NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

Many of this game's problems can be traced back to the fact that sticks still can't physically interact with anything except the puck.

Until sticks become solid objects that aren't allowed to clip through everything on the ice except the puck, the gameplay will continue to feel more like ping pong than hockey.

This is a great point. I want to ask, as a user who has played and written a lot about the series over the past few years, would you agree that this gen the boards are more or less a non-factor in gameplay as well? Stick interaction has never been a part of the series (and it should be), but now it feels like the boards are minimized as well.

I think stick interaction, in addition to the boards are a fundamental pillars of gameplay in hockey differentiating it from other flow sports like soccer or basketball.

If I were to emphasize anything about gameplay development going forward it would be sticks and boards mirroring their role in actual hockey.

[BL8001]

Re: NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

Adamjones it almost reminds me of what happened when EA's Football titles (Madden and NCAA) moved from PS2/Xbox to PS3/360 and while things looked better, the AI, in terms of spatial awareness and general game awareness took a huge hit. Where on PS2 running backs and QB's in Madden and NCAA seemed capable of navigating space in a semi-sophisticated manner, on 360/PS3 I remember how shocked I was by how stupid runners with the ball were (especially QB's) up until NCAA 14/Madden 16.

This, so much this...

To me, what happened is graphics took such a giant step forward and for whatever reason, gameplay/ai regressed.

I mean is this better than nhl 94? Of course it is.

But with how close to reality most of these games are becoming we want them to behave closer to reality too.

It is not too much to ask.

For the issue I had the video of, no look perfect passes from impossible situations, I dont know how they would fix this.

One plus for nhl is the cpu will score on you. I mean had he turned and passed it for the 1 timer it would have been fine. So maybe they can do that, maybe they can tweak it so cpu players need to use vision lanes better.

Because look, if I had the gameplay tutorial helper system on and put myself in the same spot the game would never tell me perfect pass would be behind you with a defender on your back.

[AdamJones113]

Re: NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

Agreed. Your analogy is spot on. Only problem is, I am pissed to accept a console/hardware generation migration equates to another decline in AI and gameplay quality. I think the board physics (?)/clipping is a huge issue. It allows too many impossible plays to happen—especially when you consider how many plays in hockey are started or sustained along the boards.

We also need a concerted effort to make the AI play hockey according to the physics the user is subject to, or proper hockey generally. The cpu rifling a no look pass should be a disaster most of the time—especially if they attempt to fire a behind the back pass from below the goal line. That should, in many cases, be a broken play, and battle for possession, or a turnover producing a two pass breakaway or two on one/two on two counter-attack situation.

I promise EA, the less tick-tack-toe passing, and the more authentic hockey the game plays, the more enjoyable it will be for all users.

While I don't like accepting it as an issue, I have to admit I don't know enough to accept otherwise. History points in that direction, so I take it unhappily.

Yeah, board-play/physics needs an overhaul. This is an example of very poor board physics, which is distressing considering the fact that, as you say, board play in real life has many more repercussions.

There's so much to talk about in regards to passing, but people have said it all already. No need for me to reiterate, so I'll focus once again on this particular video. And yeah, this pass is literally impossible in real life. You just can't do it. Yet it's possible, apparently, in NHL 16. BL8001, would love to see some more vids!

EDIT: just saw jyoung's post. Damn. Great point...

[BL8001]

Re: NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

Bad, re: board play.

I think I have a video of a fine use of it. Right after I turned my passing from manual on to off I played a beautiful pass off the boards.

With manual on I would have tried to play it up to the forward but with it off the game decided off the boards would be a more safe path and it was correct.

Let me see if I have the video.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

One thing I neglected to mention was that I though manual passing on gen 3 did a good job obeying physics and eliminating impossible passes like this. It wasn't perfect but you couldn't skate flat out and fire perfect cross ice (or short passes for that matter), and you certainly couldn't fire no look passes reliably into the slot. That sort of pass was rightfully a turnover. Passing, especially cross ice, is really hard in hockey, and contingent upon body and foot position, and skating momentum. I think representing the management of speed and passing was far better last gen.

On gen 3 the cpu offensive AI was pretty dull, generally, but below the goal line, instead of firing an impossible pass in front they probably would have worked it down low or up along the boards. That's all I want, an awareness/limitation of impossible passes and a compromise to the conservative play along the boards, or even trying to protect the puck in board play.

[BL8001]

Re: NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

Here is the better passing vid.

I apologize for the yellow circle, I now know how to turn that off.

