NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

[lennyri]

Re: NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

whats with the slapshots?????u cant score a slapshot in this game is there a trick or what(its my favorite shot)))

[tjung0831]

Re: NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

I’ve been playing Pro and loving the scoring variety for myself but it seems that it is too easy to defend against the CPU on the other end. I’m consistently out shooting the CPU and I’m starting to win more lopsided constantly now on Pro. I tried All-Star and the CPU seems to utilize their deking skills more which is great but I am having trouble scoring.

Wish there was a way to play so that I can play on Pro on offence and have the CPU play on All-Star when they are attacking...

Have you changed the sliders and given an edge to the CPU on Pro? I've given them the edge in a few categories and i'm having fantastic games right now.

[TopSide83]

Re: NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

Have you changed the sliders and given an edge to the CPU on Pro? I've given them the edge in a few categories and i'm having fantastic games right now.

I’ve been playing the heck out of this game since I got it Friday and I have to say that Pro is your best chance at getting the game to play well so I totally agree with you!

[tcnumba10]

Re: NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

Have you changed the sliders and given an edge to the CPU on Pro? I've given them the edge in a few categories and i'm having fantastic games right now.

Which sliders have to given the edge to for the CPU?

My main issue is that I find it too easy to defend against the CPU on pro, I can easily bodycheck the puck handler when I get close to him off the puck and I don’t see the variety of dekes the CPU would perform on All-Star.

[tcnumba10]

Re: NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

I think I found the slider you should lower if you want to have the freedom of Pro but also have the CPU play true to their abilities on All-Star, the slider is: Stumble Threshold

I lowered Stumble Threshold to 15 and now I can play freely on All-Star while not feeling cheated! I’m getting really good numbers even though I had a loss and a OT lost in my last 2 games with the changes.

[Chiefaho]

Re: NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

I think Pro is the way to go this year. Could I play and win on Superstar? Yep, but the goalie play is not dynamic and there's zero goal variety. You basically have to play sweaty and exploit the CPU to win rather than just focusing on playing a solid game of hockey to have success. The Pro level has offered me some great snipes, screens, tips, rebounds, and excellent saves that both AS and SS haven't been able to produce. Making Pro harder and sloppier is much more enjoyable than AS/SS in my experience.

I agree. EA have failed again to make a natural feeling AI on the AS and SS difficulties. It's basically a game of "score as much as you can in the first two periods, cuz the computer is gonna go superhuman mode and rack up 35 shots in the 3rd." I wouldn't necessarily call them cheating, but all kinds of stupid stuff happens on the top two difficulties, and yet again goals never feel like they were "earned" by the AI team. You really do have to exploit glitches and flaws in the AI to be consistent against them on higher difficulties. I hate choosing Pro difficulty because it's far too easy for me and I really don't like having to tweak sliders till the game feels challenging enough, but recently that has been the way to go.

[MizzouRah]

Re: NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

I think Pro is the way to go this year. Could I play and win on Superstar? Yep, but the goalie play is not dynamic and there's zero goal variety. You basically have to play sweaty and exploit the CPU to win rather than just focusing on playing a solid game of hockey to have success. The Pro level has offered me some great snipes, screens, tips, rebounds, and excellent saves that both AS and SS haven't been able to produce. Making Pro harder and sloppier is much more enjoyable than AS/SS in my experience.

I do like Pro but after more games I had to go back to AS as I was scoring way too many goals on Pro. It was also not as tight along the boards or gaining the blue line on Pro for me.

[The EVHL]

Re: NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

I do like Pro but after more games I had to go back to AS as I was scoring way too many goals on Pro. It was also not as tight along the boards or gaining the blue line on Pro for me.

I do some heavy slider and strategy adjustments to remedy those issues without bumping up the skill level. I'm able to do that due to the way I play (1/2 game for each team) which is why I find Pro to be the most enjoyable. No aim assist, 0 pass reception ease, max pass speed drops from 65 -> 55, CPU cross crease bumps from 50 -> 85 are just a few of the adjustments I make. I run 6 minute periods and probably score 5-10 combined goals a game between the two teams so that's definitely working for me. When my goals are spread across two teams, the ease of scoring isn't as noticed compared to a single-player experience so I totally get needing a better challenge there.

[TopSide83]

Re: NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

I do some heavy slider and strategy adjustments to remedy those issues without bumping up the skill level. I'm able to do that due to the way I play (1/2 game for each team) which is why I find Pro to be the most enjoyable. No aim assist, 0 pass reception ease, max pass speed drops from 65 -> 55, CPU cross crease bumps from 50 -> 85 are just a few of the adjustments I make. I run 6 minute periods and probably score 5-10 combined goals a game between the two teams so that's definitely working for me. When my goals are spread across two teams, the ease of scoring isn't as noticed compared to a single-player experience so I totally get needing a better challenge there.

Every time I read your posts, it always says that you play 1/2 game for each team lol. Not trying to be a jerk or anything, just pointing that out.

[Zobitembois]

Re: NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

DaveArt masks are coming to NHL 21. You read it first here

[The EVHL]

Re: NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

Every time I read your posts, it always says that you play 1/2 game for each team lol. Not trying to be a jerk or anything, just pointing that out.

The only reason I added it here is because it gives context as to why I'm fine scoring 6+ goals and a game compared to someone playing as one team and scoring 6+ goals a game. It's the same time played, same amount of goals, but one game ends up 4-2 and the other ends up 6-0. If you're playing as only one team, obviously that amount of goal scoring will need to be reduced.

[MizzouRah]

Re: NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

I will say for me, game play has been the best EA NHL has ever been, at least current gen. It's so satisfying to see my D step up on players trying to get into our zone. I love dumping the puck in with my 4th line and putting tons of pressure on the CPU D.

[TopSide83]

Re: NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

I will say for me, game play has been the best EA NHL has ever been, at least current gen. It's so satisfying to see my D step up on players trying to get into our zone. I love dumping the puck in with my 4th line and putting tons of pressure on the CPU D.

Yeah it’s definitely a lot better this year but I still have the odd game or two that the game moves super fast and the entry into the zone is a breeze. Not sure why this happens.

[The EVHL]

Re: NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

Yeah it’s definitely a lot better this year but I still have the odd game or two that the game moves super fast and the entry into the zone is a breeze. Not sure why this happens.

EA won't admit this is a thing, so not counting on it being fixed ever.

[The EVHL]

Re: NHL 21 Has Been Released - Share Your Impressions with the Community

I will say for me, game play has been the best EA NHL has ever been, at least current gen. It's so satisfying to see my D step up on players trying to get into our zone. I love dumping the puck in with my 4th line and putting tons of pressure on the CPU D.

I agree. Easily the best offline hockey game I've played when I'm not suffering from the "speed glitch" or whatever that is. When my sliders are working, it's such a fun game. Setting up in the zone, using screens, chip dumps and cycling to beat the CPU. Pretty impressed by the little improvements that go a long way.