NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

[speels]

Re: NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

What I'm annoyed with and basically getting sick of seeing is the stupid teammate defenders. CPU always has more than 75% of their passes landing. Usually in the 80%. Also, the crazy amount of SOG for the CPU. I play on All-Star and have CPU Passing accuracy, reception ease, and all my checking sliders maxed, and all CPU shot accuracy sliders at 0 and they still get 80% passes landing and >35 SOG.

I take away passing lanes. I know I could be better at stick lifting and poke checking, but still that's just insane to me. It seems when I go to pass or shoot the puck always finds one of their skates, sticks or bodies to deflect it. However, when I'm defending, the puck can magically find an opening. It' getting really frustrating. Some games seem realistic and some just seem so cheap. I feel like more feel cheap than realistic just based on what I stated above.

This is so true. My guys never throw there sticks in passing lanes and even when they accidentally intercept a pass, the CPU players are on them so quick that they can't even grab the lose puck. Also I am tired of the CPU always knocking the puck off my stick, yet I can never do that to them. I am not talking about using pokecheck or sticklift, I mean if I try to skate the puck through 2 defenders I never make it, yet the CPU always keeps the puck on their stick.

I love NHL, but sometimes I really feel that anything above Pro has some built-in CPU helps. I just played the Caps as the Bruins. I outshot them 40 -23 and lost 5-2. They scored on goal from the blueline along the boards a Chara pasted Wilson just as he was shooting. I mean Tuuka Rask makes that save 100% of the time, although 18 seconds before that I had ties the game at one. The later, I have 3 back to back powerplays, get 11 shots, some through screens, so one-times, and get nothing. They get a powerplay right after I am done, win the draw and a slapper from the point through nobody beats Rask. It sometimes is so blatantly obvious that I want to throw stuff. I use auto-aim so it's not like it's me always aiming for the same spots everytime.

Just gets frustrating when you play such a good game and lose to some pretty cheesy stuff.

[Brady2Moss81]

Re: NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

Probably mentioned but they need to make the crowd reaction much louder for goals. Was much better last year and it wasn't even perfect last year either. For shame.

I made a thread about this and there were no replies. REALLY kills the immersion. I want the playoffs to sound like the playoffs. These sound like AHL preseason games.

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[Smallville102001]

Re: NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

I made a thread about this and there were no replies. REALLY kills the immersion. I want the playoffs to sound like the playoffs. These sound like AHL preseason games.

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I have only played quick games but the crowd is to darn quit!

[bcruise]

Re: NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

So...this game's pretty good.

I picked it up when another title I was going to buy this year got delayed, and for the first few days I felt like I had made a terrible mistake. It still felt like the same non-stop North/South game this series has been for years. No flow to the game - it just didn't feel like hockey. On top of that, almost no penalties unless I was the one committing them. I was about to give up.

Then....the tuner. I actually had to initiate the Head to Head matchup search in order to trigger that - there was no prompt before the main menu like in Madden. But after I started playing a few games with that, everything changed. For the first time, I believe, ever in this series, I can actually feel the ebbs and flows of momentum. I can play good positional defense and be rewarded with realistic shot totals. I can draw penalties with good offense and, in desperation to prevent a goal, commit one to stop a surging CPU offense.

It's not perfect. It never will be by my standards because I want to be able to have this gameplay for full 20 minute periods. The AI is still hard-coded to be over-aggressive, charge through the neutral zone unless pressured and, at least on the defaults, be way too perfect in its execution. Even through slider tweaks to make the game "sloppier" that everyone knows, the longest I can go without getting shot totals out of whack is 10 minutes. I've always seen that as a compromise point in hockey games - half of a real period is at least enough time for me to get into the flow of the game.

