NHL 14 Available Now - Post Your Impressions Here

[elvis_13]

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

Very disappointed with this new release so far. Spent all of about three hours playing. Lots of glitches, unbelievable comebacks by the cpu when they're down. The list goes on etc....etc.

I think I'll be shelving this title for a while, if I don't end up trading it in @ Gamestop next week for the new GTA. As much as I love NHL 13, to me this newest release has come up way short in overall enjoyment. Typical EA. They work a franchise up to a certain point. Use a lot of PR to entice gamers at how great the next release will be. Put together a slough of flashy produced videos. You're on the hook and they reel you in. This is why I haven't purchased anything from EA sports football franchise in well over seven years.

Business as usual from the folks @ Electronic Arts. What really sucks is that I'll trade this in next week and lose out 35-40% of what I paid for it. This is what pisses me off most. When you purchase a dud of a release.

[Splitter77]

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

ame last nite.
played about 3 games in season mode.

positives

the td garden is in
soft passes actually work now
cpu defense in net front battles is better.
cpu passing accuracy at lowest level does seem to create missed passes now.
more icings than last year
better post sound
sim speed on ps3 is better
love the fighting with the zoom turned off- hoping for a cpu / cpu fight while my fight is going on. is that possible??

negatives

still too easy to gain offensive zone
hitting is still too effective- this with assistance on 0 and power at 0
still not enough offsides/loose pucks/whistles
stupid behind the back receiving pass animation is still in there.
still human defense controls lacking
faceoffs still the same
still no whistles as soon as goalie saves- the game makes the goalie pass the puck out all the time. hate this. another online cater.
presentation still stinks
no boxscores from previous games played.

not a bad game. still the best hockey game ever made, but its not great. this game needs stick on stick collison asap. and better cpu defensive ai and better defensive controls.

havent even checked out other parts of the game (like create team), but its probably just like nhl 13- awful.

[Steven547]

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

My quick impressions:

Well, I picked up NHL 13...err..I mean NHL 14. I had to do a double take when I walked out of Gamestop because even the cover, minus the 75 year old goalie, looked the same as last year.

Presentation:
What? Where? It's identical to last year. EA said they listened to the community? Who was the community, bunch of blind people? Nothing has changed. There is not group celebration after a goal....score in OT and get the same cutscene you had the past 3-4 years.

Commentary?
Oh where to start. Let's just say that I was playing against Washington as Chicago, and the commentators said, "That's why Nashville picked him up....." Wait...what? I'm playing as Chicago against Washington....

So I'm playing as Chicago again and the commentators mention winning the Cup in 2010 not 2013....also saying that the Chicago fans are like New York fans (or something like that). I heard that line I think in NHL 12! Update much EA? And the amount of mispronounced names in this game.......ugh! Well, at least we get 5 new songs to listen to...after all the BIP music doesn't work.

Presentation is VERY stale and needs a drastic change. To me, this is a sign of lazy developers. Fire away if you want, but when the presentation hasn't changed in years, you have to ask why.

Gameplay?
Not bad, but not where it should be and definitely don't know what EA meant when they said they listened to the community. This game is NHL 13 1/4....not even 1/2. What they've addressed gameplay wise, could have been done with a patch last year.
It's still "fun" but should never have been $60 for what was basically an "update".

NHL 94 anniversary mode?
IMO, waste of effort. It's basically a different rink with all rules turned off (something we can do ourselves.) If they wanted to bring in a cool new "Game mode", they should have included Mutant League Hockey (for those that remember) as an added bonus instead of NHL 94 Anniversary mode (when did we even start having an anniversary for NHL 94??)

Overall, it's good but not worth the $60. If you can, hold off until it's used or drops in price. I still haven't seen anything in this game that has made me say "WOW!" Again, just my opinion.

Let me add onto my post because the more I play, the more impressions I have:

- No Roster sharing...again (thought EA said they listened to the community)
- No Slider Sharing or ability to save multiple slider settings (thought EA said they listened to the community)
- There were more penalties in one period of play during the DEMO than I or a lot of others have had in multiple offline games.
- In 5 games, have only had 2 fights....and trust me, I was trying to pound guys with checks.

