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Re: NHL 16: Official Gameplay Balance Video, Trailer and Blog
I laughed at Andrej Sustr carrying the puck from his end to the other end unchecked completely. Go ahead, you big lumbering neanderthal, just take it up the entire length of the ice in four seconds, no one is going to stop you!
It looks like this year is an absolute don't buy for me. Where's the NZ pressure? A guy like Sustr would be pounced on immediately by the opposition and forced into making a mistake in real life.
The arcadey hockey in EA NHL is here to stay it looks like.Comment
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Re: NHL 16: Official Gameplay Balance Video, Trailer and Blog
I just want to pop back in and mention one thing that I liked.
Trying to focus on some positive here, at least this wasn't a dangle fest video with crap tons of goal scoring and highlight reel moves that EA seemed to think was so important in 15. It was 1-0 in the third period and it looked like a pretty good defensive battle. I liked the sticks in the passing/shooting lanes. I liked the defensive positioning a little better here than it was in 15. The skating does look much improved as well. In fact the improved skating leaves me a little optimistic.
However I still think there needs to be tweaks to how the AI plays defense. bigwill33 mentioned it a couple pages back in this thread, the defence needs to take away space and restrict the ice area that the puck carrier can access. When I play the CPU in a game I'd like to see the CPU skate forward and actually force me to make a quick decision in what I'd like to do with the puck instead of simply skating backwards toward it's own net. When the CPU backs off I could skate in all day to the zone and shoot at net with no problem. With a little pressure from the defenseman I'd actually have to sling the puck around the board or pass it off instead. I WANT to have to do this instead of it being like "Take the puck. Skate into the offensive zone. Shoot puck at goalie."
And please fix the ridiculous goalie saves. Goalies should rarely have to make crazy desperation saves. Keep it simple. End rant.Comment
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Re: NHL 16: Official Gameplay Balance Video, Trailer and Blog
The overhead gameplay video showed a bit more sloppy play than last year. I don't like the lack of neutral zone pressure though. Forwards were still skating into the opposing zone with ease and then laying down a deke. Granted, it looked like the deking wasn't very successful, so that's a plus.
Doc showed no excitement in his voice even though the game was in the last minute of regulation.
I really liked the AI intercepting that cross crease garbage. The defensive AI also seemed to disrupt the play and simply get in the way more which is a major positive.
I didn't see a lot of physicality in the video. No board play or jamming in the corners - which you see a ton of in real hockey especially in the closing minutes of play. Power forwards exist in the NHL for a reason, but in the game they're just slow and don't provide that strength advantage.
I think I saw a glimpse of a player dragging his foot to stay onside which is nice. However, I wish there were more occurrences of offsides from aggressive play in the game. I know stoppages in play are bad thing for online players, but it would be more realistic for offline play.
Overall, there were good and bad things about the video. I'd like to see how the game plays out after I throw the revamped rosters in there.NHL REVAMPED ROSTERS - CO-CREATORComment
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Re: NHL 16: Official Gameplay Balance Video, Trailer and Blog
Hmm... Anaheim was cpu controlled, correct? They were trailing late in this game and that is when the cpu presses the most (adjusts its strategies to do so). So, if that is the adjustment that will yield the most amount of pressure from the cpu, offline BaGM could be the same as always; a bit of a snooze-fest.
Maybe this isn't the case here (I doubt it), but they did state Allstar-Hardcore; maybe Superstar will have different results, but past iterations tells us that probably won't be the case.
I'd like to be optimistic, and I wish they would give us a level and a setting for a more sophisticated style of play, but I don't know, I don't think we're getting it this year.Comment
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I liked the balance video. The footage looked cool, but i think the seemless passes are something that I'll have to feel to understand and form an opinion. Can't wait for september.Comment
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Re: NHL 16: Official Gameplay Balance Video, Trailer and Blog
If the defense hasn't changed in regards to the AI playing when their net is (or should be) empty, then more aggressive play by the CPU won't matter much.
I always hated that the AI didn't play any differently when they're down by a goal, with a minute to tie it up. Same entrance into the zone, same lazy play setup, no passing from man to man, trying to move the defense and goalie. No trying to get it to your best shooter, or hell, even get your best players on the ice. I can't count the number of times I've seen a team roll their 4th line out for the last minute, while not taking a time out. There's really no pressure when they pull the goalie. Just block a shot or poke check, and then wait to get the puck back. After that, you simply walk it out, and easily score into the empty net.
Same is true on the opposite side. Your AI teammates are brain dead. No hustle to get the puck, no rushing to keep it in at the blue line, or crashing the net on the shot...everyone's just totally content with maybe losing...maybe winning. Who knows?Comment
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Re: NHL 16: Official Gameplay Balance Video, Trailer and Blog
Yeah, note that Shawn Horcoff and Nate Thompson are out there at the last minute for the Ducks.If the defense hasn't changed in regards to the AI playing when their net is (or should be) empty, then more aggressive play by the CPU won't matter much.
I always hated that the AI didn't play any differently when they're down by a goal, with a minute to tie it up. Same entrance into the zone, same lazy play setup, no passing from man to man, trying to move the defense and goalie. No trying to get it to your best shooter, or hell, even get your best players on the ice. I can't count the number of times I've seen a team roll their 4th line out for the last minute, while not taking a time out. There's really no pressure when they pull the goalie. Just block a shot or poke check, and then wait to get the puck back. After that, you simply walk it out, and easily score into the empty net.
Same is true on the opposite side. Your AI teammates are brain dead. No hustle to get the puck, no rushing to keep it in at the blue line, or crashing the net on the shot...everyone's just totally content with maybe losing...maybe winning. Who knows?Comment
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Re: NHL 16: Official Gameplay Balance Video, Trailer and Blog
Honestly, at this point Ea needs to accept that Doc will never be good and go get Good Miller. Even Jim Hughson is better. They need to stop wasting money on doc, nobody likes it. Also using real recorded videos and not modelling the announcers is some kind of lazy. As for the gameplay, I'll take a pass. This game has not evolved enough in the last 3-5 years to be worth 60 bucks. They should really consider switching to an agile development process over there because they are not delivering items of high value on a year to year basis. The gameplay hasn't evolved since littmann, the goalies don't even push off and nhl 2k8 did this. I'll save my money this year. I preordered it from Amazon with a 30% discount but I'm just going to cancel it. It's not worth my money.Comment
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Re: NHL 16: Official Gameplay Balance Video, Trailer and Blog
....not hearing any difference in the commentary like we were told there would be. One of the reasons I was so excited about the switch up last year was Docs emotion, its completely lacking, again.Comment
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I beileve last second goals or meaningful goals have been improved with more emotion. However it's really hard to get his emotion into the game without the audio sounding all chop and paste. Unfortunately you need all the core announcing to sound the same to sound natural. As long as he gets pumped when I score in OT or a last second goal I will be happy for the most part.Comment
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