What happened to NHL25?
I can't be the only one to think this years game started great but is now seemingly heading slowly back toward feeling like NHL 24 gameplay/sliders, etc. Especially after the latest patch that dropp...
Forum Discussion
EA_Aljo
Community Manager
Community ManagerHi there. Thanks for the constructive feedback. That's sincerely appreciated.
There have been many comments claiming the speed was adjusted when it actually was not. You can see the patch notes here so if you could point out what you feel makes the game play more like NHL 24, that would be helpful. Something that happens every year is that we get comments the game was reverted to play like the previous year. What is actually happening is people are adjusting to the gameplay changes. They are figuring out what works and what doesn't. The only changes to sliders have been the stamina drain on skill based one Ts and the reduction in bonus shot accuracy for perfect one Ts. Otherwise, sliders are the same as they have been since launch.
First of all, thank you for taking the time to listen and reply. Knowing you're being heard and have a ear listening is good to know and doesn't make it feel like I'm wasting my time.
You said it's not sliders and I'm not going to try to argue or try to claim your wrong or exactly what it stem from but something has definitely changed. Goalies or something has most definitely changed somehow.
My club is entirely a full team based passing, cycling, working the puck around the ice/zones type and strategize club. We diversity our zone entries, shots, and strategy to keep the other team guessing and to also keep it fresh, realistic, and a fun game no matter what position you are on the team. Whether it be scoring on the rush, working the cycle, netfront presence, or those beautiful setup one-timers. Our team team does it all and everyone handles and moves the puck in all of the zones. A true 200ft team game.
(here's what I've noticed for the past week or so not including today's update but the previous)
We as a club will spend the entire game in the other teams zone, setting up plays, working the perimeter, cycling the other team completely out of position. We're finally able to open up an absolute beautiful shot/play that the goalie should have ABSOLUTELY no chance. Only to be robbed by the the goalie, who surely seems to have morphed into Patrick Roy or Dominic Hasek in their prime. And then in the same game, the other team skates down the ice, completely out of energy, barely able to get over the blueline, and immediately take a panicked, 'just get it deep', shot from just over the blueline. Our goalie attempts to make a save and has it bounces off his blocker or glove and it scores. It absolutely makes ZERO sense whatsoever. And this isn't just a crazy fluke type random thing. It's happening over and over every game against terrible teams. I also just want to note that this was not happening the weeks prior. Teams can adapt, sure, but this isn't teams adapting. The stuff I'm referring is the absolute garbage that the goaltending is allowing on shots that should have little to no chance. Then an absolutely beautifully orchestrated setup passing play in which the goalie should have no chance on, are being robbed (saved). THIS is the type of stuff I'm explicitly referring that feels like NHL24 and my original post refers. And don't get me wrong, don't get it twisted, I do love to see a crazy insane huge saves here and there. However, it's happening at an unbelievable rate at this point on well orchestrated beautiful plays that take time and skill to setup and outwork on opponents.
And as stated by Nonokkeli in reply to the original post, I myself do indeed think that maybe one-timers were scoring a little too easily. However, and I want this to also be a large constructive criticism feedback heard/considered by you and devs because I think it's a huge issue. The changes tweaks always feel so EXTREME. We will go from one-timers feeling a bit overpowered to next that they're completely useless and the goalie saves seemingly impossible INSANE shots. Just another example of what I mean in regards to gameplay changes made in the past being extremely one way or the other. Stick lifting. And I will say that I think stick lifts are in a pretty good place right now. This is just an example of what the long time issue is that I'm inferring. In past years stick lifting went from stick lift war spamming back-n-forth between players, to then becoming an instant penalty button and then nearly unusable (last few years). Same thing happened with poke checks in years previous. They were a spamfest at one point and next they were turned into a penalty button. Hitting turned into a more well balanced and skill based system and was feeling pretty good. But now it's just a liability as a defenseman. Once again taking tools from the toolbox to defend.
Like Nonokkeli added in his reply (above), I'd also like to see more fine tuning on the gameplay issues/complaints and feedback that goes to the devs for changes on things. Things I'm referring? Just a few off the top of my head but not limited to: one-timers, poke checking, stick lifting, body checking, passing velocity, puck dumping velocity/height, etc. I'll more specifically address each below. Trust that I don't envy the position EA dev's are in with this one. I do think most reasonable players understand that not all players will be happy or agree. However, the extreme changes/gameplay feel one way over another only make one side happy and leave the other frustrated. I think there is a middle everyone can meet and feel satisfied. However, it always feels things are totally WAY one way or the other. There needs to be more fine tuning in this regard. Please more fine tuning.
