Theres probably too many to generate a list, but there are many things the AI can do with ease, quickness and success that even the best human players cannot. I've found these problems on all difficulty levels, the higher you go the more often they happen.
- The AI has the amazing ability to pass whenever they want, however they want. We can't, the extra second it takes for us(even the quickest reactions aren't good enough) I've personally hated manual passing since it was put in simply because there is no way you can tell me I have to "power up" in real life to make a pass. I can get a bullet pass off just as fast as I can a feathered one. Most people here who play real hockey would also agree that the they would never have as many errant and just plain terrible passes in real life. Of course mistakes are going to be made but even the worst of pickup shinny players can make a simple 2 foot pass easier than Crosby can when I'm controlling him. How many times have you literally looked down at your thumbstick and been like WTF, how did I manage to miss BOTH of my dmen at the point. The R-Trigger is too random as far as I'm concerned. When I need to move the puck up ahead to my winger who's literally a stick lengths away, Crosby winds up and fires a pass as hard as he can and it bounces off the wingers stick. Turnover. When I'm on a 2-on-1 and need to pass the puck across with some jam or I see my teammate get behind the defense, he's open for a breakaway feed, I hit the right trigger, and Crosby flubs one a foot in front of him. Turnover. Or how about a simple dump in into my zone, I already have to worry about Derek Boogaard outracing Kris Letang(more on that next), but I also have to think that A) I'm going to get hit or B) I'm pinned before I can pass the puck. I understand that sometimes you do get pressure on the forecheck immediately but it doesn't happen 9 times out of 10. Regardless of who's racing for the puck, I see the play developing and whats going to happen.."Ok, im going to retrieve the puck and hit RT right away to pass it to my dman partner." But this doesn't happen, instead, I retrieve the puck, and there is this delay between the retrieval and the pass animation, this Boogaard has already pinned me and I have to try and kick it out. However the AI has this ability to quickly move the puck to avoid hits, and pins. The game of hockey, like all sports, involve split second decisions, I shouldn't be handicapped by having to hold down a button to make them.
-Constant hustle has become a problem when Matt Duchene can't escape the grasp of the speedy John Scott. It seems regardless of whether the AI has the puck, its full throttle, ALL SHIFT. I mean even an average skater could get away from most defenseman and forwards with a few quick strides. As the human player were constantly dealing with the juiced up superfast AI and by the time they catch up we're stick lifted with precise accuracy. Also baffling players is the defensemans ability to go from flatfooted to full speed break up a breakaway dive right away, when the forward has a step or more on him. Not ever defenseman is named Mike Green or Drew Doughty, yea amazing defensive plays do happen but really how frustrating is it to blow past Hal Gill with Ovechkin only to see Gill step up to Mach 4 and flying lariat the puck away from Ovi's stick.
-Other moves worth noting are their ability to spin and shoot, or choose the ability to spin around or backhand the puck. Everyones had a play where they've had the puck, but their back is to the net. Their goalie is down and overcommitted to one side, you have an open net! just spin around and rifle one top corner! Oh wait! you instead flubbed a backhander into his chest. Meanwhile, even the worst players(in game) can turn around mid shot and pick their corners. How can we not have complete control over what and how we want to shoot?
-The dump in/rip around the glass. This is a real downer since I play the dump and chase game, or at least to the best way EA allows me. It's either flip dumps or LB slap shot just outside the blueline. But wait, didn't I just see the computer ENTER the zone and then wrist the puck around the glass? Why can't I do that?
-Since when did ever offensive zone entry have to begin with a toedrag or juke?
-Is there any way to have the ability to hold the blueline as well as the computer does?
-Why on earth did EA add the "auto swat puck" into the game? How many times has it worked for anyone? First, if it does, it goes down the ice and its not called on a blatant icing. Either that of your dman grounds out to first(the point) and their defenseman fires it back at the net.
-I like playing this game, but the more realistic EA tries to get, the more boosts and abilities go to the computer. What about a hockey game completely dependant on the right and left thumbstick along with a trigger. Left stick is your body(skating) and the right is your stick. want to make a pass? Hold the right trigger and flick the right stick up and in the direction you want it to go. If Madden can take away all the face buttons for running backs, why do I need to still use triggers and bumpers if your skill stick gives me complete control?
-I'm slowly drifting to the idea of just abolishing vs AI modes altogether. You really can't trust your AI teammates(offensively or defensively) so why not play 6 vs 6 and have people who are thinking the game as the play is developing. Give me complete control over anything I want to do with a puck or not, and let me play with 6 human players.
