Here

Well, I stand corrected.

I wasn't thrilled when the first few in-game footage came out on Youtube, as I thought it looked like more of the same. But damn was I wrong.

The new skating feels AMAZING, and really changes the whole game. AI also seems a lot better, though I mostly play VERSUS with the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have a solid top-4 on defense. But they are really playing solid, keeping their position when they should, making a play for the puck when it's required.

Like many of you, I initially thought the poke-checks resulted in too many penalties...but I gotta say, I got used to it rather quickly, and I'm now enjoying it a LOT ! I feel rewarded for my patience, waiting for the appropriate time to poke-check now. Same with playing good position, which probably is the most satisfying upgrade for me in this game...I've always been a better positional player than any other thing. And for the first time, it feels like it's paying off. Finally !

The only thing I'm still not sure about is passing...though I'm not sure it's not my controller slowly dying on me. It feels like I can spend 3-4 seconds winding-up a pass...only to have my player making a weak one that is easily intercepted. It sometimes feels like the CPU is forcing turnovers (passing to the nearest guy instead of the one I'm aiming at). Anyone else have that feeling about the passing game ? Or is it really my controller ?

Anyway...I've been pretty harsh on EA these past couple of years, and though I really wanted to like this game, I gotta admit I fully expected to hate it again. But I'm SO pleastly surprised...I can't wait for the full game now.

Why am I typing this ?
Well, if you're like me, and you've underwhelmed by the NHL series these past few years...just as much as you were watching the first couple of vids of NHL 19, my advice is: give the beta a try. It might just be enough for you to get excited about this series again.

[iaxy]

Re: NHL 19 Open Beta Available Now on Both Xbox One & PS4, Post Your Impressions Here

Some more thoughts after 20+ Versus games

I am getting used to the extreme poke check sensitivity and actually like it. It’s making you play more disciplined. You are now having to chase back with your forwards and play positionally rather than relying on a poke by a defender all the time. Most people would poke check from any angle and then get surprised it’s a trip to the sin bin. You need to be judicious in the way and situation you poke check and the game rewards you for that. Of course it’s not perfect but at least it stops the poke check fest, which has been really frustrating in years past. That said EA need to tone down the penalties resulting from an honest defensive stick sweep when facing the puck carrier.

Interaction with the boards still looks dismal. No attention has gone there. The animation of the player approaching the board is just horrible. Even an automatic animation where a player curves along the board would be better than the head on Mario-type bump.

The puck physics need addressing. Pucks should be looser, livelier. There needs to be better separation between stick and puck. Not just when skating, but when stick handling, passing, shooting, when getting hit, etc.

Quick players on breakaways should never be caught up so easily (especially by bulky defensemen). It’s unrealistic and frustrating.

The game needs a dynamic camera in the true broadcast view. There are some cut scenes where the camera pans out to a beautiful view and angle – why are we not able to play from that view? I can’t believe people are still content playing up and down. This looks and feels so repetitive.

The players textures look a bit flat / lacking depth and detail. Not sure if that is the Beta (and hoping it will improve in the full game) but shirts, equipment and general shadows / lighting look 2D and old gen.

[seasprite]

Re: NHL 19 Open Beta Available Now on Both Xbox One & PS4, Post Your Impressions Here

If you have read any of my posts in here you know overall I’m pretty dissapointed in the overall lack of offline attention. I have spent a little more time playing online 5 on 5 vs and here’s my final 2 cents.

The skating is light years different and does make the game more fun as well as more realistic.

In some areas the CPU AI seems better and I think it may be related to the new skating but some areas they are as braindead as ever. They still occasionally wander aimlessly and go offsides idiotically. Really need to play vs the CPU to get a better feel and sadly no slider tweaks fix stupidity.

Outside of goalies moving better post to post they are as awful as they have been for years. Same money goals work.

I like how just getting a piece of a guy on the boards throws them offa bit and sends the puck loose.

Face offs, same yawn but not sure what they can improve there. Would still like to see guys get thrown out of the circle.

Still looks like player separation doesn’t exist but again it’s harder to tell online.

