NHL 20 Review: A Better Playing Game With a Familiar Coat of Paint

[Steve_OS]

NHL 20 is more enjoyable to play than previous installments but that doesn't mean it is...

Written By: Ryan

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[KoryDub]

Re: NHL 20 Review: A Better Playing Game With a Familiar Coat of Paint

The above screenshot is an example of the horrendous AI that has plagued the NHL series for years. This overhead view is of a 5-on-3 power play for the visiting team in white (human-controlled). The puck is being battled for in a one-on-one battle behind the net (human-controlled). Since the white team doesn’t have clear possession, the CPU teammates all passively retreat, offering no help or support despite having a two-man advantage.

I don't think the reviewer has taken strategy adjustments in to account. Although he's not wrong about the A.I. - their passive setup in the screenshot he used indicates that the forecheck is set to just that - passive.

Although I understand the game needs to make adjustments based on where the puck is and what is happening - the onus is still on the player to recognize what strategies are working in the moment - and which ones aren't.

Strategy adjustment is an under-utilized strategy for getting the A.I. to cooperate with you.

[tullyd]

Re: NHL 20 Review: A Better Playing Game With a Familiar Coat of Paint

Reviewers play the game once and never learn how to adjust sliders to make the game play more realistic or actually play it more then 0nce to learn how to play it. I never trust any people who review the game. If you understand how the nhl works then you would say this game plays beautifully.

[Peter_OS]

Re: NHL 20 Review: A Better Playing Game With a Familiar Coat of Paint

This game is not any better than NHL 2019. NHL 2020 is getting hammered pretty hard with the reviews so far. Metacritic has the game sitting at 78. NHL 19 had a score of 80. EA took a step backwards this year. It's time for changes EA! WAKE THE **** UP!

Brain dead AI. No seperation of players. Game doesn't feel like NHL hockey. I'm sorry. Also what's with the stat overlays during a game? Can't even get a chance to see them. The stat overlay disappears after 3 seconds. Who made this game decision at EA? Fire this idiot with the rest of the team please! Get some people in there who know how to play hockey and know what it takes to make a great hockey game. Pathetic...

https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/nhl-20

[ttrobbins84]

I usually mute announcers a few weeks/months after playing a game because I'm annoyed with repetition. In this case, I muted them after 2 games. I cannot stand this team. That voice grinds on me. I do feel it plays better IMO. I like some of the new puck pickups and the new shots.

[ChaseB]

Re: NHL 20 Review: A Better Playing Game With a Familiar Coat of Paint

This game is not any better than NHL 2019. NHL 2020 is getting hammered pretty hard with the reviews so far. Metacritic has the game sitting at 78. NHL 19 had a score of 80. EA took a step backwards this year. It's time for changes EA! WAKE THE **** UP!

Brain dead AI. No seperation of players. Game doesn't feel like NHL hockey. I'm sorry. Also what's with the stat overlays during a game? Can't even get a chance to see them. The stat overlay disappears after 3 seconds. Who made this game decision at EA? Fire this idiot with the rest of the team please! Get some people in there who know how to play hockey and know what it takes to make a great hockey game. Pathetic...

https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/nhl-20

Just a heads up that you know you've been here long enough not to say this sort of stuff. There is voicing displeasure and then just using inflammatory language. You know the difference Peter.

[tullyd]

Re: NHL 20 Review: A Better Playing Game With a Familiar Coat of Paint

i am saying wait for the first patch and alot of the issues will be fixed and adjust sliders and turn up ai aggressiveness. dont ever judge a game based a few reviews by people who dont understand hockey and how authentic the
video game is compared to the real game. no video game can imitate the real thing i am sure ryan is a good reviewer but he shouldnt judge or review the game based on playing it a few times .play it 10 times then give it a review score and wait for the patch to fix alot of the issues.

[KoryDub]

Re: NHL 20 Review: A Better Playing Game With a Familiar Coat of Paint

Metacritic has the game sitting at 78. NHL 19 had a score of 80.

Just to be clear - If I spent $100 building my HUT team and I lose online to 4-5 cross creasers - I'm able to just go to Metacritic and say the game sucks, right?

[Therebelyell626]

Re: NHL 20 Review: A Better Playing Game With a Familiar Coat of Paint

Just a heads up that you know you've been here long enough not to say this sort of stuff. There is voicing displeasure and then just using inflammatory language. You know the difference Peter.

This guys lives for negativity. It’s just what he does.

[Fiddy]

Re: NHL 20 Review: A Better Playing Game With a Familiar Coat of Paint

I've been one of this games biggest critics since NHL 07 and I had to take a step back because my complaints were never being addressed. Some still haven't, BUT this game is the best it has been since NHL 14 with all the issues etc.

[MizzouRah]

Re: NHL 20 Review: A Better Playing Game With a Familiar Coat of Paint

I've been one of this games biggest critics since NHL 07 and I had to take a step back because my complaints were never being addressed. Some still haven't, BUT this game is the best it has been since NHL 14 with all the issues etc.

It's finally fun to play again! The over the top commentary, presentation and smooth game play works for me. Not to mention the new goalie awareness and animations, franchise improvements and a slew of other improvements.

[Qb]

Re: NHL 20 Review: A Better Playing Game With a Familiar Coat of Paint

Strategy adjustment is an under-utilized strategy for getting the A.I. to cooperate with you.

Good point. I read comments in here, (and FIFA forum) that make me wonder if more/better use of strategies/tactics would ease some frustrations. For NHL, remember we can crank the user strategy adjustment slider and the game will change your strategies based on game situations. I do my own, so I can't comment on specifics - like if it ups your forecheck for the PP - but with it maxed, it should make aggressive changes. It seems to work well enough for the CPU on higher settings.

Also, it's a fair point to want better contextual AI behavior independent of strategies. However, it's a balancing act with giving the user control of how their team plays. Ideally, the user has the tools to dictate overall team/NPC behavior while also allowing for variation based on tendency and skill ratings (or traits). At the other end of the spectrum, I can remember playing past versions of games in which these settings were mostly ineffective. I don't think that's the case anymore.

[MJ200]

Re: NHL 20 Review: A Better Playing Game With a Familiar Coat of Paint

ugh. that clip you posted of Marner coming in on Suter. What level was that on?? Thats why I havent bought the game since 2016. If that stays in the game you saved me $60.

[DJ NEO]

Re: NHL 20 Review: A Better Playing Game With a Familiar Coat of Paint

Good fair and well informed review.

For me personally is this year presentation change step one decade back, so it can be hardly improvement for the way I play the game.

Also great point about the up and down arcade hockey nature. Something you can't change nor fix with sliders. That is just their choice.

It is also much easier to program the game like this. You've got much less "holes" to solve with straight/limited scripted action like this.

For me it's just not fun anymore.

[tyler289]

Re: NHL 20 Review: A Better Playing Game With a Familiar Coat of Paint

I love the game and have found it to be their best version yet. It's got its flaws and issues and weird stuff but so does every sports game on an annual release. But it's a fun game and really solid on the ice, especially after slider adjustments. Franchise mode is really deep and the new find trade option is a lifesaver.

In my franchise I have found that changing all the team strategies to match the head coach is a plus. I fired a defensive coach for an offensive coach and upped the pressure to match the new HC and changed the team strategies line-by-line to match, makes every line and situation feel different and allows the realistic "new coach, new system" change to happen when needed.