/rant
- The AI has the amazing ability to pass whenever they want, however they want. We can't, the extra second it takes for us(even the quickest reactions aren't good enough) I've personally hated manual passing since it was put in simply because there is no way you can tell me I have to "power up" in real life to make a pass. I can get a bullet pass off just as fast as I can a feathered one. Most people here who play real hockey would also agree that the they would never have as many errant and just plain terrible passes in real life. Of course mistakes are going to be made but even the worst of pickup shinny players can make a simple 2 foot pass easier than Crosby can when I'm controlling him. How many times have you literally looked down at your thumbstick and been like WTF, how did I manage to miss BOTH of my dmen at the point. The R-Trigger is too random as far as I'm concerned. When I need to move the puck up ahead to my winger who's literally a stick lengths away, Crosby winds up and fires a pass as hard as he can and it bounces off the wingers stick. Turnover. When I'm on a 2-on-1 and need to pass the puck across with some jam or I see my teammate get behind the defense, he's open for a breakaway feed, I hit the right trigger, and Crosby flubs one a foot in front of him. Turnover. Or how about a simple dump in into my zone, I already have to worry about Derek Boogaard outracing Kris Letang(more on that next), but I also have to think that A) I'm going to get hit or B) I'm pinned before I can pass the puck. I understand that sometimes you do get pressure on the forecheck immediately but it doesn't happen 9 times out of 10. Regardless of who's racing for the puck, I see the play developing and whats going to happen.."Ok, im going to retrieve the puck and hit RT right away to pass it to my dman partner." But this doesn't happen, instead, I retrieve the puck, and there is this delay between the retrieval and the pass animation, this Boogaard has already pinned me and I have to try and kick it out. However the AI has this ability to quickly move the puck to avoid hits, and pins. The game of hockey, like all sports, involve split second decisions, I shouldn't be handicapped by having to hold down a button to make them.
-Constant hustle has become a problem when Matt Duchene can't escape the grasp of the speedy John Scott. It seems regardless of whether the AI has the puck, its full throttle, ALL SHIFT. I mean even an average skater could get away from most defenseman and forwards with a few quick strides. As the human player were constantly dealing with the juiced up superfast AI and by the time they catch up we're stick lifted with precise accuracy. Also baffling players is the defensemans ability to go from flatfooted to full speed break up a breakaway dive right away, when the forward has a step or more on him. Not ever defenseman is named Mike Green or Drew Doughty, yea amazing defensive plays do happen but really how frustrating is it to blow past Hal Gill with Ovechkin only to see Gill step up to Mach 4 and flying lariat the puck away from Ovi's stick.
-Other moves worth noting are their ability to spin and shoot, or choose the ability to spin around or backhand the puck. Everyones had a play where they've had the puck, but their back is to the net. Their goalie is down and overcommitted to one side, you have an open net! just spin around and rifle one top corner! Oh wait! you instead flubbed a backhander into his chest. Meanwhile, even the worst players(in game) can turn around mid shot and pick their corners. How can we not have complete control over what and how we want to shoot?
-The dump in/rip around the glass. This is a real downer since I play the dump and chase game, or at least to the best way EA allows me. It's either flip dumps or LB slap shot just outside the blueline. But wait, didn't I just see the computer ENTER the zone and then wrist the puck around the glass? Why can't I do that?
-Since when did ever offensive zone entry have to begin with a toedrag or juke?
-Is there any way to have the ability to hold the blueline as well as the computer does?
-Why on earth did EA add the "auto swat puck" into the game? How many times has it worked for anyone? First, if it does, it goes down the ice and its not called on a blatant icing. Either that of your dman grounds out to first(the point) and their defenseman fires it back at the net.
-I like playing this game, but the more realistic EA tries to get, the more boosts and abilities go to the computer. What about a hockey game completely dependant on the right and left thumbstick along with a trigger. Left stick is your body(skating) and the right is your stick. want to make a pass? Hold the right trigger and flick the right stick up and in the direction you want it to go. If Madden can take away all the face buttons for running backs, why do I need to still use triggers and bumpers if your skill stick gives me complete control?
-I'm slowly drifting to the idea of just abolishing vs AI modes altogether. You really can't trust your AI teammates(offensively or defensively) so why not play 6 vs 6 and have people who are thinking the game as the play is developing. Give me complete control over anything I want to do with a puck or not, and let me play with 6 human players.
/rant
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