Yeah it's pretty bad. Some stuff I can let slide because programming ten skater avatars in such a small area of movement can't be an easy task. But what really steams me are things like, the puck handler skating directly at a defenceman, goalie hugging post only to literally move out of the way of a shot from a corner power move, own goals, ect.
You're also dead on that they're capable of things we are not, especially movement and speed wise. I've seen AI "sucked" into the direction of the puck, facing away from it. His skates were angled against the direction, and he just freaking slid right to the puck, while i was already facing it, accelerated but got left in the dust bc EA allows AI many advantages.
EDIT: Wow .............I can't say suck3d. Unbelievable. But yeah, the AI gets suck3d, grabbed, what have you to the puck most of the time, regardless of position.
Yeah it's pretty bad. Some stuff I can let slide because programming ten skater avatars in such a small area of movement can't be an easy task. But what really steams me are things like, the puck handler skating directly at a defenceman, goalie hugging post only to literally move out of the way of a shot from a corner power move, own goals, ect.
You're also dead on that they're capable of things we are not, especially movement and speed wise. I've seen AI "****" into the direction of the puck, facing away from it. His skates were angled against the direction, and he just freaking slid right to the puck, while i was already facing it, accelerated but got left in the dust bc EA allows AI many advantages.
EDIT: Wow .............I can't say suck3d. Unbelievable. But yeah, the AI gets suck3d, grabbed, what have you to the puck most of the time, regardless of position.
The thing I find the best about offline superstar play, is that the AI totally disregards the skating engine when it wants to be good. Like, the AI doesn't even want use use TPS. It wants to un-hitch the trailer that is TPS and actually be able to skate again.
Yeah it's pretty bad. Some stuff I can let slide because programming ten skater avatars in such a small area of movement can't be an easy task. But what really steams me are things like, the puck handler skating directly at a defenceman, goalie hugging post only to literally move out of the way of a shot from a corner power move, own goals, ect.
You're also dead on that they're capable of things we are not, especially movement and speed wise. I've seen AI "****" into the direction of the puck, facing away from it. His skates were angled against the direction, and he just freaking slid right to the puck, while i was already facing it, accelerated but got left in the dust bc EA allows AI many advantages.
EDIT: Wow .............I can't say suck3d. Unbelievable. But yeah, the AI gets suck3d, grabbed, what have you to the puck most of the time, regardless of position.
Don't forget the incredible suction they have on board plays.....
Every nhl games so far has changed to adapt gamers complaints .. some yrs skating is too slow/fast, AI too soft/Hard ect... EA should adjust their nhl franchise @ average/middle/fair gameplay !! My youngest son got the old ps3 in his bedroom and we play nhl 13 every night before sleep time and even this game had major flaws .. like AI winning almost every damn puck drops !! Or home side having advantage on every aspects .. EA loves to **** us off
Yeah it's pretty bad. Some stuff I can let slide because programming ten skater avatars in such a small area of movement can't be an easy task. But what really steams me are things like, the puck handler skating directly at a defenceman, goalie hugging post only to literally move out of the way of a shot from a corner power move, own goals, ect.
You're also dead on that they're capable of things we are not, especially movement and speed wise. I've seen AI "****" into the direction of the puck, facing away from it. His skates were angled against the direction, and he just freaking slid right to the puck, while i was already facing it, accelerated but got left in the dust bc EA allows AI many advantages.
EDIT: Wow .............I can't say suck3d. Unbelievable. But yeah, the AI gets suck3d, grabbed, what have you to the puck most of the time, regardless of position.
Don't forget the incredible suction they have on board plays.....
You can do that too. It's just a matter of using the board play to that effect.
That's not the way it works with human players, the AI can reach you from behind and just pull you backwards in contact with it. Even when you're already left it behind by a scale jard (almost). And it doesn't pin you between it and the boards, it just holds onto you like glue, no matter how much you try to struggle and skate away. In real life you'd get a penalty for holding, it's completely stupid and way overboard. Nothing like you can do with board pin in the game.
Which you'd know if you had actually played the game.