Here's some of my ideas, feedback, and constructive criticisms I hope you may pass on to the devs. Some specific problems or things things I believe can make the gameplay better currently with just a little fine tuning. Not completely overhauled, just a some fine tuning.
Body Checking - (specifically) small push checks, no longer have enough power. Can't push netfront bodies to interrupt/counter netfront X-factors like big tipper, eclipse, or crease crasher.
Poke checks - originally (25 release) seemed to be in a decent spot, now it takes 2-3 pokes (and hope for no penalty ) as the puck carrier seems to briefly lose and then regain instant control back leaving defenders in a worse position, yet the carrier doesn't lose a step or slowed to regain possession. ¿Problem possibly? Poking power of defenders or the carriers ability to hold or regain pucks seems unbalanced.
Stick lifting - are definitely in a better spot this year. They feel useful more often and no longer seem to be an instant button to the penalty box. I applaud this change and think stick lifts are in a pretty good spot currently.
Puck dumping - velocity has improved somewhat but height and velocity should be higher and faster. The ability to dump the puck up and over other players heads doesn't exist. Defensively teams cannot clear pucks and also never take delay of game penalties on badly aimed or rushed puck dumps. Please remove the training wheels and give defenseman some tools back. This issue has caused not only a defensive zone problem but also offensive. Zone entries cannot utilize cross corner dumps in the offensive zone to combat against teams that strategize with a neutral zone blueline trap. You cannot utilize a cross corner dump and chase currently. The ability to dump (flip) doesn't work because you can't dump it over the defenseman. They currently catch every puck like a infielder in baseball because the dumps are so low and slow. This has needed to be addressed since the implementation of the pressure system. I understand the reasoning for the initial change to dumps/flips (for the pressure system) but it was never a good change and honestly didn't make sense or ever really work. The current state of the puck dumps/flips is and has been unrealistic since it changed to this current state. It affects WAY more uses and legitimate playing strategies and has been in a serious need for change.
Pressure System - seems too easy to build pressure currently. I love the concept idea and thinking but currently think it's too easy to gain and the lingering effects remain penalizing teams for too long after the zone has been cleared. Especially true with the revamped stamina system this year. The pressure system also makes it even more important to address the puck dumping (flip) velocity and height (ability to clear the zone over the opposing teams heads)
Small Turbo Builds - the 5'-7" 160lb turbos speed, acceleration builds are extremely annoying to play against. And while I don't have any issues with players wanting to use them, I do think there needs to be an extreme counter as well. My answer and counter would be not only simple but also realistic. Injuries (durability) If someone wants to play a glass cannon, that's great. More power to them. However, there also needs to be some sort of counter and incentive also to using different size builds and play styles. This seems like a very simple and logical balance. Can we scale size/weight a bit better and make it actually matter more with durability? Maybe remove the option to manually place durability points and make that completely scaling from height and weight? Seems like it might be an extremely effective counter and we'd see more diversity in player sizes and builds. Instead of the 5'-7" 160lb meta build we've seen for so many years now.
Again, thank you so much for your time. I'd love any feedback or comments regarding mine.
- EA_Aljo
You mention spending time in your opponent's zone and not scoring, but the other team can come down the ice and throw a shot on net with more success. Can you get me some video showing how frequently this is happening? Maybe in practice mode? If it's happening with a lot of frequency, you should be able to replicate that.
It would also be good to see your issues with hitting. Obviously, there were changes this year. They are more manual so it's not as easy to hit as it used to be. I'd also like to see where you're struggling with shoves.
Poke checking is probably my primary form of defense. It's been working very well. Yes, I have experienced where a poke will still be picked up by the carrier. If you make good, solid contact going against their momentum, I'm seeing it knocked far enough away that they aren't recovering it. You're welcome to provide some video showing what you're experiencing.
I agree with you on dumps. The change was made to better support the pressure system. I'd personally prefer it revert to the previous version. I don't see that happening any time soon though. Something else you can try is wrapping the puck around the boards instead of dumping it into the corner.
I've seen some other reports of pressure being gained too easily. There are times I feel it's happened too fast, other times when it seems to be fine. Regardless, I'll pass on the feedback.
Thanks also for the feedback on smaller builds. They should be easier to knock off the puck, but of course can be difficult to defend against. When I go up against those teams, I tend to hang back and play more conservative to counter them. Regardless, I get what you're saying and it doesn't seem like a bad idea.
