NHL 14 Available Now - Post Your Impressions Here

[onlybygrace]

Re: NHL 14 Available Now for Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions

OK what the hell, I just got sent down to the minors to start season 2 of my skater career after posting 100+ points, wining the Stanlely Cup, the Conn Smythe, the Rocket Richard, the Art Ross, the Calder, the Hart, and the Lady Byng the previous season.

We finished the preseason undefeated and I had 20 points in those games.

Why on earth would I get sent down? This has to be a prescripted event in Live the Life mode or something. Makes no sense unless it was coded to happen to every skater at the start of year 2.

Maybe you had an off ice incident...a drug rehab stint...I dunno. None of this is suprising anymore.

[jyoung]

Re: NHL 14 Available Now for Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions

I have a 100 rating in all four categories (fans, teamates, management, family), so it wasn't an off-ice issue.

The message told me was that they were "disappointed with my performance" and were sending me down for underperforming.

I guess 20 points and an undefeated preseason just wasn't enough for the game. Not to mention the previous season with all the awards and 100+ points.

The only explanation is that it must be a prescripted event that happens in season 2 automatically.

[Perfect Zero]

Re: NHL 14 Available Now for Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions

Since I have Season Ticket, I thought I would give the game a try. I like hockey, but I used to follow the Brahmas and the CHL a lot more than the NHL. With the Brahmas folding, it looks like I'm going to be following the Stars more often. In any case, I like the game of Hockey, but I'm not at the level of knowledge as I am with Baseball, so bear with me.

First of all, the game looks solid from a graphic standpoint. It helps that the NHL is the best dressed professional league, but everything comes off crisp and the textures look really good. My first game was Dallas vs. Winnipeg which ended up being a 1-0 loss for me (DAL) late in the third. There were problems with the game slowing down in the second period and not being very responsive. That kind of happened a little bit in the second game where I got creamed as Pittsburgh against the Islanders 4-0, but I'm thinking that it might have been the download.

The passing game is really killing me right now, and I'm having trouble setting up plays. I don't know if this is a buy from me or not now.

[jyoung]

Re: NHL 14 Available Now for Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions

It's where you change grips constantly on the faceoff.

You can beat a face off spammer pretty easily by doing a forehand stick lift. Just make sure to time it early to compensate for the lag.

[Nomah5]

Re: NHL 14 Available Now for Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions

Pardon my ignorance but this faceoff spam... What would my opponent be doing on his end to "cheat" and win faceoffs? I guess I have never really seen that big of a discrepancy on faceoffs last year when playing online.

[jyoung]

Re: NHL 14 Available Now for Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions

1) It's a violation of NHL rules. In a real game of hockey, the center would get kicked out of the face off circle. Then the guy who replaces him would get a minor penalty if he drew early again.

2) It's taking advantage of lag. A player who constantly spams the faceoff animation is going to have his input register first compared to a player who waits to draw based on what he sees on his screen.

[SinisterAlex]

Re: NHL 14 Available Now for Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions

Pardon my ignorance but this faceoff spam... What would my opponent be doing on his end to "cheat" and win faceoffs? I guess I have never really seen that big of a discrepancy on faceoffs last year when playing online.

1) It's a violation of NHL rules. In a real game of hockey, the center would get kicked out of the face off circle. Then the guy who replaces him would get a minor penalty if he drew early again.

2) It's taking advantage of lag. A player who constantly spams the faceoff animation is going to have his input register first compared to a player who waits to draw based on what he sees on his screen.

The easiest way to tell if a guy is face off spamming you is when your opponent looks like he is having a seizure in the face off circle. Moving all over the place, shaking, switch hands, etc. It's pretty obvious.

I've played center exclusively since EASHL/OTP was introduced in NHL 09. I consider myself a very good center in this game the past few games I averaged around 70% face off wins. But when you run into a moron who face off spams you, it's probably the most infuriating thing for a center man who tries to play legit.

Funny how the developers said you would be at a significant disadvantage if you didn't choose your hand in the face off circle, yet you can still face off spam with ease.

