NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions Here

[HouseKeepinItReal]

Re: NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions He

still can't control the direction of my poke check and does not make a lot of sense more so because they had it in a past version. i am sure they will introduce in a later version and say it is new. I will stick to playing MLB the show. at least they are passionate about the game they are trying to emulate. i won't be getting 14. first impressions of the demo and i enjoyed it but at the same time the computer ai lacks variety and unpredictability so as an offline game in addition to a lack luster gm mode i have no reason to buy this game.

A game developer should make a hockey game but a purely online game seeing as they can't get the nhl license they could just make a massive online version of eashl but a much more sim style as well as arcade but separate the lobbies and have something like a jersey creator like mlb the show's diamond dynasty and ya likely not gonna happen but hey the idea is there...

[Segagendude]

Re: NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions He

Guys, we all play online t.

No, not all of us.

[Splitter77]

Re: NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions He

could someone confirm that even at the hardest level it's easy to enter the o-zone? is there NZ pressure or the same as the old no pressure from NZ?

still easy as ever.
sucks.
but i remember redshirt saying this was his biggest problem with the game and it probably wouldnt be fixed unless they remade the whole game.

[Smirkin Dirk]

Re: NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions He

Im relatively new to hockey and this feels like a tuned NHL 13.

Only a hockey head will be able to pick out the changes.

[Money99]

Re: NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions He

There's a number of things they removed that I don't understand. They used to have players skate out on the ice for the three starts of the game. That's been gone since NHL 11 as well. And after a goal they used to have a team "hug" cutscene, that's gone too.

To be fair, in real life I've seen far too many fights sparked from a big hit where an instigator penalty wasn't issued.

I love the new fighting engine. And I was happy to see I could initiate one prior to the faceoff by simply spamming the Triangle-button.
The only issue with that is the top fighters aren't always the guys that go.
In one scenario, Bergeron fought Bickell despite Chara being out there.
I'm sure some ratings adjustments can help with that though. And I didn't have to accept the fight either.

I'm having a hard time evaluating this game because my 10YO and 7YO son keep stealing the controller from me. They adore the NHL94 mode.
It was also hilarious to see that my 10YO got annoyed with me and my younger son because we always wanted to drop the gloves, "Can we play hockey now?!?!?", haha!

Demo's been a blast so far.

[JezFranco]

Re: NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions He

And I was happy to see I could initiate one prior to the faceoff by simply spamming the Triangle-button.
The only issue with that is the top fighters aren't always the guys that go.

This is in NHL13 also.
Spam the triangle before the face off, and the left winger (always?) will poke and slash at his opponent before the faceoff, and in most cases start a fight upon drop of the puck.

[emericaridr11]

Re: NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions He

No, not all of us.

agreed... dont tell me what i do, haha

Honestly dont get why everyone likes to play online, i mean offline is wild but... I cant stand playing against the people who play this game online

way too serious, gotta win, gotta win..... hate that

[Redshirt_EA]

Re: NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions He

still easy as ever.
sucks.
but i remember redshirt saying this was his biggest problem with the game and it probably wouldnt be fixed unless they remade the whole game.

Wait what? No, didn't say that and I don't think that.

[canucksss]

Re: NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions He

There's a number of things they removed that I don't understand. They used to have players skate out on the ice for the three starts of the game. That's been gone since NHL 11 as well. And after a goal they used to have a team "hug" cutscene, that's gone too.

yes if i could add:

1. NZ defense - im sure this was present (as promised via promotion) at the start of 13, but somehow disappear after either a tuner or patch. WHY? Because lots of players complaint about it?

2. Line matching - im not sure if this was in 11 or 12 but it was great to finally adding this feature. WHY REMOVE IT?

Yea this game makes some improvements here and there, but why EA remove some features that ACTUALLY IN THE REAL GAME?

Yeah I know. Depressing isn't it?!

IT IS!

[peter21]

Re: NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions He

Well, as much as I love my hockey, I think this might be the year NHL gets a 'pass' from me. Time to wait until the next generation.