You know the ai plays the same game as you do, right? That means anything they can do so can you. It's about knowing how to exploit the board play like they do. If you understand the range at which it works you too can pin/hold people for your advantage. I used to do it all the time in the older games.
Why, because you refuse to look at this game from a different perspective than your own?
I didn't like board play when it was first introduced because of the "ai suction" now that I've learned how they exploit it and how to do it myself I know how to avoid it and use the fact that they will try to exploit it against them.
So, before I get mauled for this post - I play NHL 18 on the hardest difficulty with realistic settings, but I did so on NHL 17 and I did just fine. I won the Stanley Cup with the Sabres (with virtually the default squad). In fact, I've been playing NHL games since the 90s, across multiple formats.
The AI in NHL 18 is absolutely ridiculous. The computer is unstoppable. I've played 12 exhibition games over the last few days and lost 12 in a row. In at least 5, I led by one goal or more and I opened the scoring. I know it's supposed to be hard, but this is something else.
The AI doesn't learn how you play; it learns how to cheat. When it's not exploiting the poke check (which is weak and inefficient for you but perfect for them), they are looking for soft penalties so they can get yet more Powerplays and can open up yet more one-timer spots (which they hit 90% of the time). They pass like no human can pass. They move like no human can move... literally, they will coast or hustle and you can hit them full force, and they will just get up. Momentum makes no difference. And often they position themselves between you and the puck, so you still lose out - often in your zone.
If they aren't setting up one-timers, they are coasting behind the net, drawing your loose AI defender and the other defender NEVER skates to cover the passing line, so they get yet another one-timer. And then they do those stupid dekes - which makes them look like they are having a seizure before they flick the puck past your keeper who sits there, seemingly frozen in time.
And to make matters worse, it's now IMPOSSIBLE to deke keepers. They seem to be very strong at predicting how you will move and save much more than they used to. Obviously, the AI doesn't have that problem.
How can you have got this so wrong?
Try this
NHL sliders
All Star
7 minutes
Trading easy
Shot Aim AIM ASSIST
Fighting 2/2
Penalties 3/4
Penalty Time Scaling 5/6
Coincidental Penalty Time Scale 5/6
Camera classic
Camera Perspective PREFER UP
Puck Highlight Small
Puck Size NORMAL
Auto Save OFF
GENERAL
Gameplay Version Latest
Game Style Custom
Attribute Effects 10/10
Broken Stick Frequency 33/100
Game Speed 3/6
Fatigue Effect
CPU & Human 70/100
Fatigue Recovery
CPU & Human 35/100
Injury Occurence
CPU & Human 50/100
SKATING
Back Skating
35/100
Hustle Type
Authentic
Puck Carrier Agility
55/100
Puck Carrier Skating
55/100
Player Acceleration
CPU & Human 50/100
Skating Speed
CPU & Human 50/100
Skating Agility
CPU & Human 50/100
SHOOTING
One Timer Accuracy
CPU & Human 50/100
Shot Accuracy
CPU 45/100
Human 50/100
Shot Power
CPU & Human 50/100
Slap Shot Accuracy
CPU 45/100
Human 50/100
Slap Shot Power
CPU & Human 50/100
PASSING
Manual Passing ON
Pass Assist 30/100
Min Pass Speed 35/100
Max Pass Speed 65/100
Saucer Pass Speed 50/100
Pass Accuracy
CPU & Human 50/100
Pass Interceptions
CPU & Human 80/100
Pass Reception Ease
CPU & Human 25/100
Reception Reaction Time
CPU & Human 20/100
Puck Control Rating Effect
CPU 50/100
Human 55/100
Puck Speed Reception Effect
CPU & Human 50/100
Pickup Type Effect
CPU & Human 60/100
Bouncing Puck Receptions
CPU & Human 40/100
PUCK CONTROL
Incidental Contact Puck Loss STICK, LEGS and BODY
Incidental Stick Contact Immunity 10/100
Puck Control
CPU 20/100
Human 35/100
Deking Impact
CPU 50/100
Human 0/100
Spin Deke Impact
CPU & Human 50/100
Skating Impact
CPU 45/100
Human 30/100
GOALIES
Goalie Cover Frequency 50/100
Goalie Passing 70/100
Goalie Cross Crease Reaction Time
CPU & Human 50/100
Goalie Save Reaction Time
CPU & Human 50/100
Goalie Deflection Reaction Time
CPU & Human 50/100
Checking/Balance Rating Effect
CPU & Human 100/100
Preparedness Effect
CPU & Human 100/100
Incidental Contact Effect
CPU & Human 20/100
Poke Checking Range
CPU & Human 0/100
Poke Checking Accuracy
CPU 30/100
Human 40/100
Poke Checking Power
CPU & Human 45/100
Stick Lift Effectiveness
CPU 35/100
Human 55/100
PENALTIES
CPU Penalties 75/100
CPU Teammate Penalties 10/100
DEFAULT for the rest
AI
AI Learning 6/6
CPU Difficulty Adjustment 0/6
CPU Faceoff Difficulty 50/100
Fight Difficulty 50/100
CPU Strategy Adjustment 6/6
User Strategy Adjustment 0/6
This is what I’ve been running. Some days it seems too easy and others the games are super tight and fun. Feel free to try and adjust as you see fit.