[gator3guy]

Re: NHL 14 Available Now for Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions

I'm predicting a return of super goalies. Just seems like shooting percentages are through the roof. Just played 4 games online and managed to score 7 or more in each. Now I wasn't playing the best of competition, but even my opponent managed to put up multiple goals on significantly fewer shots. Off the top of my head, the last game I had 7 goals on 32 shots and my opponent managed to get 5 on 15 against Price :facepalm:

I really hope I'm wrong because it's nice to be able to score on one timers again this year.

I also hate that poke checks once again cancel shots. Now I'm not saying I should be able to shoot through sticks. I just wish the puck would deflect instead of stopping like the Bridgestone commercial.

They need to tune the hitting down a few notches. Guys are falling at a ridiculous clip. A guy squares me up. I expect to loose the puck, but he doesn't need to cripple every single time.

EA has been releasing new tuners though during the early release. I started playing Thursday and I believe there have already been 3 different sets. I think they bumped up penalties. I played a game and had 36 PIM's and only one was my own doing. The CPU was running around just running people without the puck. Needless to say that was pretty annoying since my opponent had a 5-3 for about 10 minutes.

They did add Scott Hartnell's hair though so that's cool.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: NHL 14 Available Now for Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions

Well, I had chalked up my defence's ineptitude to the fact that I was playing in the OHL with the Petes, I kept telling myself it was junior hockey, and that I can't expect them to play at an NHL level. However, it's just as bad at the NHL level. EA has this problem with the single player mode, like the person NEEDS to be on ice for something to happen. 4 goals(either way) will happen while I'm on the ice, and ONE when I'm off(I'm on the 3rd line!).

Defense really needs to be fixed, the computer players can just waltz in front of goal with little(read: no) resistance, which leads to obscenely easy chances on net. Not only that, they make the dumbest plays with the puck. I'm pinned against the boards? I should pass it to the other side of the ice, not to my teammate standing 24 inches away from me. They constantly will pass the puck in front of the net, leading to easy interceptions and even easier goals. In all honesty, it's a wonder these virtual players on my team don't manage to kill themselves just getting out of virtual bed every virtual morning. This needs to be addressed, badly.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: NHL 14 Available Now for Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions

Yeah, the defencemen's poor decision making makes Live the Life completely unplayable. I don't understand why EA makes the BaP gameplay different from the regular gameplay, regular gameplay with Position lock, I've had none of these issues, only in BaP. Two straight goals because instead of passing to a teammate, the defencemen decided to pass directly in front of the goalie, to no one's surprise, a member of the opposing team. It's like EA doesn't even want my $60, I was so ready to buy this game, and not look back, not so much anymore.

[onlybygrace]

Re: NHL 14 Available Now for Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions

Yeah Be a Pro or whatever has always had these issues...always!!! I gave up on that mode years ago...not sure why anyone plays it knowing its glaring shortcomings. Really, online play or Be-A-GM and Season Mode are the only playable modes...well Play Now also.

But yeah, Live The Life is perpetually flawed.

[CanuckJ]

Re: NHL 14 Available Now for Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions

Is season mode still only 1 season long? I'm thinking yes but would like to know for sure, I only play Be a GM over season mode cause I get more than 1 season with BAG.

[cromags21]

Re: NHL 14 Available Now for Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions

The skating is a lot better overall then NHL 13

The goalies are a little weak especially on goalline. Players can still shot top corner with no problems.

Wrap can be scored at a higher rate with goalies being so weak.

Goalie will need to be moving around more to make better saves from what I am hearing

I am guessing we will need to build our player up before we can actually see a difference in the game.

[cromags21]

Re: NHL 14 Available Now for Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions

But again, Just wait for EA to make tuners for the game. 1st one should be right after the release on Tuesday.

All the early released players will complain about something lol

[jyoung]

Re: NHL 14 Available Now for Season Ticket Subscribers, Post Your Impressions

Actually, there's already been about three different tuner sets released since I downloaded the game Friday afternoon.