I've played the demo and I like quite a bit about it: the hitting, the d-men strafing, some different types of goals, the fighting engine. All good stuff.

But essentially, this seems like what amounts to a large patch to NHL 13. Is it worth a $60 purchase? To me, that's not proper value based on what I'm seeing from the demo.

I play mostly EASHL now, and our team has gotten monumentally frustrated since there are mainly just glitching teams on there now. I might be persuaded if we can get a full team of guys that like to play for fun, but at this point my money is going to go to FIFA only for EA sports products.

[Moose24x]

Re: NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions He

Actually, whoever said that there should be a studio that creates an online only EASHL title that requires no NHL licensing and just allows you to create and manage your players, create a team uniform, gear your player and play online against others is a GENIUS.

If that happened, the attributes and ratings and the way they effect EASHL, and the tuning of the game could all be catered to EASHL players to balance and perfect that game mode.

Meaning us offline gamers could finally have attributes that actually WORK and tuners that make changes that make sense for people other than those whining about their EASHL experience.

Two separate titles would be huge. And might actually lead to increased sales.

[Money99]

Re: NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions He

Well, as much as I love my hockey, I think this might be the year NHL gets a 'pass' from me. Time to wait until the next generation.

I've played the demo and I like quite a bit about it: the hitting, the d-men strafing, some different types of goals, the fighting engine. All good stuff.

But essentially, this seems like what amounts to a large patch to NHL 13. Is it worth a $60 purchase? To me, that's not proper value based on what I'm seeing from the demo.

I play mostly EASHL now, and our team has gotten monumentally frustrated since there are mainly just glitching teams on there now. I might be persuaded if we can get a full team of guys that like to play for fun, but at this point my money is going to go to FIFA only for EA sports products.

This is why I hope that one day sports games move to a 24-month release period.
I owned NHL13 for 2 days so I basically skipped the game entirely.
Now playing NHL14, after basically not playing any EA hockey for 2 years, feels a lot more fresh.

A 24-month period would also give the developers a lot more time (time off as well), so that they stay fresh and don't feel as much stress and pressure in such a short turnaround period.

This will never happen because the current system still generates a tonne of money.
But I can dream, can't I?

[Splitter77]

Re: NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions He

Wait what? No, didn't say that and I don't think that.

Ha.sorry about that. It was an old post.
I just remember you didn't like they fact it was an issue.
Hopefully its better in the full version of the game.

[bwiggy33]

Re: NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions He

Well I finally got a chance to play the demo and honestly it doesn't do anything for me but reassure myself I won't be purchasing. There are some positives, but it just feels like the same exact thing over and over and over.

One thing I like is the hitting. I love the no button (even though you can use the RS) because it actually uses impact, speed, timing, angle, etc. into the hit. That's how it should be. It also hits at the proper times which was a fear that many people had when the change was announced.

With the skating I don't feel too much change but that could just be because I haven't played 13 since the first round of the playoffs. It seems a little smoother. Honestly the skating couldn't get anything but better.

Another thing I liked was the after whistle tugging and what not. It looks pretty cool. I dislike the fighting though. I just think it's stupid. More realistic, yes. However, to have this as a huge feature just ticks me off because the fights last 20 seconds. Just dumb.

The feeling I get is the same with every other past NHL game. It is just way too wide open and takes 0 skill. The NHL is all about creating your own space to shoot and get scoring chances. That is non existent in this game. I've said it before but this game is all about flinging long passes and entering the zone by yourself to shoot or deke. How people don't get bored with this is beyond me. The defensive pressure is just severely lacking. I've had numerous times where my players are going on a line change and I'm entering the zone 1 on 3 or 4. In that circumstance the CPU should step up and take the puck away to transition. They don't though and I can skate right into the slot and shoot or deke. It just kills the game.

For me I just don't understand this series. What is the point of having options like All Star, Superstar, and Hardcore Simulation if there is no difference in the way the CPU plays? The defensive pressure is the most notable. It's so frustrating that this game has so many different game styles and options yet every one of them are still catered to people who are casuals. I should be forced to dump the puck in, pass to my teammates to create chances, etc. I feel none of that.