<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/EwOPnctKRB0" allowfullscreen="" height="360" width="640" frameborder="0"></iframe>

[jyoung]

Re: NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

Timestamp 28:32 of this video is a good example of the lack of stick physics creating unrealistic scoring chances that wouldn't exist if sticks weren't allowed to clip through everything on the ice:

<iframe width="540" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WwfI2pcyBZc?start=1712" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Kane shouldn't have even been able to get a pass off here. His stick should have been disrupted by the nearby defender's stick. Instead he gets off a perfect saucer pass without any difficulty.

Then Anisimov's stick teleports through a nearby Wild defender's body and warps out the other side of his leg so that Anisimov can slam home a perfect one timer shot.

That type of play is basically the AI's only way to consistently score in this game, and it wouldn't even be possible if sticks had proper physics.

[AdamJones113]

Re: NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

Thank you kind sir. The passing DID indeed look better in that vid. But, in the off chance anyone of importance takes this particular post to heart, some negatives as well:

Is it just me or does the CPU back check suck in this game? An example being #42 David Backes, whose goal seems to be to meander to the net without much purpose. Equally bad is the Blues #15, who stands perfectly still, facing the puck... only metres from his man at the point. Boy, does he stand still. And then he starts moving, completely misses the puck carrier, and pivots poorly. Bad shift mate. Alex Pietrangelo (I believe, hard to make out the number) plays well, but forgets to cover the back post.

EDIT: just saw jyoung's vid, excellent example... any player worth his ice time would make the easy play on Kane's stick and take the puck away, since Kane is in a vulnerable position and poorly positioned to guard against exactly what the defensive player should do. The rest is just horrible.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

jyoung doing great yeoman's work with these videos. IMO that kind of stuff is just unacceptable. The only way the cpu scores is by moving the puck quickly and impossibly to get an advantageous shot. Again, not to beat a dead horse, but if a player in an attacking position on the puck is in tough spot I want to see them make a conservative play off the boards, reload the play if the defence isn't being pressuresd (i.e. defensive team is changing), or play the puck below the goal line or take a shot in hopes of gaining an o-zone faceoff.

The lack of stick and board interaction allows the cpu AI to take too many risks that, well, just can't happen in hockey unless you want to turn the puck over in a bad area. The Kane play is a bad representation of hockey that just gets worse. I'm not looking for the moon here, I just want the basics to be better. I truly believe it can be better and more fun at the same time.

[BL8001]

Re: NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

But...but...

And then this game goes and spoils it all by saying something stupid like I love you.

I shot post whistle and the cpu did not take kindly to it. Cpu picked a fight, my guy was iffy about it but one of my others players decided "let's roll" and started a fight on his own. Which I then proceeded to win.

<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/o0QOJwbc_hE" allowfullscreen="" height="360" width="640" frameborder="0"></iframe>

[Gerg04]

Re: NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

Just played 4 EASHL games, just 2 of us. Couldn't have been more fun.

A full team of like-minded players makes for a really fun game. Can't wait for Tuesday

[canucksss]

Re: NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

THanks Young for posting your video. This game is designed for ONLINE gamers and thats good for them. For me an offline, NOPE, BAD GAME. As simple as that (video), this is not worth the $60 FOR ME. I really dont care about the mascots and much improved presentation and bring back the missing features for BAGM. But gameplay such as these and tons more, its not worth it. MAYBE in 17, EA can focus on the offline gamer like me. ITS LONG OVERDUE. I placed this as "rent" at Gamefly, then I'll return it as soon as NBA 2k16 is released.

[CupCrazyManiac]

Re: NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

Timestamp 28:32 of this video is a good example of the lack of stick physics creating unrealistic scoring chances that wouldn't exist if sticks weren't allowed to clip through everything on the ice:

<iframe width="540" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WwfI2pcyBZc?start=1712" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Kane shouldn't have even been able to get a pass off here. His stick should have been disrupted by the nearby defender's stick. Instead he gets off a perfect saucer pass without any difficulty.

Then Anisimov's stick teleports through a nearby Wild defender's body and warps out the other side of his leg so that Anisimov can slam home a perfect one timer shot.

That type of play is basically the AI's only way to consistently score in this game, and it wouldn't even be possible if sticks had proper physics.

You should move this to the BUGS Thread, it's A BUG.

[CupCrazyManiac]

Re: NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

Can you practice with your BEaGM team or Season mode team?

No you can't practice in Season mode or BEaGM, only from the Main Menu.

[Entiae]

Re: NHL 16 Trial Available Now For EA Access Subscribers, Get 10 Hours of Gamplay

You should move this to the BUGS Thread, it's A BUG.

Is it, though?

Isn't this just how the game is designed to work?