For nearly a decade it feels like we have been in a fight to get what we want in these games! Since NHL 14 much of the regulars from OTP have given up on the franchise. I used to have over 30 friends from my former hometown he played this game everyday on both Xbox and PSN until NHL 20. The drop-in community isn't as populated as it used to be for 6's. Even with cross-play you can barely get a full game... I think we just miss having the option to select a team jersey, play in an indoor arena. It used to be so much fun to be able to use a team jersey from different leagues with our EASHL player... Most of us back then only played club when we had the time. Now with us being older we don't have the luxury to play it like we did a decade ago.
For 3 years now majority of the drop-in community has been asking for 6's to get back to it's old roots...never happened and I doubt we will ever get it back!
Now BAP same thing we have been preaching since NHL 21 for full season CHL, and AHL back! Along an injury tracker! 23 it was hardly touched other than contracts...
Franchise mode the trailer made it look interesting with full presentation for some teams, custom league addition. Sadly it was an utter disappointment...
Then we get to HUT and Rivals was changed. When we asked for something different we meant a Battle Royale Elimination, or Comp. Seasons returned Not this arcade style gong show! This is why HUT Rush is a thing!
Adding women into the game was an awesome idea IMO. Yet you can only use them in online versus, HUT and tournaments. Can't bring them to an NHL Roster unfortunately! Also there is a lack of creative options like hairstyles for created players...
All of the above ^ we have been fighting for! Bad enough Tougie and Endo had to fight for correct height, weight and overalls for Rosters...
Now the bugs! These are literally making the game unplayable!
First one that is irritating is when someone decides to pause after a goal is scored. Instead of the Face-off being at Center ice it gets put in the right side of the D-zone!
Stick and puck physics are broken! When making a pass to the wing in the O-zone it for the majority goes to the D-man... , The stick warps through the goalies body when the skater skates towards the 5-hole making it a goal 99% of the time with no goaltender interference called... , stick lift is still not working correctly! Another issue with stick physics is a bug that was once removed because Ben himself said it shouldn't have been in the game. In 23 it's back and I'm annoyed by it! It's the stick behind the back self-sauce... Example: stick goes through the puck carriers body, and then can self-sauce behind their back. You can't poke check or do anything because it's like a force field in NHL 23.
LT is way too OP this year! If you LT often, puck control should be lost!
Other bugs! The lights off issue that has been a problem for SB competitors mostly! How has this not been fixed yet?
BAP issue when simming! You get an own goal scored on and pretty much lose the game!
In Franchise mode if you injure a after a charge, you sometimes can't proceed to play the game. Opponents won't pick up the puck and you are forced to quit... I have video of this!
In OT the one Forward AI doesn't move to help you out. Instead they stand there looking at the crowd like they just started their first Tim-bits hockey game... Even player switching they still go back and do it!
Goalies still can't cover the corners properly or stay square to the net when someone shoots glove side by the hashmarks... They don't cover the puck and give up easy rebounds no matter the overall!
AI Defense after the face-off at center ice don't skate to cover the middle of the ice. Instead they skate towards the boards letting your opponent skate right in the middle. By the time you player switch you have to back check. Can't poke though or you lose speed so you're stuck just trying to out skate them to the net...
Another issue is one we are dealing with more in Rivals is that instead of you player skating, they don't into this glide skate. I have video of it happening to myself! Was almost like table hockey....
I have uploaded numerous videos to my channel and will continue... Why most of the game breaking bugs aren't being fixed is frustrating! Maybe take the servers offline for a few days and get this fixed! Who cares if people are mad they can't play online! At least the game will be playable and these toxic cesspool players wouldn't abuse the mechanics like they are now since this games basically catered to them...
$107 is a pricey cost! I didn't pay that much to have a game worth $20 at lowest! This isn't fair to any of us!