NHL 18 Beta Impressions: Threes, Incremental Gameplay Changes

[Steve_OS]

Yesterday, the NHL 18 beta dropped and we've finally gotten our chance to play what the...

Written By: Operation Sports

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[Peter_OS]

Re: NHL 18 Beta Impressions: Threes, Incremental Gameplay Changes

Thanks guys!

Wow very disappointed with the lack of any in-game presentation improvements.

If this indeed feels like NHL 17.5 like Fraser noted, I don't know how a company like EA can get away with charging us full price for this game.

Times like this where I wish we had some competition.

[csamuelsvt]

Re: NHL 18 Beta Impressions: Threes, Incremental Gameplay Changes

Thanks guys!

Wow very disappointed with the lack of any in-game presentation improvements.

If this indeed feels like NHL 17.5 like Fraser noted, I don't know how a company like EA can get away with charging us full price for this game.

Times like this where I wish we had some competition.

i'm VERY disappointed with the presentation. STILL since NHL 14, NO 5 man goal celebrations! I have not noticed even ONE new line of commentary in the beta. Sure they added some new camera angles before the faceoffs and goal replays(which sometimes are not the best angles and it is tough to see the goal), but unless they are holding back a lot of presentation stuff which I doubt, the presentation is severely lacking.

Any other game, FIFA or Madden, would be getting destroyed if they did this year after year. It is completely unacceptable.

[Södy]

Re: NHL 18 Beta Impressions: Threes, Incremental Gameplay Changes

If this indeed feels like NHL 17.5 like Fraser noted, I don't know how a company like EA can get away with charging us full price for this game.

NHL 06 - 09 on PS2 / XBOX / PC
NHL 14 - Legacy on PS3 / 360

I think on current consoles, it's the first year that is not as big. 16 was a step up because 15 was missing so much content.

17 was a step up for the sliders and the fact that you lose the puck and stumble if you skate into the boards (atleast with proper sliders in offline mode).

[snc237]

As a competitive NHL player (ranked constantly in the top 50 since  09) the game does feel like NHL 17.5 which isn't a bad thing. NHL 17 was in my opinion fantastic and NHL 18 shores up a lot of those issues that were really annoying last year. However presentation looks identical for the most part, and if you got bored of NHL 17 you will probably get bored here as well as the game more less feels he same. To someone like me the smallest tweaks are very noticeable and appreciated, to someone that plays casually once in a while you probably will be wondering what they changed?

[oilersfan99]

Re: NHL 18 Beta Impressions: Threes, Incremental Gameplay Changes

More presentation would be nice but personally, I could care less about the presentation if the game doesn't play right. NHL 17 was a decent game and needed some tweaks for sure and they've done some. NHL 17.5? Who cares if the game play is improved. They added decent content with the 3v3 eashl, threes arcade and I'm sure lots of hut stuff. I'm enjoying the beta a whole lot. I'm actually excited for the release although I would imagine that they will screw it up when they start patching. God I hope not

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

[bowld]

Re: NHL 18 Beta Impressions: Threes, Incremental Gameplay Changes

I thought threes was going to be some dumb gimmick mode but so far its been a blast to play. I had a match last night last almost 20 mins and was a ton of fun

[JohnDoh]

This is the same old ignorant AI as in years past. Some very minor improvements (which have been touted as MAJOR improvements by EA), but the AI still does dumb crap every single minute of every single game. I've played a week's worth of 1on1 versus games and my AI teammates make no attempt to play the puck when on defense. I have to take control of them to make any effort to play the pusk. It will just slide right by them and they stand there. EA... spend a year's worth of effort addressing your idiotic AI players to make this a decent hockey game. EASHL is a great mode but it has become obvious to players like me over the years that you are relying on the all-human control to sell this game instead of spending brain cells on making this game smart. This will be the first year I will not buy the NHL game. It's just NHL 17.25 in my view.

[knich]

Re: NHL 18 Beta Impressions: Threes, Incremental Gameplay Changes

Hard to judge the improvements because I am an offline player and can only play full game online. That said, I feel like the game plays so much better than last year. I have been a very long time critic of this game so I think that is saying alot. I understand the criticisms from others, and some are valid...like the lack of new presentation and AI still not where it needs to be. But the gameplay has definitely improved. Game still needs some tweaks but hopefully nothing that takes away from the base AI this year.

[Gotmilkman24]

Re: NHL 18 Beta Impressions: Threes, Incremental Gameplay Changes

I must say, after playing a game as goalie with the settings turned all the way up. I'm very impressed with the 3v3 AI. I would assume 6v6/5v5 would be the same. If I wasn't so into PC gaming right now i would be all over NHL18 beta right now. I do find the people who hate the AI are the ones who are out of position and tappers. This looks like it will finally be a good game this year. ONLINE and offline.

[mikeq672]

Re: NHL 18 Beta Impressions: Threes, Incremental Gameplay Changes

Its NHL 15 v4. Very little has changed. The core of the game hasnt changed at all. Game still rewards selfish play over actual hockey. Game still has a massive problem with consistency. 3v3 EASHL is ok when you dont have a full team, except for when you play vs kids who just rag the puck for 10 minutes at a time like that takes some sort of skill. Id almost suggest some kind of shot clock for 3v3.

[Diehardfan]

Re: NHL 18 Beta Impressions: Threes, Incremental Gameplay Changes

I have to say that I am not the least bit disappointed in this game. It is exactly what I expected and that is precisely why I will not buy it.

[MizzouRah]

Re: NHL 18 Beta Impressions: Threes, Incremental Gameplay Changes

Hard to judge the improvements because I am an offline player and can only play full game online. That said, I feel like the game plays so much better than last year. I have been a very long time critic of this game so I think that is saying alot. I understand the criticisms from others, and some are valid...like the lack of new presentation and AI still not where it needs to be. But the gameplay has definitely improved. Game still needs some tweaks but hopefully nothing that takes away from the base AI this year.

That's encouraging to hear. Since it's the only hockey game, I can bite my tongue and deal with the lack of anything new with presentation... as long as the AI has been improved and player separation is noticeable, I might be on board.

[C.J.S.]

Re: NHL 18 Beta Impressions: Threes, Incremental Gameplay Changes

i never played this NHL game before and i must say, it's very good. IMO best EA sports game.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: NHL 18 Beta Impressions: Threes, Incremental Gameplay Changes

That's encouraging to hear. Since it's the only hockey game, I can bite my tongue and deal with the lack of anything new with presentation... as long as the AI has been improved and player separation is noticeable, I might be on board.

I can say player separation is as apparent as it has ever been in the series, and the AI is improved. This is not to say the AI is genius, or where we'd want it to be, but it's not as generic and its decision is slightly more dynamic. In terms of user team AI they are much better at staying out of the way and try to generally set up in triangles and situate themselves in a decent posture to keep the puck moving to the next man or taking a shot rather than immediately isolating the puck to the boards when it's not necessary.