NHL 17 Beta Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here!

[snc237]

So far I have only played vs and HUT. Unfortunately I have faced no one competent and my closest game has been 6-2. The game feels smoother overall. Goalies hug the post/protect the weak side much much better. Much harder to get onetimer off in the slot. A.I. In general is much improved (though neutral zone still weak). Mix that in with the puck being losser and the physics engine approved apon it makes for a much more skill based game. For all the people that say it's the same as last year it's not, if you play the game casually here and there you probably don't see all the changes and improvements. I have played around 500 games of online games in various modes and from what I see so far this is a really really good game.

[Nittany]

Re: NHL 17 Beta Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here!

I haven't had a chance to play yet...but here's one huge question. EA hasn't fixed this in 5 years now.

I play 3 on 3 in EASHL only...so the AI is important. Whenever we are down a goal under 2 minutes to play and the other team is on the PP...the AI just dumps the puck. They never even attempt to make passes out of our zone and tie the game up. It's like EA codes the AI to dump the puck on the PK no matter what.

It's basic hockey! I have never understood why this hasn't been addressed in 5 plus years.

Does anyone know if this has been fixed?

Also....do the AI D-men immediately skate backwards when controlling the puck in your own zone? Instead of quick breakout passes...EA has them skate backwards first (usually behind the net) which ends any chance of a breakout. Drives us nuts!

Thanks!

[Flgamma1856]

Xbox one codes:
VWYPY-RG2JJ-R46X9-RC64M-R46CZ
JFPGH-JXMP2-WTHGJ-W4VFV-DPX9Z

[iam31yearsold]

CPU AI is horrendous. D literally passing backwards into own goalie numerous times.

Feels loose, fast, and arcade.

Nothing about this BETA warrants $60. 16 will be $17 when 17 comes out. Almost same exact game.

[devinmr711]

Re: NHL 17 Beta Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here!

I signed up for this Day 1 and I dont have a code yet. Anyone got a extra? XB1

[x5xflaccox5x]

Re: NHL 17 Beta Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here!

I've registered to nhl 17 beta but I haven't received Has anyone a code for xbox one please??? I am very sad for not receiving

[seasprite]

NHL 17 Beta Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here!

Not sure what people are playing who are saying it's exactly the same as 16. There are many differences in the two, mainly passing accuracy and puck control. Pucks are much easier to separate from the carrier. The skating feels much different as well, feels much tighter at slower speeds.


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[pslieber]

In EASHL (I'm at ~150 games in NHL 16), definitely different.
1. Dig how they boot awful goalies. They kicked mine out literally in the first five minutes. Related, thank God for the one pause per team bit.
2. Glaring glitch in slapshots from the circle against goalie hugging near post. Opposing player literally scored 5 goals on this same shot against CPU goalie. CPU goalies, in general, give up more goals.
3. A little more realistic in getting going, skating. If you're a masochist like me who prefers D (with your partner always pinching and/or going for big hits), it's a great deal more difficult to prevent odd man rushes by fast skate back.
4. Passes are more realistic. The puck moving defenseman player type is new in gameplay.
5. Grading system is a bit stupid, in that it doesn't control for teammates. 16 was smarter on positioning versus outcomes (which you obviously can't control).

I understand the consternation above, but - IMHO - different from NHL 16. 'Very' different? Well, we'll see how final version comes out.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: NHL 17 Beta Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here!

Couldn't find an opponent for online vs so I've played EASHL. I don't play the mode, and didn't play last year so I'm sure most will think my impressions are pretty useless.

Anyway, I'm not going to criticize the mode since I am inexperienced, but coming from playing single player for decades, and Rocket League it was like an assault on the senses with all the indicators, and jerky, sometimes stiff, sometimes twitchy movement (why do there even need to be indicators for your teammates?).

What I will say, is players seem ridiculously strong on the puck and able to retain it in open ice simply by holding the right stick.

Small contact does seem better though, and I actually like what they've done with contact in traffic in the offensive zone. It can be a bit unreliable at times, but generally, screening the goalie, and backing into a defender feels pretty good.