Maybe the HUT challenges are different than other modes but 100% the game is designed to screw you in HUT. Without a doubt the game handicaps your team in the challenges.
The whole physics of the game changes for your team. Maybe synergy is really important here. But I am usually pretty good and it is completely noticeable that on AS/SS the game um... enhances its ability to pick up loose pucks like there is a literal magnet to their stick. One on one, two guys, 5 mashed up in front of the net.. doesnt matter. It will bounce around like crazy but 8/10 times they pick it up for a chance or to continue passing it nearly invincibly around your zone while every poke, swipe, pin, stick lift or separating body check is mostly ineffective or they are right there to grab it. I am a top nuisance with the defensive stick in online hut, eashl and other modes, but in HuT challenges past all-star its like its punishing you for being good, haha. EASHL has similar puck control PITA moments but this is something else.
So, I basically had to keep away most the game and just try to bury one late in the periods. Takes all the fun out but ****'em.
HUT in this game is pure ****. At first I assumed the game would improve once i earned a few packs and coins and got a few 85+ players, but my team is now all superstars and HOFers and their hockey 'intelligence' is still set at somewhere around 'Donald Trump'. They turn into opposing players instead of away from them, they mishandle every pass it (if it even goes in the intended direction, which is rare). About half the time they serve as defenders whom I have to navigate around in addition to the defence because the AI won't adapt to actual game circumstances
I'm absolutely stunned that there isn't a 6 button/stick combo you need to preform just to make sure you AI teammates remember to bring their stick out on the ice with them during line changes.
Still, what did I expect? EA has never been concerned with gameplay or making improvements from year to year, only in maximizing profits. This is the company responsible for Battlefront II after all.
Yeah it's pretty bad. Some stuff I can let slide because programming ten skater avatars in such a small area of movement can't be an easy task. But what really steams me are things like, the puck handler skating directly at a defenceman, goalie hugging post only to literally move out of the way of a shot from a corner power move, own goals, ect.
You're also dead on that they're capable of things we are not, especially movement and speed wise. I've seen AI "****" into the direction of the puck, facing away from it. His skates were angled against the direction, and he just freaking slid right to the puck, while i was already facing it, accelerated but got left in the dust bc EA allows AI many advantages.
EDIT: Wow .............I can't say suck3d. Unbelievable. But yeah, the AI gets suck3d, grabbed, what have you to the puck most of the time, regardless of position.
EA needs to at least program the AI to have BASIC HOCKEY 101 knowledge
My biggest gripe is the nigh superman esque reflexes and reactions the AI makes. The reason it seems that way is simple: Input lag. The AI is reacting to your input before your controlled skater does. In reality, it should be the other way around. That explains their lightning like defence...however, doesn’t explain why “seem less puck pickups” are broken for users not AI, how they seemingly aren’t affected by monster hits, how the puck glues to them, or how your controlled players suddenly can’t keep up when ahead by a goal.
