Ai players still are not able to take proper angles when defending. They target the puck carrier's back shoulder instead of correctly angling out the puck carrier. Additionally, they are way to passive and err too much on the side of "staying with their man", playing many situations like a corner in the NFL rather than a hockey player.Some examples, all on Superstar difficulty with CPU difficulty adjustment maxed:The first and second forecheckers both take an angle at the back shoulder of the puck carrier, and do not cover any passing lanes or skating lanes in the process, allowing a very easy, mindless breakout.The winger responsible for Trouba charges at his backside, taking a horrible angle, letting him walk by. All the other defensive players do nothing either, allowing Trouba to take an uncontested slapshot from the low slot.Just awful in every way. All the defending players are so passive and take such horrible angles Braden Schneider looks like McDavid playing against a Pee Wee team.These were all from the 1st period. Again, on Superstar with maxed CPU difficulty adjustment. Why bother trading or signing players in Franchise, or trying to level up your character in Be A Pro, if the game plays like this? Why would I need to get the next McDavid if my third pairing defenseman can make the same plays he can?

@NeonSkyline21 Man, when you talk about my setup, at least have the decency to see what the setup is all about….The problem with @PernellKarl027 sliders is that they just nerf skating ability without making any actual changes to AI (because you CAN'T affect AI tendencies with EA NHL's slider offerings).- First of all, every players in the NHL have been edited from almost head to toe. This is why, I work on the X version and GetThePuckOut works on the PS5 side of things. The players react and play differently. Again, it’s not just a slider set. And YES you CAN affect AI tendencies a bunch. We’ve tested this through and through in numerous Settings…At the moment we are still editing ALL forwards just so that they can be a tad more creative and miss the net on occasions when they deflect the puck. Not a SURE thing like the game is setup to be. We are aiming at a 100% ORGANIC gameplay.That goes to show you that every little details is taken into account. If you only knew how tedious and how long it takes to edit just one player… Imagine 600 or so…So yeah, your players will skate slower and be much less agile but then you're missing out on the speed of the game.- Second of all, players have been clocked with having real NHL speed. We’ve done some test with McDavid and a few other players, and they achieve the same speed as in real life. Heck, our skating speed is at 100 and the Puck Carrying speed is at 90% ! That’s the first thing I wanted was to have the speed of the real game to a Tee.Also, playing "player lock" isn't always fun.- I suggest playing Player Lock for different reasons, but I sometimes play as the whole team and plenty of guys using the Setup also and the game plays the same… I never forced anyone to play PL…Having a guy bobble a puck because he tried to skate with it isn't "fun." - I don’t know what you did or what Settings you used but this statement is so wrong 😑 You can look at all my videos and this is not true at all. Stop making false claims or assumptions… The only times guys will sometimes bobble the puck is when the puck is bouncing, like in real hockey you know…Peace ✌️

Nailed it. I, too, play offline on the hardest difficulty and have the same stuff happen. All I can do now is go into the settings and make my skating sliders lower. It’s the only way to even things out since defensive AI is nonexistent. It’s insane how easy it is to either blow straight by defensemen, OR push them into a corner and then just spin back for crease cheese.

@Jagavekov Nailed it 100%. It’s something that’s been bothering me too this entire time since the X factor launch. Even with the thread I made about the teammate and CPU AI, it’s just become so aggravating

I strongly encourage any of you that want a simulation experience to give @PernellKarl027 's slider and player setup a try. His videos are a great looking experience if that is what you desire. @BoredJason13 @Cote12

@KlariskraysNHL The videos do seem great and I’m impressed with how much work was put into it! Unfortunately, it doesn’t help how clunky and neglected franchise mode has been for a while. Nor does it work for someone like me who wants to control an entire team, with period lengths less than 15 minutes.I think what would be preferable would be if the massive multimillion dollar company would just make gameplay that more closely resembled the sport their game is supposed to simulate—especially when they charge almost a hundred dollars for it and then release it so bugged that there’s an immediate need for updates and patches.I’ll keep messing with sliders.

