NHL 15: Reviewer Impressions (PS4/XB1)

[KomicJ]

In fact, I'm gonna say a few more words, cause I finally found out what's been buggin' me.

Seing as NHL 15 is the first new "current gen" release, and that this first release been gutted out of so many modes and features, it feels like we've been presented a demo.

Is it exciting, enticing and promising ? Yeah ! Damn right it is ! I can't wait for NHL 16.

But as promising as it is, releasing it to the public at this point sends a message to my ears that I just can't agree with. This message is: "Good ! We're glad that you like it. But for now, that's as much as we can do...and we need YOU to finance our product, so we can take this demo to a full-game statuts next year. Because as of right now, we can't afford to skip this year's title, we need the money to bring it to the next level".

And as customers...well, I don't think it's quite our job now, is it ? Sure, I know...we are financing upcoming games by buying the one before. But we do it by buying full games. The part where you have to finance a studio in order to take a demo to the next level...that's the publisher's part ! Not the customers !

So it feels like EA's saying: "We like where you going with this, and we know you need more time, ressources and money to complete the job. However, we're not ready to pay for it. So we'll let our customers pay."

NHL 15 is nothing more than a kickstarter campaign !!! But with a poor attempt to disguise it as something else. That's what's bugging me !!!

[turbineseaplane]

Re: NHL 15: Reviewer Impressions (PS4/XB1)

To everyone not buying this game because of the missing game modes, Walmart will most likely give you 40 dollars for this game into November/December so if you buy it for 60 dollars, play it for a month or two it would only really cost you 20 dollars. It makes no sense not to buy it if you were planning on buying it to begin with

The only potential flaw in that logic this go around is if sales are bad up front.

If they are, you're likely to see the Amazon's and Wal-marts with discounts on new copies much sooner and thus buy-back prices will be in the tank as a result.

Only time will tell.

[canucksss]

Re: NHL 15: Reviewer Impressions (PS4/XB1)

To everyone not buying this game because of the missing game modes, Walmart will most likely give you 40 dollars for this game into November/December so if you buy it for 60 dollars, play it for a month or two it would only really cost you 20 dollars. It makes no sense not to buy it if you were planning on buying it to begin with

Thats not the point...of paying this eventually at $20.

THe point is..you're still giving EA the initial sale of a product that is bare in its essential.

[ZB9]

Re: NHL 15: Reviewer Impressions (PS4/XB1)

Is it worth it if all I play is ranked head to head online? (X1)

[Inflict]

It's perfectly reasonable for fans to be upset that several game modes didn't make it into this years game, but I feel that too many people feel entitled as EA has spoiled us with a plethora of game modes in the past few years. The fact is, there are still a lot of game modes to play and should be enough to keep most gamers occupied for awhile. It does suck however that GM mode is incomplete and has to be patched, but I would rather have the game tomorrow then wait an extra month for it.

The problem I have is the same thing everyone else is complaining about. This shouldn't be a full priced game. Those who have bought or pre-ordered the game should at LEAST get some free HUT stuff or a free subscription to EA access for a year. A precedent (regarding games modes transferred over from last gen) was set with the next-gen Fifa and Madden games last year, so it's easy to see why people are upset. Lucky for me, I pre-ordered NHL on Amazon during their E3 sale while the game was still 59 dollars (plus 15% off).

Hopefully, EA listens to their fans and is planning something special (I.E. more content updates). The NHL team is usually quite good with fan input and and their community.

[Inflict]

Also I wanted to point out that NHL 07, when it came out on 360, had several game modes missing from the previous generation. It was still a great game that made me purchase a 360.

[Wiggy]

Is it worth it if all I play is ranked head to head online? (X1)

If that's all you play, then you're probably going to have a better time than most. Again, the presentation and gameplay seem like they are something to care about, but a lot of users will feel quite adrift with so little to do and with so many missing pieces.

[ThaLiveKing]

I bet if this game came out in November people will still complain about it coming out later than usual. Nobody is forcing you to buy anything. The price is the price, deal with it lol

[KomicJ]

Re: NHL 15: Reviewer Impressions (PS4/XB1)

I bet if this game came out in November people will still complain about it coming out later than usual. Nobody is forcing you to buy anything. The price is the price, deal with it lol

I bet they would.