5 man celly was long overdue but done lazily. I know some say it’s a start but the delay to the cut scene, like many of the other areas of this game, fails at capturing the moment right and if they just cared what we offline guys wanted it could be done better, even in a cut scene.

Commentary, yea stale even with some new lines but I honestly don’t expect them to fully revamp this every couple of years and i kind of tune most of it out IF I’m having fun. I would just prefer it go accurately along with my Season but no way of knowing yet and I’m not holding my breath.

As mainly an offline player who has not done a season since NHL 14 on PS3 (and really misses it) I can honestly say that if they add a roster share feature I may just be able to get past many of the other ignored and flawed aspects of the game.

As far as online. 1s is fun but I felt that way about 3s until after 20 games then I could care less. EASHL....can’t comment. Either the gane freezes at the load or some moron refuses to hit ready in the pre game load out....so I see where this is going again..

EDIT: After 20 minutes of trying I get into an EASHL game 6 on 6. 2 minutes in the opposing team scores and my goalie, LD and LW quit. My RD decides to goal hang so me at Center has to cover back on D. Second period starts it’s only 2-0 but the RD just decides not to play leaving his man motionless on the ice....after 2 minutes of this my RW quits so I bailed. EA just eliminate this mode the everybody gets a trophy generation can’t handle it and there is no way to avoid A-Holes

There's definitely a way to avoid a holes on your squad.......find a team. I can't stand to play with randoms on my team due to those very things.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Operation Sports mobile app

[Fiddy]

Re: NHL 19 Open Beta Available Now on Both Xbox One & PS4, Post Your Impressions Here

I like the same things most everyone above is talking about, but the poke check/tripping penalties need to be tuned way down. Way too many tripping penalties faced up to an offensive player when it should have just knocked the puck away. Tripping from behind... got it. Tripping faced up with the offense skating backwards*down ice... no bueno. Happened at least 15 times last game.

They need to make it make sense. The ONLY trips I have taken so far are the ones where I'm squared up to the player and stick and somehow my stick goes through the puck and stick to trip the player.

But all the ones from the side and behind need to stay the same that's for sure.

Shogun mentioned you can skate into guys and poke puck free without hitting a poke button. He's right. I use Left Trigger in that situation and it works out well.

[shogunofharlem3]

Re: NHL 19 Open Beta Available Now on Both Xbox One & PS4, Post Your Impressions Here

I have played 2 1v1 games and 2 6v6 games and have yet to get a tripping penalty, however, the other guys have been getting clobbered. Luckily I am not good so I am like 1-50 on powerplays.

I just backcheck on the forehand side of the player and have been very successful at just bullying my way between the man and the puck. I have only used the poke check a few times, quick taps, but have yet to touch stick sweep control from what I saw happening to the other dudes.

Def needs to be addressed.

[Qb]

Re: NHL 19 Open Beta Available Now on Both Xbox One & PS4, Post Your Impressions Here

Anyone else have that feeling about the passing game ? Or is it really my controller ?

I don't like the feel of passing; too much assist which makes it inconsistent with user input IMO. This also contributes to the puck not feeling independent since passes rarely go into space -- although saucer pass remains useful for area passes, chip & chase, and cycling.

I am getting used to the extreme poke check sensitivity and actually like it. It’s making you play more disciplined. You are now having to chase back with your forwards and play positionally rather than relying on a poke by a defender all the time...

...Quick players on breakaways should never be caught up so easily (especially by bulky defensemen). It’s unrealistic and frustrating.

I'm with you on pokechecking. In a few versus games I saw people pile up tripping calls while I had a couple from undisciplined or desperation pokes.

You hit on it, the key to better neutral zone & blueline entry play is having pressure from the back checking forwards, which is still not where it needs to be with AI players. I tried the new directional switching (R2+R-stick) to grab the nearest forward, but it was hard to see the icons above the upscreen players on dynamic medium. When I got the guy I wanted, I was able to eliminate the cut-back-to-the-middle option and jam things up in the middle (EASHL center so plenty of practice, haha). AI D-men weren't too bad 1v1 with that support, but defensive settings definitely factor into how they play it.