This game is very disappointing to say the least. With all the marketing and push to make us think they really revved up the game for this years version, epic fail. I went out and bought it at launch, so I'm out $60. If I trade it in, i'll be out $35. So I will try and have fun with what it is, but probably won't buy next years version. Fool me once.....

[goh]

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

"Oh hey that NHL 94 mode looks cool. I guess I'll rent it."

AI scores on 2 of 3 first shots. Including one of the old "we're going to score and there's absolutely nothing you can do it about it." crap that's been there's the last 2 years.
Turn it off.
Start up next game.
AI scores on first shot.
Keep playing.
Get up 2-1.
Suddenly and inexplicably down 3-2 in about a span of 2 minutes even after having raised my goalie awareness to max after the first shot and playing as the Kings.
Turn it off.

This is almost the exact same complete and utter 100% pile of ****. Except now your goalies are entirely useless and there's 3 fights per period. (That's with 10 minute periods so I guess 6 if you're playing with 20.) Not even optional anymore. "Here's a fight. Good luck." Fight slider? Default. Only other option? Even more or none. This is like Madden 2005 where they introduced the hitstick and it resulted in 5+ fumbles per game.

Same pile of **** comeback AI.
Same pile of **** "you can't do anything about us scoring".
Same pile of **** goalies.
Same pile of **** up and down no stoppages/offsides/penalties except for the 3 fights per period. (On "hardcore simulation" no less.)
Same pile of ****.
BUT HEY EVERYONE...WE HAVE A MODE WITH BLUE ICE NOW!
Hang on a sec...big news...you can now also tuck in your socks in create-a-pro. Holy crap! What an innovation.

How these people keep their jobs I have no clue.
How the testers that play this and say "this is fine" keep their jobs I don't know.
How this scores more than a 0 in any review...well I do know ($) but they should be fired too.
Every single copy of this game should be burned in a giant microwave.

12 was -30
13 was a -29.5
I have no choice but to entirely break my scale for this one and give it -60/30. Not a single issue was fixed and even more were introduced. I mean got damn. It's the only hockey game so they're going to keep getting away with this and people are still going to buy it. I don't care if you have to bring back Fox Sports NHL or Konami's game but for the love of Gretzky someone do something.

[thedudedominick]

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

I'm personally loving this game.

It's not perfect by any means, but playing EASHL I am actually enjoying the smoother skating, calling penalties on guys for hits that should always have been penalties even if they didn't get called in 13. Also the new fighting system really adds to immersion in the EASHL.

[goh]

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

So I says dangit Imma get my rental money out of this crap and play be a pro/live the life. This has gone downhill too.

I have still yet to get through a game without at least 2 fights. There was 3:04 left when a fight happend in the last game and I thought it was the only one but there was another earlier when I wasn't on the ice.

I've had numerous 4-10 second shifts on the rare time there's actually one of those stoppage things I get booted off the ice almost instantly. Also watched the AI player I was suppoed to be replacing bang against the boards like an idiot until someone scored. Have flatout missed shifts. I hit sim to shift and no one comes off. This even happend DURING shift where my controls didn't work anymore and my stamina bar turned clear. The following one it wouldn't let me on.

My player was NOT in the Memorial Cup celebration. At all. Didn't hold it up. Wasn't in the photo.

Made sure I wasn't going to be drafted #1 because I hate Colorado but then my number was taken with the Panthers. I can't change my number anymore for some reason and it stuck me with 21. Before the pre-season I had to answer another exactly the same interview question for their farm team.

TWO 10-7 games.

They still call females by the male descriptors even though this is the 3rd year they've been in the game.

It asks me to connect online so I can buy their microtransactions every time I go to update player boosts that I unlocked. I eventually get to it but have to cancel out of 3 screens first. Disgusting.

Why is everything Tim Hortons? I don't think a lot of these places even have Tim Hortons.

Finally the ENTIRE right side and much of the middle of the defensive zone is UNPLAYABLE in be a pro. I estimate it at 5 frames per second.

At this point an update to PowerPlay Hockey is acceptable.

[onlybygrace]

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

Well, hello.

Have spent about 10 hours with the game in 3 days since release and so far I'm pretty happy with the game.