Offline AI is awful, makes offline modes unplayable from a hockey perspective

35 Replies

Cote12
New Vanguard
2 years ago
Nailed it. I, too, play offline on the hardest difficulty and have the same stuff happen. All I can do now is go into the settings and make my skating sliders lower. It’s the only way to even things out since defensive AI is nonexistent. It’s insane how easy it is to either blow straight by defensemen, OR push them into a corner and then just spin back for crease cheese.
BoredJason13
Seasoned Veteran
2 years ago
@Jagavekov Nailed it 100%. It’s something that’s been bothering me too this entire time since the X factor launch. Even with the thread I made about the teammate and CPU AI, it’s just become so aggravating
PernellKarl027
2 years ago
@Jagavekov
I remember you trying my old setup of 23 at one point awhile ago. Can I interest you in trying our new one ? And the same question can be asked to @BoredJason13 and @Cote12 ?
We have changed the AI behaviour quite a bit in the edits and I find the AI to be the best it ever was. I could challenge you guys to play by my own rules and we’ll see where we go from there 🤔 We are about to come out with our last version that we think is the best in the NHL series and if you wanna have premium access 😉 let me know 😀
BoredJason13
Seasoned Veteran
2 years ago
@PernellKarl027 I’ve definitely found the way the sliders are now to find some enjoyment but last night I had more problems with the AI just constantly standing on each other and getting stuck. There are times I win a faceoff in the defensive zone, go for a breakout, only to have my center and/or wingers just NOT GO or skate back towards you. It’s really baffling. Im tired of recording videos to send to EA but I feel that it falls on deaf ears and will never be listened to
KlariskraysNHL
Hero
2 years ago
I strongly encourage any of you that want a simulation experience to give @PernellKarl027 's slider and player setup a try. His videos are a great looking experience if that is what you desire. @BoredJason13 @Cote12
Cote12
New Vanguard
2 years ago
@KlariskraysNHL The videos do seem great and I’m impressed with how much work was put into it! Unfortunately, it doesn’t help how clunky and neglected franchise mode has been for a while. Nor does it work for someone like me who wants to control an entire team, with period lengths less than 15 minutes.

I think what would be preferable would be if the massive multimillion dollar company would just make gameplay that more closely resembled the sport their game is supposed to simulate—especially when they charge almost a hundred dollars for it and then release it so bugged that there’s an immediate need for updates and patches.

I’ll keep messing with sliders.
Cote12
New Vanguard
2 years ago
@PernellKarl027 Couldn’t hurt to give it a try! As much as I want to control my entire team and not player lock, I’m desperate over here for hockey simulation!
PernellKarl027
2 years ago
@Cote12 wrote:
@PernellKarl027Couldn’t hurt to give it a try! As much as I want to control my entire team and not player lock, I’m desperate over here for hockey simulation!
@Cote12
Just sent you a discord link to our underground of NHL 😉😂
PernellKarl027
2 years ago
@KlariskraysNHL wrote:
I strongly encourage any of you that want a simulation experience to give @PernellKarl027 's slider and player setup a try. His videos are a great looking experience if that is what you desire. @BoredJason13 @Cote12
@KlariskraysNHL
Thanks man for the nice shoutout, you are the man ! Where can I send you a tip 🤔😉😂
One of these days, even if it’s not your cup of tea, I’m gonna have to put up a challenge for you to try with our setup 😉
Lets say, keep either the Carolina Hurricanes or the Edmonton Oilers under 30 SOG and win the game, while playing locked on D with all my recommendations 😉😂 Not an easy task to say the least…
PernellKarl027
2 years ago
@KlariskraysNHL
Just finished a game there myself and I failed on both accounts of my challenge 😂 Was playing left D for the Habs against the Bruins.That's what’s great, cause even when I lose a game in that setup, I always have a smile on my face cause how the game plays 😀
Bruins scored an empty netter with 8 seconds left… Caufield touched the post 10 seconds prior 😫
It was an AMAZING game all around, look at the SOG, TOA and Hits totals !