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Digimon117's avatar
Digimon117
Rising Traveler
2 months ago

I just hate it

I’ve been playing online vs since about 2015 every night and these last 2 versions have been the worst.  The pressure system is garbage.  Goalies flopping, wild bizarre shots going in based on zone time and the amount of shots.  There are more glitch goals than actual skilled plays.  This year is even worse.  You can’t toe curl properly anymore, the deking is awful, backhand goals are going in at an alarming rate, the goalies are awful and do bizarre things.  They didn’t get rid of the ridiculous laser one timers from the point.  The poke check goes right through the puck half the time in this version too. It’s just bad.  2015 was really bad but the movement of the players and physics were great.   This is actually a step back from 2015 which is hard to say.  I don’t know much about “ice q” but to me it’s been a failure.  The ai is deciding the games based on statistics in the game and not the actual skill of my opponent.  It’s extremely frustrating 

5 Replies

  • Digimon117's avatar
    Digimon117
    Rising Traveler
    2 months ago

    I hate it a little less now after the last update lol.  Every year I go on a rant and then things get fixed and I have to eat some of my words so I will do that again.   The online vs game I played last night seemed like a different game.  Of course a strong connection against someone in your region always helps the fluency and frame rate.   I still don't like the pressure system and I never have.  It's like handing your opponent goals based on zone time and playing keep away.  Let my opponent score based on skill.....a good deke, a special move, and nicely placed shot.   I also am slowly figuring out the new toe curl (having to press up).  It would be great if these new moves and features were explained upon playing '26 for the first time and then I wouldn't complain about it.   The deking still seems off to me...needs to be more responsive imo.  I also miss the 2nd replay on goals.   If it's a nice one I like to see that 2nd replay.  The matching is frustrating as it has been for years.  There's less people on there thus less opponents with good strong connections (i'm plugged directy into modem via cable at 1 GB so it's not on my end).   I don't know what HUT or CHEL is but it has taken people away from the best feature of this game which is in fact the Online VS.   I have to sit there and quit the game before it starts about 5 times before I find someone with 3 green bars to play against.   I guess there's no fix for that but it's really annoying.  Don't people realize that Online VS is the greatest thing created known to mankind? 

  • KidShowtime1867's avatar
    KidShowtime1867
    Hero
    2 months ago
    Digimon117 wrote:

    I hate it a little less now after the last update lol.

    That is good to hear. As someone who plays online versus somewhat religiously outside of my club duties in WoC, I don't like seeing people hate the one mode that, in my opinion, is the only TRUE test of 1v1 competition.

    Digimon117 wrote:

    The online vs game I played last night seemed like a different game.  Of course a strong connection against someone in your region always helps the fluency and frame rate. 

    Yes, a strong connection goes a long way. Online Versus (OVP) uses Peer to Peer connections, so things can be inconsistent and variable depending on the opponent and who is selected as the 'host' in this situation. I'd like to see EA introduce dedicated servers for OVP like they do with HUT for more consistency and remove the advantage that a 'host' has in P2P. 

    Digimon117 wrote:

    I still don't like the pressure system and I never have.  It's like handing your opponent goals based on zone time and playing keep away.

    Previous iterations of the system would have me agreeing with you. However, the system has been re-tooled to put more emphasis on shots on net and interceptions. I don't know if you can actually trigger full pressure by way of only making passes (playing keep away). I think there is a requirement to take an action (shoot, hit, steal the puck) in order to achieve full pressure.

    Digimon117 wrote:

     I also am slowly figuring out the new toe curl (having to press up).  It would be great if these new moves and features were explained upon playing '26 for the first time and then I wouldn't complain about it. 

    OMG yes! These subtle changes to dangles we've used for years should come with some deep dives by way of Official EA video channels. I can appreciate the passion of the 'Creators Network" and the videos they sometimes release showcasing some of the new mechanics, but EA really needs to step up and put out some more official videos going into extreme detail about how their mechanics work. 