I was afraid of it being a goal fest but really scoring (with the right sliders, duh) is so very gratifying...couldn't imagine how awesome this game would be with some kicka** presentation, but I digress.

I'm playing a season playing every game as the Blues and the Pens and both teams play a lot differently. The Pens aren't very gritty and rely a lot of Sid and Geno whereas with the Blues I am really able to lean on teams with their heavy hitters and depth. I believe I'm 2-1-1 with both teams.

That said, the sim engine I feel has taken a step backward this season. They really should have just left that alone. In NHL 13 Sid would put up huge seasons and barring injury was found right where he should be, number one in league scoring. Not this year...seems like the low scoring sim engine of NHL 11 and 12 is back.

Which is why I'm playing Season Mode so I can just be Sid and put up some points like he should. Although I've only accumulated 1 goal and 2 assists with him in 4 games. Oh well...I'm sure the points will come.

The fighting is cool even if it is overdone...it seems flicking the right stick will eliminate some fights so I try to use it when the players and timing aren't appropriate. But if the game makes me, I'm throwing down!!! lol

...but then I usually lose.

The penalties seem to be geared for how you play the game plus the right slider combos. Longer periods also help. In 8 total games with the two teams I'm probably seeing 5 PP's per game but have had several 5 on 3's (maybe 4) and even some 3 on 3 action!!!

The comeback AI is probably more of a user issue, not knowing how to protect leads...its not there, IMO.

It's funny, so many people I watched streaming video of the demo on Youtube complain when something happens to them, but say nothing when they are the beneficiary of the same circumstances moments later.

Typical humans.

But yeah...tonight I had some moments where I was in awe of the gameplay. Lots of turnovers and neutral zone action too...good stuff.

Overall, I'd say its the best of the generation and will keep playing this until they finally decide to blow out the presentation like 23 years from now.

[Money99]

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

Had another very enjoyable evening with NHL14 last night.
First, two games against the kiddies. My younger son is basically Dan Carcillo on ice - completely devoid of any worth except to hit and fight, haha.
My older son is having an absolute blast with the game. He scored the GWG in OT and I thought he was going to wake the neighbours up.

When they went to bed, I got in another "Play Now" as the Hawks vs the Wings.
I lost 4-3 but didn't feel cheated. Franzen had a beauty where he made a little move around my charging dman, and sniped it topshelf.
Dats and Zetts were a nightmare to contain as well, both setting up multiple goals.

I had a nice one with Kane, after he came out of a scrum to put one past Howard, and Sharp sniped one for the top of the circles.
Shaw managed to get us within one after banging home a rebound, but I couldn't get the equalizer.

I'm looking forward to more time with it tonight - after the Tigers game.

[speels]

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

Had a great game last night as the PRed's against the Ducks. Getzlaf and Perry lit me up for 2 goals a piece, but I was able to squeak 3 past Hiller and had a chance in the dying seconds of the game, but he made a key save on a one timer across the crease. It was a thing of beauty!! I made the pass and instead of shooting it hign glove side, I aimed at the middle of the net and hit him in the crest of the jersey.

I play SS, hardcore sim with no slider changes. The game was intense, and if I didn't have Weber on thei ice with Perry and Getz then I was in trouble. There was 5 fights, all of which were after I had big hits, which is kind of annoying, that being said 2 were charging amd boarding penalties as well so I was not that updat with those, and 1 was when Weber caught Selanne coming across the middle with his head down and absolutely mashed it.

Moreso this year than any of the last couple, I find myself on the edge of my seat while playing. I have only had 1 time where the CPU goes into crazy berserker mode, but my goalie, I think it was Luongo, made about 11 saves in a minute and kept me in the game. I won that game 4-2 allowing 2 late goals by losing faceoffs in my end being down 2 players.

I am having a blast this year so far and look forward to the revamped rosters to make the separation between teams even bigger. As well, I will tweak sliders when I get a little more comfortable, but am finding SS, hardcore sim to be pretty fun.

[peter21]

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

Finally got the game last night and got to play some EASHL with my team.

My initial impressions are tempered by my frustration at playing against team that already had players rated 82 when our team is about 55-58. That's a bit of a joke and didn't make for a fun series of games.

It's the same up-and-down, cherrypick cheese-fest it's always been. If you want to make it more arcade than sim, I could live with it if the game was fun, but like last year, teams just do the same things game in and game out.