Why is it that it’s nearly impossible to score against all star/superstar and when I finally score, they get some terrible bail out goal less than 30 seconds later?? Not to mention the passing isn’t even close to human like... I honestly don’t know what to do
I'm so glad I've found players experiencing the same issues I have.
Like the original poster, I've been playing NHL for years (back when Tampa were the expansion franchise!) and love my ice hockey.
However, this year has been frustrating. I've been playing on All-star and just can't get any consistency because of the issues I have. I'm a a netminder myself, and love a low scoring game, but have found myself in 7-7 matches (and other high scoring matches) way too often. It also seems like, just before the opposition score, no matter what I try, I can't clear the puck.
I regularly get 2 or 3 goals up. Then my computer players give away random penalties, opposition score one timers and end up going into OT. My netminders, no matter who it is, make the most ridiculous mistakes and it's become impossible to cover for the lack of AI cover in defence.
As someone said above, I sort of manage it by not getting too involved in the play but that often leads to AI not doing the work they should. I'm getting there but it's really frustrating. I may also alter the penalty sensitivity (as suggested above) as it's not something I have done before.
Since the original post, how is it going for everyone? Thanks all!
Replies
You're also dead on that they're capable of things we are not, especially movement and speed wise. I've seen AI "sucked" into the direction of the puck, facing away from it. His skates were angled against the direction, and he just freaking slid right to the puck, while i was already facing it, accelerated but got left in the dust bc EA allows AI many advantages.
EDIT: Wow .............I can't say suck3d. Unbelievable. But yeah, the AI gets suck3d, grabbed, what have you to the puck most of the time, regardless of position.
The thing I find the best about offline superstar play, is that the AI totally disregards the skating engine when it wants to be good. Like, the AI doesn't even want use use TPS. It wants to un-hitch the trailer that is TPS and actually be able to skate again.
It cracks me up!
Don't forget the incredible suction they have on board plays.....
You can do that too. It's just a matter of using the board play to that effect.
Which you'd know if you had actually played the game.
Why, because you refuse to look at this game from a different perspective than your own?
I didn't like board play when it was first introduced because of the "ai suction" now that I've learned how they exploit it and how to do it myself I know how to avoid it and use the fact that they will try to exploit it against them.
Try this
NHL sliders
All Star
7 minutes
Trading easy
Shot Aim AIM ASSIST
Fighting 2/2
Penalties 3/4
Penalty Time Scaling 5/6
Coincidental Penalty Time Scale 5/6
Camera classic
Camera Perspective PREFER UP
Puck Highlight Small
Puck Size NORMAL
Auto Save OFF
GENERAL
Gameplay Version Latest
Game Style Custom
Attribute Effects 10/10
Broken Stick Frequency 33/100
Game Speed 3/6
Fatigue Effect
CPU & Human 70/100
Fatigue Recovery
CPU & Human 35/100
Injury Occurence
CPU & Human 50/100
SKATING
Back Skating
35/100
Hustle Type
Authentic
Puck Carrier Agility
55/100
Puck Carrier Skating
55/100
Player Acceleration
CPU & Human 50/100
Skating Speed
CPU & Human 50/100
Skating Agility
CPU & Human 50/100
SHOOTING
One Timer Accuracy
CPU & Human 50/100
Shot Accuracy
CPU 45/100
Human 50/100
Shot Power
CPU & Human 50/100
Slap Shot Accuracy
CPU 45/100
Human 50/100
Slap Shot Power
CPU & Human 50/100
PASSING
Manual Passing ON
Pass Assist 30/100
Min Pass Speed 35/100
Max Pass Speed 65/100
Saucer Pass Speed 50/100
Pass Accuracy
CPU & Human 50/100
Pass Interceptions
CPU & Human 80/100
Pass Reception Ease
CPU & Human 25/100
Reception Reaction Time
CPU & Human 20/100
Puck Control Rating Effect
CPU 50/100
Human 55/100
Puck Speed Reception Effect
CPU & Human 50/100
Pickup Type Effect
CPU & Human 60/100
Bouncing Puck Receptions
CPU & Human 40/100
PUCK CONTROL
Incidental Contact Puck Loss STICK, LEGS and BODY
Incidental Stick Contact Immunity 10/100