Some aspects of skating seem a bit better, but the acceleration curve is still either too high or there simply aren't enough animations at lower speeds to convey the control and agility a player should have. I still think they need a modifier for close in skating control.

I've played enough hockey in my time and for whatever reason it makes me feel like skating speed, momentum, and the whole of its physics generally seem scaled to a larger sized rink than the one in the game. It's odd.

[joshtree14]

Re: NHL 17 Beta Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here!

Only played versus. Players feel heavy. Big guys feel big and shifty players feel elusive. The game is more sloppy and that's a great thing. Hockey is a sloppy game. The precision of tic tac toe passing is not as prevalent as in years past. Cross crease was difficult to pull off. The gameplay just seems more organic. In that I mean when you add up puck deflections, players bumping into other players and the weighty ness of the players, anything can happen at any time.


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[Money99]

Re: NHL 17 Beta Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here!

For those that say the game is exactly the same must not notice the little differences. The AI plays 10 times better than any other NHL game. They actually mark open players and I haven't seen a the opportunity to get off the glitches one-time shots unless you make a smart play. It also appears the game penalizes you for trying to skate back on your side of the and then just skate by the gpu defender back up the ice. It seems as if the AI sticks to the offensive player a lot better and will steal the puck. There may not be a dramatic change to appearance but I am definitely seeing a big improvement with the AI , physical physics, and the overall game play as a whole. Definitely feeling more simulation hockey.

Nice impressions, thank-you for posting!

How is your teammate AI? Are they still really passive? Will they work to get open after they've been marked?
How is the CPU offensive AI? Do they work for chances/goals?
Any moments where you saw it do something that you're not capable of?

[phillyfan23]

Re: NHL 17 Beta Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here!

Anyone got an extra ps4 code....please pm me thanks a lot


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[Cletus]

Re: NHL 17 Beta Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here!

I've played a handful of the beta, but enough to be able to decipher things. The game is improved, but a lot of the nagging glitches and annoyances are still there for me. First though, the pros:

1. Defense is better, if you're in position to make the play, most likely you're going to, it's easier to knock people off of the puck.

2. AI seems better. They do a decent job of positioning and they make plays in their area and use their stick on defense a lot better than they have before

3. Deflections: I've scored a few deflection goals and goalies don't automatically react to them. I've scored on some weak deflections that the goalies would suck up in 16

Now the Cons:

1. AI is still slow to react (unless in berserker mode) : In the EASHL games i've played the AI is passive and it has costs a few turnovers in the offensive zone. The AI is so scared of dumping the puck in fear of icing and offsides that it will wait for a completely open passing lane than get the puck out. On pk though they still pretty much dump at all costs.

2. I still skate through the puck. I understand overskating the puck, maybe the puck hopped over my stick, that's hockey. The puck however doesn't go through skates, bodies and sticks just to wait for someone with a higher Offensive/Defensive awareness to pick it up.

3. Hockey plays are rewarded, but they're harder to make. This one is either a pro or a con based on what you want. I've found it's still easier and arguably just as rewarding to just skate in and shoot.

There's a lot more things, but I don't want this to be an 8 page report. It is an improvement and may be the best NHL to date, but I'm not sure if it's worth 60 bucks. Take this with a grain of salt because I'm probably just burned out by playing years of the same game with minor improvements. NHL 17 may be the same (it feels that way to me) and there may be a solid game after messing with all of the sliders, but at 34 with an erratic work schedule and family, I'm not sure if I want/have the time to devote to finding that solid game.

TLDR: If you enjoyed 16 and aren't burnt out on the series, you'll probably enjoy it.

[wshcaps30]

Xbox One Codes:
C29V2-XD4VM-VTVXY-GPX2Q-4F6JZ
H94HY-6KYQJ-XFTVM-DRCP7-6XR4Z

[hockett17]

Anyone have a spare ps4 code they would love to share via pm? Thanks