One other thing....although I'm probably blissfully unaware of any problems in the mode, BAP on Authentic is playing AMAZING with the regular game settings I'm using. As long as I sim each shift that I'm not on the ice, the shot totals for the game look great - which means I'm not seeing excessive shots/goals while I AM on the ice. My shifts don't dominate the game, in other words - I feel like one small part of the whole team. The only thing is that, playing as my right-wing position, I have to cover down low a bit more often than I'd like to cover for an out-of-position D-man. Of course that leaves the point open and leads to trouble if I don't close out fast. But it's a small-ish price to pay to keep the shots down.

I'm going to post some videos of my gameplay in the Photography thread (yes, there are videos posted there too) so you guys can see what I'm talking about. Although this particular game was a bit too North/South for what I've been seeing in games, shot totals and penalties were dead-on. Also had its fair share of drama that I won't spoil. I'm also tossing around the idea of streaming my BAP.

I haven't had a hockey game that I've been able to truly enjoy since NHL2K3. My love of the actual sport has never decreased, but I've just had to take a long hiatus from its video game interpretation because I felt it had the wrong vision. It's not there yet - it's not close....but this is real progress IMO.

[jake19ny]

Re: NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

Couple positive little things I have noticed since I have gotten about a dozen offline games in.
CPU goes offsides
CPU dumps and chases
CPU ices puck
Pucks leave the rink a bit more
All those things seemed to be non existent in previous releases.
Also in case anyone missed it because it was in a thread that kind of got buried, move puck control up not down to have more lose pucks. It's worded odd but if you read what it says in the slider description it does let you know. It's also been tested and proven. I wouldnt max it out because then every time you touch a guy the puck cones lose and this might reduce penalties. Around 3 or 4 is good and reduces CPU shots which were way to many. I wish EA were more clear and consistent with slider description. It's weird how some have to moved down to increase things and some up to decrease things.

[MizzouRah]

Re: NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

Couple positive little things I have noticed since I have gotten about a dozen offline games in.
CPU goes offsides
CPU dumps and chases
CPU ices puck
Pucks leave the rink a bit more
All those things seemed to be non existent in previous releases.

Agreed! Much more stoppages due to these things this year, which is nice.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

Pretty big changes in the newest tuner. Skating feels much tighter and the cpu ping-ponging seems gone.

[bcruise]

Re: NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

Pretty big changes in the newest tuner. Skating feels much tighter and the cpu ping-ponging seems gone.

Thanks for the heads up. Noticed that the old one (that I based my impressions on) isn't selectable anymore so hopefully nothing got messed up.

[jake19ny]

Re: NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

Pretty big changes in the newest tuner. Skating feels much tighter and the cpu ping-ponging seems gone.

Is this a recent tuner? I'm not hone to check. If it is, is it 1.02? I don't like when they overwrite old tuners in case I prefer an older one. I thinkn it was NHL 14 they overwrote a tuner that I was using, that was excellent, to make online improvements, and wrecked it. fortunately I was able to go back to an older one but it wasn't as good.

[bcruise]

Re: NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

Is this a recent tuner? I'm not hone to check. If it is, is it 1.02? I don't like when they overwrite old tuners in case I prefer an older one. I thinkn it was NHL 14 they overwrote a tuner that I was using, that was excellent, to make online improvements, and wrecked it. fortunately I was able to go back to an older one but it wasn't as good.

Going by numbers, I don't know. I went to online play to check for it (had to initiate the ranked search) and it downloaded automatically.

I only have a choice of "Latest" and "v1.00" in the options though - same as the last tuner.

Not going to have a chance to play full games until after my Madden league game tonight. But I did notice a couple of board pins in the neutral zone by the AI, so there's that. Never saw it get aggressive trying to defend me there before.

[THESHAMISASHAME]

Re: NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

Had one of my best games yet in Playoff Mode where I lost 4-3 in OT to the Jets as I was Ducks at home as this game had it all and especially enjoyed Buff and Fowler scoring on PP blasts from the point on one timers very realistic !

