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

[DJ]

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

It's become more noticeable the lack of shots from the blue line area by the CPU D-men. Anyone else experiencing this and is there anything settings/sliders wise that addresses this?

Not sure what changed or I was just playing teams that weren't doing this, but I have seen CPU D-men shoot the puck in my last few games, and that's a great thing.

[lions67]

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

It was a good game until I figured out the one timers.
Now... I can score at will.
Not fun at all now.
EA needs to take a step back and let 2k SDS or even HB make a hockey game.

[The EVHL]

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

It was a good game until I figured out the one timers.
Now... I can score at will.
Not fun at all now.
EA needs to take a step back and let 2k SDS or even HB make a hockey game.

If you're playing offline, there's sliders to make these not as effective. Online is a mess however, can't believe anybody likes playing online NHL these days. It's really bad.

[mkharsh33]

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

It was a good game until I figured out the one timers.
Now... I can score at will.
Not fun at all now.
EA needs to take a step back and let 2k SDS or even HB make a hockey game.

2 things:

lower their effectiveness and accuracy
raise the goalie cross crease speed

[VeNOM3099]

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

It was a good game until I figured out the one timers.
Now... I can score at will.
Not fun at all now.
EA needs to take a step back and let 2k SDS or even HB make a hockey game.

Like the others said, there are ways to tune these things out via sliders. However, you'll find a new problem that can't be fixed via sliders offline: the dumb as posts AI. They don't set up for any type of offense, they are terrible on defense. I would say their transition game is a joke, but I don't find myself laughing as I watch them double back in their zone instead of passing the puck up to an open man.

It's just horrible.

As for EA "letting" 2K or any other company make a Hockey game, they don't have the monopoly on the NHL and NHLPA license. In fact 2K already makes a hockey game on mobile, though it's a card game. The problem other companies face in making a hockey game is that they are limited by the amount of the fanbase, the bigger part that will doggedly gravitate towards the EA product regardless of quality which makes it even tougher for them to get a foot in. Maybe if one day EA decides to abandon hockey altogether, maybe then someone else takes a crack at it.

But thanks to HUT, I don't see that happening any time soon. :/

[The EVHL]

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

Like the others said, there are ways to tune these things out via sliders. However, you'll find a new problem that can't be fixed via sliders offline: the dumb as posts AI. They don't set up for any type of offense, they are terrible on defense. I would say their transition game is a joke, but I don't find myself laughing as I watch them double back in their zone instead of passing the puck up to an open man.

It's just horrible.

As for EA "letting" 2K or any other company make a Hockey game, they don't have the monopoly on the NHL and NHLPA license. In fact 2K already makes a hockey game on mobile, though it's a card game. The problem other companies face in making a hockey game is that they are limited by the amount of the fanbase, the bigger part that will doggedly gravitate towards the EA product regardless of quality which makes it even tougher for them to get a foot in. Maybe if one day EA decides to abandon hockey altogether, maybe then someone else takes a crack at it.

But thanks to HUT, I don't see that happening any time soon. :/

The AI is just brutal man...It's so incredibly bad. Reading the review of RBI baseball 21 made me think I was reading a review of NHL 21. The lack of animations and the AI deficiencies holding the game back made me instantly think of this game.

The in-zone play, you know, 90% of modern Pro hockey, is just amazingly bad on both sides of the puck. No sliders can fix their terrible decision making or lack of off-puck movement/player marking.

[MuzzUK]

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

Like the others said, there are ways to tune these things out via sliders. However, you'll find a new problem that can't be fixed via sliders offline: the dumb as posts AI. They don't set up for any type of offense, they are terrible on defense. I would say their transition game is a joke, but I don't find myself laughing as I watch them double back in their zone instead of passing the puck up to an open man.

It's just horrible.

As for EA "letting" 2K or any other company make a Hockey game, they don't have the monopoly on the NHL and NHLPA license. In fact 2K already makes a hockey game on mobile, though it's a card game. The problem other companies face in making a hockey game is that they are limited by the amount of the fanbase, the bigger part that will doggedly gravitate towards the EA product regardless of quality which makes it even tougher for them to get a foot in. Maybe if one day EA decides to abandon hockey altogether, maybe then someone else takes a crack at it.

But thanks to HUT, I don't see that happening any time soon. :/

Unfortunately Venom is right the ice hockey markets too small... probably makes about 10% of what Fifa and NBA games make so can fully understand why 2K stopped making games. EA's primary focus will always be ultimate team first as they need to make NHL profitable to keep it going. Its appalling really but just go back and play NHL 11 whack in some sliders its better than 21, harder trades, training in GM mode and a lot deeper management... AI isn't perfect but when you compare but the game hasn't progressed much.

I did read NHL is going to new engine next year so hopefully game gets a big re-write.

[VeNOM3099]

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

Unfortunately Venom is right the ice hockey markets too small... probably makes about 10% of what Fifa and NBA games make so can fully understand why 2K stopped making games. EA's primary focus will always be ultimate team first as they need to make NHL profitable to keep it going. Its appalling really but just go back and play NHL 11 whack in some sliders its better than 21, harder trades, training in GM mode and a lot deeper management... AI isn't perfect but when you compare but the game hasn't progressed much.