May I also add that in my 5 games I nor the CPU have gone offsides 1 time. That is not a joke, that is the honest truth. That's inexcusable IMO. I hate talking trash about this game but it just sucks that it's the same issues (or lack of changes) every single year. We should be at a point where each game style plays differently so that everyone can enjoy the game how they want. Sadly that isn't the case. I'm hoping and praying Next Gen can get it right.

[actionhank]

Re: NHL 14 Demo Available Now For 360, Later Today For PS3 - Post Your Impressions He

Well I finally got a chance to play the demo and honestly it doesn't do anything for me but reassure myself I won't be purchasing. There are some positives, but it just feels like the same exact thing over and over and over.

One thing I like is the hitting. I love the no button (even though you can use the RS) because it actually uses impact, speed, timing, angle, etc. into the hit. That's how it should be. It also hits at the proper times which was a fear that many people had when the change was announced.

With the skating I don't feel too much change but that could just be because I haven't played 13 since the first round of the playoffs. It seems a little smoother. Honestly the skating couldn't get anything but better.

Another thing I liked was the after whistle tugging and what not. It looks pretty cool. I dislike the fighting though. I just think it's stupid. More realistic, yes. However, to have this as a huge feature just ticks me off because the fights last 20 seconds. Just dumb.

The feeling I get is the same with every other past NHL game. It is just way too wide open and takes 0 skill. The NHL is all about creating your own space to shoot and get scoring chances. That is non existent in this game. I've said it before but this game is all about flinging long passes and entering the zone by yourself to shoot or deke. How people don't get bored with this is beyond me. The defensive pressure is just severely lacking. I've had numerous times where my players are going on a line change and I'm entering the zone 1 on 3 or 4. In that circumstance the CPU should step up and take the puck away to transition. They don't though and I can skate right into the slot and shoot or deke. It just kills the game.

For me I just don't understand this series. What is the point of having options like All Star, Superstar, and Hardcore Simulation if there is no difference in the way the CPU plays? The defensive pressure is the most notable. It's so frustrating that this game has so many different game styles and options yet every one of them are still catered to people who are casuals. I should be forced to dump the puck in, pass to my teammates to create chances, etc. I feel none of that.

May I also add that in my 5 games I nor the CPU have gone offsides 1 time. That is not a joke, that is the honest truth. That's inexcusable IMO. I hate talking trash about this game but it just sucks that it's the same issues (or lack of changes) every single year. We should be at a point where each game style plays differently so that everyone can enjoy the game how they want. Sadly that isn't the case. I'm hoping and praying Next Gen can get it right.

You hit most of my points right on the head.
I most likely won't be purchasing this year either. I think the skating has definitely improved (I haven't really had to deal with trying to get a guy going up-ice and having him pivot like he's skating in mud) but then again, the skating was fine in the NHL13 Demo, until Sliders and tuners affected it.
I just don't feel that there's going to be enough to keep me interested.
Be a GM got pretty much ignored this year, and i don't know that sliders will be enough to address the issues i have.
The defense is still so passive. I skated in on Zdeno Chara, and instead of using his reach while skating backwards to force me to do something, he just skated backwards in front of me, screening the goalie as i shot through his legs.
The AI in general seems to not have changed much. I was playing earlier and managed to have 2 AI defenders on me, while the other was still entering the zone. My AI teammate was in the right faceoff circle, as i skated towards the corner. Instead of skating towards the net since he was alone, and would be wide open for an easy shot, he just sad still as the AI followed me, and he eventually got covered as i passed to him for a one-timer that had no chance of going in because of his awful positioning.
I was hoping the demo would alleviate any fears i might have about the gameplay not changing, and it could be fun enough for me to ignore the other problems i have with BeaGM as long as the gameplay itself was fun, but it looks like it won't be able to do that.
Oh well, gives me more money to save up for a Next-Gen purchase.