Ice Q

I play BAP almost exclusively and there have definitely been some positive changes to the AI, but there are still some glaring issues that need corrected.

Improvements:

- Cpu linemates don’t go offside when entering the offensive zone nearly as much as they used to. Also, they used to make that extra (and generally unnecessary) extra deke at the blue line that made timing the zone entry very difficult.

- I love the fact that d-men will actually shoot from the blue line now. I am a playmaking winger and I’ve gotten numerous assists from feeding the “d” and them blasting one timers.

- I play on “my” Blackhawks and Bedard and I have great chemistry. Quite often, we’ll complete a nice give and go with me feeding him in the corner (he loves that spot). I cruise to the low slot where he hits me with a beautiful pass where I can one time it. It feels pretty authentic.

Areas of concern:

- Clumsy d-men putting it into our own goal is still an issue. To be fair, the opposing “d” will do the same from time to time. But I had it happen to me twice in the same playoff game (conference final) and it cost us dearly.

- I bring it up the wing in the hopes of feeding Bedsy or DeBrincat in the slot, but they almost never even attempt to give me a passing lane by making themselves available. They hide behind the defender. Am I expecting a clear lane every time? Of course not. But it would be nice if they at least attempted to get open occasionally.

- One last thing, and it’s a huge annoyance, is when I pass to a linemate on the breakout, usually Bedsy or the Cat, and they turn right into a defender. Because of this, I won’t even use the “Send It” x-factor anymore. What’s the point? So many times, all they’d have to do is go a little wide and they could fly past the “d.” Instead, they end up turning into the defense and turning it over.

jprovo1 wrote:

I do not see any AI improvements to ANYTHING.

Not a lot of people do because they play the game the way they've always played. 

jprovo1 wrote:

my AI guys down right refuse to pass to me when I'm WIDE OPEN

And in my experience, they will land great passes in stride.

jprovo1 wrote:

they'll stay where there's a defender. nearly every time.

I haven't had this experience. 

jprovo1 wrote:

ALSO covering the same point I am?

Yes this has always been an issue. Please keep in mind I'm not saying the AI is flawless and I don't think I said that once. It still makes mistakes. It's not perfect and it never will be perfect.

However, if you take the time to learn what the developers want out of the human to get the most out of the AI, you can get better results and there's clearly been an adjustment in NHL 26. Not enough to warrant marketing it as an all-new feature though.

with all respect, I do not see any AI improvements to ANYTHING. my AI guys down right refuse to pass to me when I'm WIDE OPEN and actually wait till a defender gets close enough or right between us to try and pass or try and bring it up themselves and get hit or poked checked and turn it over. I very rarely call for passes, I just don't like doing that. my AI guys get picked off more times than I can count and that is on superstar or allstar. and that's not even saying that when I'm passing to them, they hardly ever try and get OPEN, they'll stay where there's a defender. nearly every time. even on defense they suck. I'm supposed to be center (and I'll add that I don't like playing a forward cause I love defense but I have to because of the stupid form score wants you to score points) so my coach puts me on left wing instead. so I'm supposed to cover the point, right? and I've been trying very hard to do that. well why in the world is there one of my guys ALSO covering the same point I am? and I'm talking BEHIND me. he's literally coving NO ONE. the middle is completely wide open. I figured that since I am supposed to be center but am not that the game is thinking I AM center and putting the actual center on the wing?? I have no clue. but that is leaving only the 2 defensemen to cover 3 to 4 people near my net and well my defensemen don't know what a check, how to block a shot, or poke check is I guess. then I go and try and help but they score and I get gigged for not covering the point and if I stay on the point and they score I still get a bad line defense. this game is a no win scenario. again my biggest issue is that you get penalized more than you get to the good. for instance if we're in the offensive zone and my defensemen go up so I have to cover his position at the blue line and he gives it up, am I supposed to stop at the "point" and let the other team go towards the goalie unchecked? that's stupid. and this has happened several times. it was me and the other defensemen against 3 and they scored and I get not covering the point/bad line defense. if the game can't determine every situation then GET RID OF THE STUPID NEGATIVE FEEDBACK (or at least don't penalize so freaking much). unless of course it is completely obvious.

Modulater83 wrote:

They will still allow themselves to be raced around with no attempt at poke or hit.

I think this is by design, to be honest. In 1V1 modes like HUT and OVP, it was clear EA intended for people to learn that you need to control your D and you need to make the switch from controlling a forechecker to the D-man quicker than previous years. 

However, in a mode like WoC, sometimes teams don't/can't find a human D and need to lean on the CPU. When you combine the muted nature of the defence with things like Wheels and people maxing SPD and ACC, CPU D is essentially useless. 

That said, we can't have people relying on CPU-D. 'Skill-Zoning' was the entire reason for introducing muted CPU defenders. But EA needs to find a balance here. Allow the D to at least keep pace with incoming forwards and use their skill stick to slow the puck carrier and allow the human forwards to backcheck. 

Of course, CPU-D don't fall victim to being burned if the team in front of them limits straight-line speed of the opponent, not allowing them a clear unobstructed path to generating the speed required but I digress

I'm old enough to remember "Blast Processing" for Sega Genesis so I take Ice-Q with a grain of salt.  It does seem that the AI is better at leading you on the rush and hitting you with a pass.  I also see them in better spots to receive a back door pass.  With regards to goalies, they do flop to a lesser degree than NHL 25 (admittedly very low bar).  That said, it feels like defensive AI is untouched.  They will still allow themselves to be raced around with no attempt at poke or hit.

The biggest difference I've seen is the AI actually making accurate passes off the boards. They're also much better at reading where you're headed and passing to you in-stride. However, there's no Ice-Q U.I. that signals to the player the new 'tech' is being used, so it generally goes unnoticed. Plus, most users who play with Ai-controlled teammates have zero patience and constantly call for the pass from the ai, so the average user thinks there have been no improvements at all. I'd argue there was, but not enough to warrant it to be promoted as some kind of new feature. 

Like RSall14​ said, it was basically some modest AI improvements wrapped up in marketing speak. 

They needed something to market.