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

[Qb]

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

Picked this up with the Black Friday sale and having some fun games while trying to work out some sliders. I've certainly lost a virtual step as I have game speed at zero and skating speed and acceleration lowered. Have the goalies nerfed as well looking for some more goal variety on All-Star.

Beat CLB 4-2 with PIT after falling behind 2-0 in the first with six different goals: (CPU) slapper thru screen trickled five hole, cross-ice pass one-timer, (HUM) wrister from top of circle w/ slight screen, breakaway backhand/forehand, zone entry curl to find trailer for slapper through traffic, cross-crease on doorstep from cycle.

Then I played ANA @ SJ in a tight, chippy game. I came out hot early doubling them up in shots but my offense dried up as I took some penalties. SJ scored in tight on a scramble and I put home a rebound. CPU Marleau potted the winner from the doorstep with 1.9 left in the 3rd on a blown assignment when both D went to the corner leaving him all alone in front.

With the NHL in limbo I'm tempted to start a franchise and skate with it but not sure what kind of shape the roster is in with a lot of IRL free agents. Wonder if they would sign or sit in FA all season?

[AllIn989]

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

Picked this up with the Black Friday sale and having some fun games while trying to work out some sliders. I've certainly lost a virtual step as I have game speed at zero and skating speed and acceleration lowered. Have the goalies nerfed as well looking for some more goal variety on All-Star.

Beat CLB 4-2 with PIT after falling behind 2-0 in the first with six different goals: (CPU) slapper thru screen trickled five hole, cross-ice pass one-timer, (HUM) wrister from top of circle w/ slight screen, breakaway backhand/forehand, zone entry curl to find trailer for slapper through traffic, cross-crease on doorstep from cycle.

Then I played ANA @ SJ in a tight, chippy game. I came out hot early doubling them up in shots but my offense dried up as I took some penalties. SJ scored in tight on a scramble and I put home a rebound. CPU Marleau potted the winner from the doorstep with 1.9 left in the 3rd on a blown assignment when both D went to the corner leaving him all alone in front.

With the NHL in limbo I'm tempted to start a franchise and skate with it but not sure what kind of shape the roster is in with a lot of IRL free agents. Wonder if they would sign or sit in FA all season?

What sliders are you using or are you making tweaks yourself?

[Qb]

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

What sliders are you using or are you making tweaks yourself?

I checked out Spragga, AlTito, and Cycloniac so there's some influence from those but I'm moving things around on my own. Right now I have all three goalie reaction sliders at 25 with screen effect maxed. By no means a finished product but if I get there I'll likely share.

[DJ]

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

Like QB, grabbed 21 on a Black Friday sale. I played a lot of NHL 20, completed an entire season and wound up losing in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final to the Penguins in OT (I was the Avs). It was either advancing to Year 2 of my 20 franchise or picking this game up, and decided I wanted the gameplay improvements I noticed in the 21 EA Play trial, so that's where I landed.

Not sure if I'll run it back with the Avs or choose a different team, but I am looking forward to spending more time with this game.

I played mostly on PRO in 20, with just a few sliders (mostly CPU difficulty and AI learning) adjusted to give the CPU more "bite" at that level. All-Star was too up and down for me to commit to, but I'll give it a go in 21.

[Qb]

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

DJ, I find lowering aggression helps calm things down on All-Star. CPU still puts up a fight but there's less scrambling, including from teammates.

[bwiggy33]

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

Something small but really cool is that that you can move the camera around during cutscenes, replays, etc. I think it's awesome to move it around and look at all of the features of the arenas as well as seeing fan reaction to goals. The arenas are awesome to look at because they are very well done in the game. I wish more sports games had this camera move around feature. The only game I can think of that does is MLB The Show but it's not when in replays. It's just when you are at bat you can do a field view prior to the pitcher throwing the ball.

[mrsaito]

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

bwiggy - I have always been able to move the camera around during replays for The Show and Madden, (unless I don't understand what you mean here...)

I don't have a console available at the moment but I believe it is done by using the sticks for both. I have never even thought to try it for cutscenes.

[Broncos86]

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

Biggest change I feel this year, which has made the game much more enjoyable, is the adjustments to tripping and poke checks this year "out of the box." Huge improvements.

[mkharsh33]

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

I let this game sit a few days, and then played 3 Play Now games (random teams) last night.

I still just can't get over how much of a leap this game is. I have tweaked many sliders (too many to list or remember) on all-star level (lowering a lot of the cpu unreal garbage) and this game just looks like more of what we see in a real NHL game. So much sloppy play, BUT when you get that beautiful moment and phenomenal play from your stars, it really feels earned.

I am waiting for a future roster to drop down the road but I'm certain for the first time I'm diving back into a Franchise Mode for the first time in eons. GREAT game!!

[Qb]

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

Having fun also with some play now games and looking forward to my a franchise. Watching a YouTube draft vid and thinking it would be huge if they could add portraits for generated players.

[DJ]

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

I'll have to try out All-Star or adjust PRO sliders, as I've felt that game speed has increased with the latest tuner. I was really liking how the game was playing before it; guess I could also just revert back to that earlier tuner version.

[Qb]

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

Just took a 3-0 lead into the 3rd period at home to Colorado. Lost 4-3 after Jarry allowed 4 on 15 shots. One fully screened point slapper and a deflection of my defenseman's stick. Still leaves me wondering if he has what it takes...

[mkharsh33]

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

Just took a 3-0 lead into the 3rd period at home to Colorado. Lost 4-3 after Jarry allowed 4 on 15 shots. One fully screened point slapper and a deflection of my defenseman's stick. Still leaves me wondering if he has what it takes...

He blew leads of 2-0 and 4-3 (same game). Makes me wonder too...

[ryanzero0]

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

Franchise mode in NHL needs shorter seasons like NBA2k. Implement it already.

[MizzouRah]

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

Played my first game on the XSX and with auto HDR, the game now loads up with HDR enabled and looks more detailed and the colors look better, especially the jerseys.

Of course it's buttery smooth and loads up much faster, but I'm liking this auto HDR feature.