I did read NHL is going to new engine next year so hopefully game gets a big re-write.

Yes. The big "Frostbite" game engine update. We already see the fruits of it with FIFA and Madden. Graphically, the game may end up looking better, but gameplay wise? It'll be worse. Especially with them bunch of mooks working at the helm.

I'd rather the 100 people from the Treyarch team that made NHL 2K3 take a crack at working with it. Then we'd end up with a product closer to the sport, than the 250 people EA has working on it right now.

[The EVHL]

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

Yes. The big "Frostbite" game engine update. We already see the fruits of it with FIFA and Madden. Graphically, the game may end up looking better, but gameplay wise? It'll be worse. Especially with them bunch of mooks working at the helm.

I'd rather the 100 people from the Treyarch team that made NHL 2K3 take a crack at working with it. Then we'd end up with a product closer to the sport, than the 250 people EA has working on it right now.

This will more than likely result in a loss of features and even more nonsensical physics and game breaking bugs as seen in madden. 22 will be closer to a disaster than a masterpiece imo.

[VeNOM3099]

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

This will more than likely result in a loss of features and even more nonsensical physics and game breaking bugs as seen in madden. 22 will be closer to a disaster than a masterpiece imo.

I mean, if they would concentrate on the gameplay side, making sure the game comes with a barebones EASHL mode like NHL 16 did or even if they patch it in later, it could be good.

But sadly what matters to the NHL devs is HUT. Or rather it's what will be mandated that they concentrate on.

So my head says, NHL 22 will be NHL 15 all over again. No EASHL, no GM connected, nothing fixed for the new BaP mode they were so proud of with NHL 21. It'll be HUT and VS online with the same arcadey garbage sliders. Or they could just copy/paste all the garbage they already have in NHL 21 with little to nothing really fixed.

Which is worse?

[The EVHL]

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

I'd take much improved gameplay over any game mode right now. The AI need to drastically improve and goalies need to be much more realistic before this game starts becoming really fun. I find the default speed to be way too fast. I find that goalies are exceptional at some things (eating up close-in shots with reactionary saves, breakaways that aren't a glitch move are almost impossible to score on) but then you see them get sniped from the blue line because someone decided to leisurely drift at a diagonal angle then shoot far side. They also can't handle one-timers that involve diagonal movements, they come and challenge sauce passes way too aggressively which lets skaters easily tuck goals back against the grain, and they don't "sell out" on shooters coming down broadway which means easy snipes for the shooters.

The game just isn't dynamic enough and offline can only be made challenging by nerfing the user player skills as the AI for both teams just aren't smart enough to remotely play hockey. Carrying the puck is still the best way to create offense as your team has no idea how to get open, attack the net, creating space, and the defending team will either be insanely aggressive which opens up a lot of lanes, or they'll play super passive zones that result in lots of high danger scoring chances due to the non-aggression.

This game just isn't fun, plain and simple. 2k8, 2k10, NHL Hitz Pro all offer much more fun than this game despite some clear signs of aging.

[MizzouRah]

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

This will more than likely result in a loss of features and even more nonsensical physics and game breaking bugs as seen in madden. 22 will be closer to a disaster than a masterpiece imo.

Madden 21 next gen is the best football game I've ever played, it's fantastic. I'm in my 5th season with the Falcons and I still play it just about everyday.

If NHL 22 next gen is even close to what they've done with Madden 21 NG in a short amount of time, I would probably be happy. The problem is, NHL is become extremely stale and boring, a franchise I was once excited for years ago.

[The EVHL]

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

Madden 21 next gen is the best football game I've ever played, it's fantastic. I'm in my 5th season with the Falcons and I still play it just about everyday.

If NHL 22 next gen is even close to what they've done with Madden 21 NG in a short amount of time, I would probably be happy. The problem is, NHL is become extremely stale and boring, a franchise I was once excited for years ago.

I should've clarified that it was Madden what, 18, 19 that saw the frostbite switch? That is what I'm envisioning NHL's first iteration to be like. Madden 21 next gen is very fun and challenging in the right ways and I'd be more than excited to see NHL get to that level in 22 as it would mean the game would actually be fun haha.

[MizzouRah]

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

I should've clarified that it was Madden what, 18, 19 that saw the frostbite switch? That is what I'm envisioning NHL's first iteration to be like. Madden 21 next gen is very fun and challenging in the right ways and I'd be more than excited to see NHL get to that level in 22 as it would mean the game would actually be fun haha.

So true... I'm hoping for a big update this year but given their track record, I'm not too confident.

[leafs nation]

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

I can't believe I'm saying this but I actually love the game this year. NHL used to always be my favorite franchise over a decade ago but it got so consistently bad that I stopped even hoping it would or could get good and didn't even pay it any attention.
Months ago on this board I was surprised by how many people were saying it was good, even guys that often complained in the past.
I let it go on sale and picked it up. OH MY GOD! Am I ever glad I listened to some of you guys. I used someone's sliders that I have eventually made quite a few changes too as I got better and my god guys what a game. In my opinion this is the best playing hockey game I've ever played. The sliders are extremely responsive in my opinion too. You can make it play however you want.