And I agree on the breakaway catch-up; not sure why exactly it happens, but I had many instances of it in a particular versus matchup. My opponent was aggressively looking for hits, so I'd bait him to step up and take the hit to make the pass. But most times before I could get a good move/shot he'd get someone back in the play. Credit to him I suppose, but it seemed a bit much.

[stevostl]

Re: NHL 19 Open Beta Available Now on Both Xbox One & PS4, Post Your Impressions Here

I played a lot of 3 v 3 eashl over the weekend and I must say I am considering buying this now that I started playing again. it was fun. I stay up until 5 am one night playing with friends which I haven't done that in forever. lol

as someone who played lots of goalie for top clubs in the EASHL since 2009... I will say i am overly impressed with the goalie controls this season. this should make EASHL great this year. it's very fun to play goalie. I like the fact that there is some glitch goals or cheese that comes from before. this is what makes it a need to play with user goalies in clubs online and it makes it better in the end because of it.

I'm also happy that they finally added something to the EASHL and at least made it like fifa level up process in clubs now. something to play for in OTP .. and i I can change my weight and height and yes... I'm so happy about that. it's not to what I loved in the early eashl days where you can edit all your attributes but it's for sure a better middle ground instead of the stupid boring every player is the same builds in the EASHL.

so far i'm impressed and will continue to play this beta clubs online.. and I will maybe buy NHL now.. just to play EASHL online..

in regards to the poke checking.. I am a fan of it but I think they should tweak it some but not much. I personally rather it be this way instead of allowing poke check spamming .. however, with that said .. it's too sensitive and they need tone it down. way too many tripping calls that should never happen for just putting your stick out attempting a poke check. but yes i would prefer they keep it the same though instead of go back to the old way for sure. I'm fine with it as you don't even need to use the poke check button to play d in this game. I don't get the people who continue to do it non stop getting penalties. glad none of these people are playing with me on my club gaming fun.. lol

other improvements I'm sure that have already been mentioned here in terms of gameplay is the puck pickup is greatly improved. this was much needed.. and of course skating everyone has mentioned I'm sure... but those 2 things from a gameplay standpoint have helped a lot and in a strange way I think the poke checking problem of it being so sensitive has helped gameplay as well because it opens the flow of the game more in the EASHL online now. one of the reasons i stopped playing this game was because you could basically poke check from behind even and knock the puck off the guy by spamming it.. this made the EASHL that has gotten stale over the last many years even more boring

one thing I want to know though.. is how in the hell I seen some great players in the EASHL do a saucer pass so accurately over a d man stick right on the tape to the other forward?????? am I missing something here? I use R1 on PS4 and the saucer pass is so manual it's hard as hell to get it accurate.. i still use it though to give pass it off boards or into space but i'm wondering if i'm missing something because I have seen others do it extremely accurate

[jake19ny]

Re: NHL 19 Open Beta Available Now on Both Xbox One & PS4, Post Your Impressions Here

A few minor observations that were unresolved issues last year and need fixing.

The game simply doesn’t getting boarding right. Too many clear hits to the side not from behind are called boarding.

There are still some clunky collision issues with the skater and the net when you have the puck. My opponents player got got up on the net and somehow put the puck in his own net. I’ve almost done it a few times as well. Saw this a lot last year.

[Godzillaboss300]

Re: NHL 19 Open Beta Available Now on Both Xbox One & PS4, Post Your Impressions Here

I like how they let you make custom goal horns for your player.

[raneman85]

Re: NHL 19 Open Beta Available Now on Both Xbox One & PS4, Post Your Impressions Here

This game is full of bugs. Can't even complete a game without someone being disconnected.

[Blzer]

Re: NHL 19 Open Beta Available Now on Both Xbox One & PS4, Post Your Impressions Here

This game is full of bugs. Can't even complete a game without someone being disconnected.

I'm only getting disconnected because the other player is dropping. Maybe it's bug-related though. I had a great 1-1 tie going into the third period with an opponent and I thought we were nicely matched up, then he dropped. I mean it could be a number of things, but I didn't think that a bug was one of them.