    And yes, you've picked up on the subtle change to the toe curl. It appears there are even more unique dekes that can be executed when you combine Vision Control (LT) and a different direction on Left Stick (LS) before executing the motion on Right Stick (RS). It's been fun to utilize some of the new moves to work through traffic. 

    Digimon117 wrote:

    The deking still seems off to me...needs to be more responsive imo.  I also miss the 2nd replay on goals.   If it's a nice one I like to see that 2nd replay.

    Yes I believe we were promised that we could exit out of a deke animation by executing a pass or a shot at any point, but I don't think that's the case with all dekes. Some of them still make you play out the animation before you can pass or shoot. 

    As for replays, it seems the presentation team has opted for showcasing a previous defensive play or big save, followed up by the subsequent goal. It's neat and realistic, but not when this pathology of replays is used after every single goal. Some goals deserve a second look.

    Digimon117 wrote:

    There's less people on there thus less opponents with good strong connections (i'm plugged directy into modem via cable at 1 GB so it's not on my end). 

    Personally, I haven't had issues finding opponents, but I will still play the game even if the connection is in Yellow (good). Green (Great) is always preferred, but I think the difference is negligible for those of us who have evolved while playing competitively during the NHL 99 - NHL 2004 days. 

    Digimon117 wrote:

    Don't people realize that Online VS is the greatest thing created known to mankind? 

    Right?! 

    I dipped my toe into HUT and it's just an endless grind of enabling x factors, getting boosts from lineups, Ability points.. yuk. It's all just too much. Playing against credit card teams who've maxed out all of the above, and knowing you'd need to do the same to have any hope of competing, just kills my insides and I always come home to OVP and WoC. 

  • Digimon117's avatar
    Digimon117
    Rising Traveler
    2 months ago

    These are great answers.  You are right about the pressure system as it does seem to have been tweaked.   The last 5 games I've played have been amazing, but if I don't see solid green bars steady throughout the loading of game in online vs then I quit before it starts and search again.  It just affects the game too much with the lag.  I'll tell you something funny since you are such a big fan of online vs like I am.  I actually quit doing hard drugs every 2nd weekend based on the fact that I lost my first 8 games of Online vs lol.  I used to only play when I would do a certain very sketchy drug until I ventured into the Online vs world in 2018.  I got SO mad losing to people while on this drug that I started playing when I wasn't doing that drug and immediately pummeled my opponent 8-1 the first game drug free.  You see I fell in love with the game more than the drug at that point and barely ever touched the drugs again because it affected my online vs record.  It was a blessing 

  • johnny2fingaz's avatar
    johnny2fingaz
    New Adventurer
    2 months ago

    I’m 100% with you on Hut. I tried it too but the grind of playing AI to get a decent team is just so moral killing. On top of the constant trying to build certain lineups based on arbitrary nationalities, teams , yadda yadda… I spent more time doing things I don’t enjoy. 

    I will have to disagree on the pressure meter. It’s pretty dumb. I hate how it can trigger just as I get possession and my player loses all his energy whilst in the neutral zone or on a break away. The pressure is so intense it just carries on when my guy has a break away ? That’s absurd. The same year they added pressure was when they added goalie endurance , which on the other hand, was a great addition! 

    I only play online versus and WOC. The chat overlay is so mind numbingly stupid and poorly thought out it hurts. Who wanted that chat overlay bigger? But hey we have headphones now. So that’s important ?? 

    the gameplay itself I find is better in someways. Skating and movement is better. However I think pokes could be in a better place. Truc is overpowered .. lots of the new X factors seem far too arcadey.  preset builds now having to be bought are very moral killing … things like not having the green chel coins being carried over was also another kick in the junk to the loyal customers. the game has so much potential but it will never reach it being forced out every year instead of built on like a legacy aka destiny 2 or GTA. 

    I don’t think it’s too unbalanced or broken … but it could be improved. It’s hard to keep faith when we get things patched nobody asked for while lots of other little things get ignored. My 2 cents 

  • Digimon117's avatar
    Digimon117
    Rising Traveler
    2 months ago

    I have everyone muted by default.  Too many yahoos out there lol.   

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