Puck Control
CPU 20/100
Human 35/100
Deking Impact
CPU 50/100
Human 0/100
Spin Deke Impact
CPU & Human 50/100
Skating Impact
CPU 45/100
Human 30/100
GOALIES
Goalie Cover Frequency 50/100
Goalie Passing 70/100
Goalie Cross Crease Reaction Time
CPU & Human 50/100
Goalie Save Reaction Time
CPU & Human 50/100
Goalie Deflection Reaction Time
CPU & Human 50/100
Goalie Screen Effect
CPU & Human 60/100
Goalie Screen Persistence
CPU & Human 60/100
CHECKING
Board Effect Non-Puck Carrier 10/100
Board Effect Puck Carrier 10/100
Hitting Assistance 15/100
Stumble Threshold 35/100
Aggression
CPU & Human 100/100
Hitting Power
CPU & Human 0/100
Size Effect
CPU & Human 100/100
Speed Effect
CPU & Human 100/100
Checking/Balance Rating Effect
CPU & Human 100/100
Preparedness Effect
CPU & Human 100/100
Incidental Contact Effect
CPU & Human 20/100
Poke Checking Range
CPU & Human 0/100
Poke Checking Accuracy
CPU 30/100
Human 40/100
Poke Checking Power
CPU & Human 45/100
Stick Lift Effectiveness
CPU 35/100
Human 55/100
PENALTIES
CPU Penalties 75/100
CPU Teammate Penalties 10/100
DEFAULT for the rest
AI
AI Learning 6/6
CPU Difficulty Adjustment 0/6
CPU Faceoff Difficulty 50/100
Fight Difficulty 50/100
CPU Strategy Adjustment 6/6
User Strategy Adjustment 0/6
This is what I’ve been running. Some days it seems too easy and others the games are super tight and fun. Feel free to try and adjust as you see fit.
The whole physics of the game changes for your team. Maybe synergy is really important here. But I am usually pretty good and it is completely noticeable that on AS/SS the game um... enhances its ability to pick up loose pucks like there is a literal magnet to their stick. One on one, two guys, 5 mashed up in front of the net.. doesnt matter. It will bounce around like crazy but 8/10 times they pick it up for a chance or to continue passing it nearly invincibly around your zone while every poke, swipe, pin, stick lift or separating body check is mostly ineffective or they are right there to grab it. I am a top nuisance with the defensive stick in online hut, eashl and other modes, but in HuT challenges past all-star its like its punishing you for being good, haha. EASHL has similar puck control PITA moments but this is something else.
So, I basically had to keep away most the game and just try to bury one late in the periods. Takes all the fun out but ****'em.
I'm absolutely stunned that there isn't a 6 button/stick combo you need to preform just to make sure you AI teammates remember to bring their stick out on the ice with them during line changes.
Still, what did I expect? EA has never been concerned with gameplay or making improvements from year to year, only in maximizing profits. This is the company responsible for Battlefront II after all.
Upload to youtube and link em here...
If you play on Xbox one, go xboxdvr.com. Type in your gamer tag and all of your game clips will show up. Just copy the link and post away
Thanks, I too was oblivious on how to upload videos to the Forums.
EA needs to at least program the AI to have BASIC HOCKEY 101 knowledge
Like the original poster, I've been playing NHL for years (back when Tampa were the expansion franchise!) and love my ice hockey.
However, this year has been frustrating. I've been playing on All-star and just can't get any consistency because of the issues I have. I'm a a netminder myself, and love a low scoring game, but have found myself in 7-7 matches (and other high scoring matches) way too often. It also seems like, just before the opposition score, no matter what I try, I can't clear the puck.
I regularly get 2 or 3 goals up. Then my computer players give away random penalties, opposition score one timers and end up going into OT. My netminders, no matter who it is, make the most ridiculous mistakes and it's become impossible to cover for the lack of AI cover in defence.
As someone said above, I sort of manage it by not getting too involved in the play but that often leads to AI not doing the work they should. I'm getting there but it's really frustrating. I may also alter the penalty sensitivity (as suggested above) as it's not something I have done before.
Since the original post, how is it going for everyone? Thanks all!