Classic NHL94 Controls

Hey there. Thanks for asking. Unfortunately, the NHL 94 controls are not returning for NHL 25. The best I can advise is to modify the button mapping in your controller settings on your console.

I appreciate the straight answer. 

You may want to make this announcement more prominent. Last year I actually bought the game and couldn't play. I won't make that mistake again. 

Bye bye EA NHL franchise. 

I'd like to pass on some feedback for you. I know the Hybrid controls are pretty close to the NHL 94 controls. What about them doesn't quite work out for you? Thanks!

We had this discussion last year. For those of us who have used classic controls for over 30 years, hybrid is not remotely close and is not an option.

I feel for those with disabilities too, who will be unable to play. I'm not sure you appreciate what a slap in the face that was last year. And this year, well I kind of expected it. At least I won't have to read these forums anymore. 

Just don't remove the ability to play 22 or 23 online with friends. At least we still have something. 

What controls would you change specifically?

See last year's forum. It's all there. Cheers. 

Here is what you said previously:

"Well, I deleted NHL24 so I can't do a detailed comparison for you, but as an example, in NHL24 I recall I couldn't win a faceoff or make hits. I know intuitively what all of the NHL94 buttons were. With small tweaks some years, I could feel them out pretty quickly and they made sense. With NHL24 I had to take time to go back into settings to see what did what as it wasn't intuitive. I shouldn't have to guess or learn what shoot, pass, hit, speed buttons are. EA had it right in NHL22/23 and really had a good game that those like me who like good, fast, arcade style hockey enjoyed. I don't use modifiers or button combos and don't want to. Those of us who've been playing for decades enjoy a simple and fun game. NHL24 is neither simple nor fun."

Hitting uses the B/O button. I don't recall what hitting was before, but I think it was on the same button. Except now you have to hold it down for a shoulder check and just tap for a bump. Slapshots are the B/O button and wrist shots are the X/Square button. Passing uses A/X. What about this is different from the NHL 94 controls that you don't like?

Faceoffs did change. You have to use the right stick for that instead of one of the face buttons. Flicking down on the right stick when the ref moves their hand should have the same effect. 

I agree with keeping the 94 controls as a possibility! Its easier for new/ newer (younger) or older (parents) to jump into the action with their kids. I dont think it would be too difficult for programmers to put that into the game considering you are saying players can incorporate it themselves via the system? Hopefully you are able to carry on this play style for the players and their families. Thank you for your time and we all look forward to seeing the new product you are able to produce for our entertainment. 

It would be helpful to know exactly what needs to return. As far as I can tell, the only difference is faceoffs where you need to flick the right stick down instead of press a button. If you have any feedback, please let me know. Thanks!

While you quote my initial feedback, there were many others in other threads and around the internet who had the same issue with the new controls (and for different reasons). Your responses lead me to believe that you (and perhaps by extension the dev team) have little appreciation for and understanding of the original controls. The development team would do well to take feedback from those former users who had issues as well. Don't just ask people to document them in forums. Frankly that's lazy. Maybe even engage a few of these directly to do some detailed user experience studies. It would serve the franchise well and generate some goodwill that was spoiled last year. You might even expand your user base as a result.

As it appears that these negatively impacted segments of players were not part of the requirements gathering and little or no attention was paid to our user experiences (was any real UX study even done on this?), this will be my final comment here. I do wonder if the decision to remove the original control system would have been done so flippantly and without communication if there was a competing franchise. EA would never have axed the original control system in FIFA, (or whatever it's called now) as they know that many users would just move on to the competition (that smartly has the original FIFA system built in).

I'll continue to enjoy 22 and 23 for some casual fun, arcade style hockey; and leave the new controls to you and those that appreciate them.