I was outshot 43-17 ? as they really forechecked the crap out of me and was down 3-1 early but tied it up late on a ppg by Perry but then lost in OT on a wrister by Ladd ..
Overall the game had great pace as Winni really came at me right from the start so I may have to lower cpu strategy a click but after all it was only one game and playoff mode does play differently then the other modes .

Im still playing on Allstar 5 minutes pens maxed and get 4 to 6 PP combined a game but I raised goalie reaction to 5 and screen to 1 click but I sometimes see the ol puck pop up over the cpu goalie and drop down for a goal so a few more fine tunes to go before the regular season starts up
I really like on higher levels that this game forces you to play smart hockey like taking a Ice when the pressure is on or youll pay

The only thing missing in this game for me is Roster share and all real faces and once again EA NHL has set a strong foundation for the future

[jake19ny]

Re: NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

Tuner update has officialy ruined offline play. Thanks EA

[THESHAMISASHAME]

Re: NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

More random Impressions and thoughts as I came out hitting next game as STL at Home vs Minny and crushed them 5-1 and I heard alot of go blues go and when the Saints go marching in !

The tilted Ice must have effected me in that loss to the Jets so thats one of the things you have to adjust to while playing on default as I never been a big fan of using Intimidation in 2015 NHL as thats more suited for the Hound dog , Hammer and the Turk of hockey days passed .

As much as I dont like the high % passing if I really focus , FC ,BC and play the passing lanes I can keep the cpu in the 70 and 60% range and I think thats alls we can ask for without taking away the cpu attack .

I had 4 pp chances in the first period as Minny got frustrated so its great to see this built in Randomness so not all games have the same feeling and it will be interesting to see how the CPU AI adjusts to my play as the series gets deeper and I just cant express how much I enjoy the total NHL on NBC presentation , fans , signs ect and I wish all sports games went this route as it ties together seamlessly and will hopefully be built upon by the EA NHL team for years to come .

Been playing the game all day and night and noticed nothing that wrecks the game do to the tuner accept tons more penalties and tighter cpu D on the puck with alot more stick work but penalties are mostly trips that can easily be adjusted by sliders so at least guys not getting penalties now have more depth so all are happy.
But I probably stick with the first version so I wont have to tweak sliders

[phillyfan23]

Re: NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

Then I'm guessing the passing attributes have nothing to do with actual accuracy?
Those attributes must come into play to decide whether or not the pass is intercepted or deflected.

That's too bad.
I was watching some pre-season hockey inbetween breaks in the Jays game and I saw several errant passes.
Most came off the stick of AHLers, but I did see a fair share from established 3rd and 4th line NHLers as well.

I have no idea how the pass accuracy affects cpu passing....on 0 pass accuracy, I had a good number of errant passes so it does affect the human player.

Played 6 games of nhl 15 the past 3 days and the cpu ai passing is great.cpu makes a good number of errant passes and it matters who is passing AND the type of passes. Blind backhand will miss more often than the standard forehand pass. I never realized until i really paid attention to it. Its well done...

I see that a new tuner is out....will play with that and maybe they toned down the cpu ping pong passing and add more errant passes.

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[Steven547]

Re: NHL 16 Available Today For Xbox One & PlayStation 4, Post Your Impressions

I feel EA has lost touch with creating a SIM game. Why? Because the focus seems to be on sliders and adjusting what they do or the affect they have on the game. Whatever happened to letting the game play out according to player ratings?? If I have a player with a high pass accuracy rating, but I decrease the pass accuracy slider, that basically washes out the ratings. This game seems solely based on the sliders and not ratings, which makes it NHL Hitz 2015.

The tuner notes focus on sliders. Why have ratings if they mean nothing at all? Goalie reaction should be rating based, not a slider. Why do you think a lot of the text based sports games are pretty close to accurate? No sliders....based on ratings.

I have DEF always scoring from the point because SHA slider is 3 or more.

If EA could tell us how to adjust the sliders so the game is ratings based, things would be good. But it's been silence from EA again.