Appreciate the response. If the ai doesn't mirror movements (which it sure feels like it does) then it feels like it is on "always attack, or high pressure" all of the time on modern NHL's. Back on 11-14 the ai wouldn't go high pressure until you went up by 2 goals to try and force you into mistakes. In turn, if you made smart plays and beat the pinching defender/winger, you'd usually expose the ai and create odd man chances like 1 on 0s, 2 or 3 on ones. I get the exception of x-factors, but they are a root problem because they run off of this paper, scissors, rock system for outcomes. Problem is, you've got rock, paper, scissors, nuke, brass knuckles, ect. (wont go into it anymore for a different discussion) The gameplay was more simplistic I think back then. There were less animations triggering that would give you messed up outcomes. Take for instance now a days, you see the stupid bobby orr desperation dive like 5x a game. I'd rather see that animation trigger one time every 50 games. Yes everyone wants this realistic hockey experience, but lets face it, realistic hockey doesn't translate to fun in a video game. If we had to dump and chase in 80% of the games played we'd quit playing b/c that's just dumb from a gameplay standpoint. Players want to possess the puck and create great passing plays or dekes coming into the zone. Create a play was a big thing back then, loved using it. Shame its gone b/c you could literally tell the ai where you wanted them to go to create your offensive opportunities. I'd love to see this come back and even be implemented somehow on the defensive side of the puck. They didn't have the "pressure system" back then. This is another idea that just needs to go away. It doesn't add to gameplay, it just causes frustration. Ope the pressure meter filled therefore my goalie got tired and couldn't make the save. This doesn't happen in real life at all and if a tendee ended up getting dog tired like that in just a few mins, he'd prolly never see the NHL again. Also the skill stick/deking system felt better back then. Players felt more responsive handling the puck (the stick movement felt more fluid) and to be able to pull the jaw dropping dekes, you had to have timing and skill. Not just press a button or 2 now a days. As far as presentation, it needs a full rework and my suggestion there is to fire up an NHL title from 11-14 and start with bringing all of whats in those games back on that front. The requests to remaster 14 are purely b/c that is the last great NHL. The menu's, the music, the available stats and tracking, gm connected, eashl (the customization to stick curve/flex/skate radius affecting stats), winter classic, gameplay, presentation, ect. It was all there in the palm of our hands and we'd love to have it back again. Thats why we want it re-mastered. I may take a stab at trying to get some video of 14 uploaded at some point. Thanks for your time Aljo, always appreciated!