I'm going to give it some time before I completely write the game off though. One area I have to say is almost embarrassing for EA is the presentation and lack of substantial changes from 13. I'd be ashamed if I was a developer and I say that with all due respect for how tough it must be to program in a short cycle. This is a $10 upgrade at best. The FIFA 14 demo already looks head and shoulders above the full NHL 14 game.

I haven't explored the offline modes yet, but from everything I've read, they've gotten neglible attention, or an undercooked (Live the Life) overhaul. All so they can hype how improved it is next year? It's always next year with EA.

So far, I'm pretty disappointed. I enjoy the laughs chatting with my friends in EASHL and that's the only reason I'm sticking it out for a week or two.

[pmurray20]

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

ESHL we my team is 2-8-2 haha BUT we are having so much fun just playing as players on the same team but you will never guess what happend last night that made us all just flat out turn our games off for the night. Since last night was the first playoffs we actually won every game and somehow made it to the FINALS. We were so excited and pumped and wanted to win so bad and then the game started and we went up 1-0 in the first 6 minutes then after that goal they decided to cheat and IP booted us one player at a time which gave us a DNF so we lost WTH. why would people just cheat like that

[DJ]

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

Was finally able to purchase the game this morning. Will play a few games tonight after I'm done watching college football, and will report back with impressions.

[DJ]

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

Played my first game and overall I enjoyed the experience. For those expecting a big leap forward from NHL 13, you're not going to find that here. I do think the refinements made to the game make for a more-polished prodcut, but is that worth $60? I can't answer that question, it is up to you to decide. For me, this is one of the handful of games I buy every year, so I am happy with the purchase and how much money I spent.

The skating is better than last year. Not as herky-jerky and players seem to have more weight to them when moving along the ice.

There's a lot more contact in this game, and that's for the better. I like being able to ride Selanne into the boards with Erik Johnson to slow down the opposition's offensive rush.

The new L-stick hitting is cool (you can still use the R-stick like I did several times out of old habit) and the game does a good job of recognizing when you are pulling up to avoid a hit, so you don't feel suctioned into contact.

There was one fight in my game, which was played on All-Star/Hardcore Simulation, 9-minute periods with no slider adjustments. CPU tried to engage me a handful of times, but I ignored the request to drop gloves.

CPU took 3 penalties (charging, interference, tripping) in addition to the fighting penalty, so that was good to see.

Goalies are going to have to be monitored, and may need a bump down (or two) in reaction time. Saw a few too many highlight-reel saves, but it was only one game so I won't overreact just yet.

Teammate AI seems about the same, but did notice a bit more off-puck movement from wingers trying to get in position for a one-timer or shot attempt. CPU offense is very similar, too. They'll make some efforts to cycle the puck, but still mostly it is pass-shoot or pass-pass-shoot.

Noticed that the Pepsi Center rights are gone, it is now Colorado Stadium. Boo! I know that's not EA's fault, though.

Commentary and presentation are near-identical to last year. I really hope these two areas are addressed with the move to the new consoles because they are a sore spot currently.

Off to play some more ... enjoy!

[topside]

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

Let's face it guys this game is horrible. Worst 60 bucks I've spent since umm last year on NHL 13. They never fix any of the issues from the past. Penalties are still an ongoing problem. The easy entry into the zone is just laughable.. I mean in what world do defenseman just skate straight back into their own goalie?? Hardcore simulation sliders lol were they serious with this? Hardcore sim sliders should be high impact sliders. EA has offended me with this crap. I've tried everything to make this game more realistic and enjoyable to no avail.

Oh yeah the rosters and player ratings are just ridiculous. How is it possible everyone and their mother has a 85 wrist shot power, 80+ pass accuracy? Drew miller is just as good a skater as Datsyuk for heavens sake.

Sorry fellas I'm just so irritated with EA.

[Money99]

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

Maybe many of you have already figured this out, but it seems to me that if I stick to L-stick hitting only, there are hardly any 'big' hits or fights that follow.
I've noticed that whenever I use the right-stick, that's when most fights start to break out.
I'll have to experiment with a game and try to force myself to use L-stick only (habits are hard to break).