Had fun but must leave
After 2 years of absence of playing NHL (skipped 22 and 23), I must leave again due to inconsistent latency.
Speaking of difference between this year NHL and previous NHLs, I gotta say this year was really fun.
Like the pressure system. It was a good idea but the execution was a bit bad. With the last change to the system, it was more acceptable because there was less ragging in the offensive zone.
Like the new hitting system, which was really fun, but dislike the hit acceleration (too arcade IMO).
The fatigue system was really nice compared to previous NHLs. You can really feel that the player is out of stamina. Previous NHLs, it felt like the attribute doesn't matter. I played with a horrible team in previous NHLs and could easily beat everyone that has high overalls. So big props to the team to make the attributes feel active.
Like how the goalie is getting better (no more easy one-timers from anywhere in the offensive zone).
Really like how the Devs team was proactive to fix some major problems during the year. Another big props to the team.
My wish for the future is that the Devs team can find the balance between arcade style to get the majority of the population and sim style for the more hardcore gamers. IMO, the slowdown in poke check and hitting acceleration make the game too arcade. The one button deke is arcade but since you can fairly easily defend against them, I see them as a good balance of arcarde style.
Even if the game has many flaws, I still think NHL series are going in the right direction. Just need to accept that there will always have flaws in the game (even if sometimes, flaws repeat from a year to another) but I believe it will be fixed in the future.
The reason I must leave is because I cannot find a good consistency in the latency. Tried this forum for help and can't find any solution. Search wide and everywhere and still no solution.
I believe I have done everything I can. Switch DNS, open ports, open/close DMZ, disable/enable upnp, use wire, use wifi, new controllers, change to different ISP (total of 4 ISPs: 3 cable companies and 1 DSL company, no FTTH in my neighborhood), change console (from ps4 to brand new ps5), use cat5, cat7 ethernet cables, closed all connections on my modem/router to just have the console with the internet, change router, power cycle all systems (ps4, ps5, router, modem).
Yes, I can play offline but I don't have the fun playing offline, it is way too easy for me. Even playing on superstar against way higher overall than my team in Squad Battle is really easy for me. All the Moments in HUT are fairly easy for me so there is no challenge for me there. It's only playing online that I have fun playing and that I have the adrenaline. But with inconsistent latency, it is making my gameplay a complete mess and makes rage so much. I really, really hate it when it doesn't do what I want it to do. With lag input, it is impossible to make plays, to pass, to skate, to defend, to score goals. The worst in all this is that ping showed in the game is a pretty consistent 20 ms. But the input lag is definitely there. Also, the more time it passes during one game, the input lag is getting higher. And I believe I played against opponents in my region (asked them where they are from or their team/team name give me the hint that they are from my region).
So after trying all imaginable solutions, I must leave this game and maybe return if I have FTTH in my home... maybe....
PS. Thank you @EA_Aljo for the wonderful work on this forum, responding to everyone, from bad to nice comments/questions. Had my share of problems that you helped, which was really appreciated.