...however, not to the magnitude of what we've seen these past couple of days. A 2-months delay, in these circumstances, would've been much more accepted by the whole market than this.

Parts of that would of course require EA and the NHL dev team to communicate and be upfront about the issues (which they usually aren't very good at it), but if managed well, postponing the game, even if it had to be announced today, would be seen as a far better thing than this.

[centauris]

Re: NHL 15: Reviewer Impressions (PS4/XB1)

I dont understand you at all..If you buy it for 60 dollars and play it for 3 months, Walmart will give you 40 dollars for it trade in so youd really only play it for 20 dollars.

what are you talking about?

[ThaLiveKing]

They stated they are adding new features this month and next month, so they will be working on improving the overall quality of the game. Whether the improvements will satisfy most or some is yet to be seen. Maybe some will hold off and see what the improvements are before they buy it.

Guys like me have no choice, cause I love hockey games and my 360 is KIA, so lol. But judging by what they did with the content updates with UFC, the game actually improved over time, so hopefully it's the same way with NHL

[statnut]

Re: NHL 15: Reviewer Impressions (PS4/XB1)

Also I wanted to point out that NHL 07, when it came out on 360, had several game modes missing from the previous generation. It was still a great game that made me purchase a 360.

And that was then. When Madden and FIFA hit next-gen, they managed to get everything in and add things like coach glass, etc.

[KomicJ]

Re: NHL 15: Reviewer Impressions (PS4/XB1)

They stated they are adding new features this month and next month, so they will be working on improving the overall quality of the game. Whether the improvements will satisfy most or some is yet to be seen. Maybe some will hold off and see what the improvements are before they buy it.

Guys like me have no choice, cause I love hockey games and my 360 is KIA, so lol. But judging by what they did with the content updates with UFC, the game actually improved over time, so hopefully it's the same way with NHL

Believe me, I really hope it will. Just as I hope you'll have a blast playing NHL 15.

I'm from Montreal, so that gives you an idea how big of a deal the NHL series is for me. I owned every single game since the old SEGA Genesis days. So it's hard for me to skip this year's title. But without the ability to edit players (cause I'm that crazy the game), AHL Team and Auto-Draft (will be patched in), I just can't enjoy Be-A-Gm, which is the mode I'm primarily playing.

I thought the mode already had its flaws compared to other "Dynasty" modes in other sports titles (Scouting is weak, slow simulation, a few contract issues, offseason being way too basic, etc) so to see it go that much backwards is a dealbreaker for me.

But I'm stoked for NHL 16 though. Live draft is a feature that I was waiting for for quite a few years. If somehow they can get closer to Madden for Scouting, I will be a very happy gamer...next year !

[Inflict]

And that was then. When Madden and FIFA hit next-gen, they managed to get everything in and add things like coach glass, etc.

I mentioned this in my previous post. There is precedent for both previous next gen EA games (madden, fifa) but that does NOT justify having all the game modes in NHL (it does justify a price decrease however). Expectations need to be drawn from EA Sports NHL's previous foray into a new console market, not other franchises.

And regarding last year's Madden, it was just a glossy version of Madden 25 on PS3/360. Not a big upgrade in any way, IMO. Fifa 14 however, was a gem that will make it hard to recommend purchasing another Fifa game for years.

[scottyp180]

I can't understand how this game took a year off and is still missing so much. Nba 2k14, in comparison, released at lauch with the new consoles, had tremendous graphics (up there with the best for these consoles), was fully featured with some modes getting upgrades, and played well on the court (better than previous gen). NHL, in comparison, has great graphics, good presentation, solid gameplay (though not the major improvement I was expecting, but a lack of core modes. Sure 2k14 had its share of problems, issues, and glitches (which can be expected for a launch title) but on paper it would seem as though NBA was the game that took a year off not NHL.

I am picking up NHL since I do enjoy the gameplay and I mostly play quick games with friends but I am disappointed with the lack of change and improvement overall, including the missing features. When it was announced last year that NHL 14 would skip next gen launch my reaction was "Wow NHL 15 will be the real deal and show us what a next gen sports game should be". Wrong. The game, especially on ice, will still be fun and enjoyable but I am beyond surprised by the lack of features and innovation in this game.