Serious Talk
I have been playing the EA Sports NHL games since NHL 04 and have owned every single one since NHL 07 and I have to say in recent years I have never been more dissatisfied with a game series or company than I am with NHL or EA.
First of all what happened to the series? Back on old gen these games were some of the best on the sports market, they were fun, enjoyable experiences and it felt you needed to know a thing or two about hockey to play the game at a skilled level.
On old gen the games were my favourite to play, still are even to this day.
Everything went to hell when they switched to new gen though. First off by removing every, single game mode from NHL 16 and then throughout the next three years adding it back acting like it was a brand new, revolutionary game mode. Anyone with any sort of sense who played the old gen games could see what you were doing. And I wish that was the worst part about the series moving to new gen (Which at the time I honestly thought it was) boy was I wrong.
Every year the gameplay and AI seems to be almost a significant downgrade from the previous year, except in some areas which they focus everything on like in NHL 19 for example it was the skating engine again. Every year there are more and more little things happen in almost every single game you play that just destroy the experience of playing the game. The biggest one for me is when kids can just abuse the online AI and score on every single shot, like what happened to the AI that was supposed to learn and adapt to your opponents strategies? Now in NHL 19, EASHL especially when you cant control your non human teammates, the AI is out there like a bunch of six year olds who have never laced up skates in their life. They don't know what they are doing they constantly create nothing plays and feed suicide passes like crazy.
In every single online game I've played the AI does the following without fail ing NHL 19;
Whenever the puck is dumped into the AI's defensive zone and the AI is the last man back to retrieve the puck they will skate directly into the boards and not even gain possession of the puck until they recover. That NEVER happens in hockey especially not at any pro level. But if that wasn't bad enough right after they recover and get the puck they will skate the puck right into their goalie causing a whistle, sometimes even scoring on their own net.
EA doesn't even seem to care about any of that because it's been a problem since the game launched, and it is a very very easy fix because you can fix the former in the sliders settings so it never happens in offline play, but for some reason EA can't change that on their online servers?? And for the latter problem it's as easy as moving the AI's pathing literally an inch to either side away from the net. EA turns a constant blind eye to the problems in their games and they just keep building up year after year.
There are so so many more problems that I'm not even going to get into right now but those are just a few of the biggest things that I run into constantly when playing NHL 19. I have tried contacting EA help on twitter but it's been over 3 years and they never send any help unless its something server related.
If NHL 20 doesn't at least start fixing some of these constant problems that just get worse and worse year after year NHL 20 will be the last I buy, I'll just play that one forever and update the rosters, that's all that really changes now anyways.
First of all what happened to the series? Back on old gen these games were some of the best on the sports market, they were fun, enjoyable experiences and it felt you needed to know a thing or two about hockey to play the game at a skilled level.
On old gen the games were my favourite to play, still are even to this day.
Everything went to hell when they switched to new gen though. First off by removing every, single game mode from NHL 16 and then throughout the next three years adding it back acting like it was a brand new, revolutionary game mode. Anyone with any sort of sense who played the old gen games could see what you were doing. And I wish that was the worst part about the series moving to new gen (Which at the time I honestly thought it was) boy was I wrong.
Every year the gameplay and AI seems to be almost a significant downgrade from the previous year, except in some areas which they focus everything on like in NHL 19 for example it was the skating engine again. Every year there are more and more little things happen in almost every single game you play that just destroy the experience of playing the game. The biggest one for me is when kids can just abuse the online AI and score on every single shot, like what happened to the AI that was supposed to learn and adapt to your opponents strategies? Now in NHL 19, EASHL especially when you cant control your non human teammates, the AI is out there like a bunch of six year olds who have never laced up skates in their life. They don't know what they are doing they constantly create nothing plays and feed suicide passes like crazy.
In every single online game I've played the AI does the following without fail ing NHL 19;
Whenever the puck is dumped into the AI's defensive zone and the AI is the last man back to retrieve the puck they will skate directly into the boards and not even gain possession of the puck until they recover. That NEVER happens in hockey especially not at any pro level. But if that wasn't bad enough right after they recover and get the puck they will skate the puck right into their goalie causing a whistle, sometimes even scoring on their own net.
EA doesn't even seem to care about any of that because it's been a problem since the game launched, and it is a very very easy fix because you can fix the former in the sliders settings so it never happens in offline play, but for some reason EA can't change that on their online servers?? And for the latter problem it's as easy as moving the AI's pathing literally an inch to either side away from the net. EA turns a constant blind eye to the problems in their games and they just keep building up year after year.
There are so so many more problems that I'm not even going to get into right now but those are just a few of the biggest things that I run into constantly when playing NHL 19. I have tried contacting EA help on twitter but it's been over 3 years and they never send any help unless its something server related.
If NHL 20 doesn't at least start fixing some of these constant problems that just get worse and worse year after year NHL 20 will be the last I buy, I'll just play that one forever and update the rosters, that's all that really changes now anyways.
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Could this game be a better game while also being a better simulation of the sport? I think so. Give Ben ( @NHLDev ) the time, resources and DIRECTION to allow him and he'd get this game playing like real hockey within ONE update. Like you said it's mostly about the online game sliders: you can already make this game a THOUSAND times more realistic offline.
But EA doesn't want that. Because making this game actually play like real hockey would alienate its best "customers". Wouldn't want the "nuges" and the "nashers" of the world NOT putting hundreds if not thousands of dollars into your failing franchise just to keep it afloat.
This series is a joke. And it will always BE a joke until they pick a direction, realize that a HOCKEY game needs to cater to people that play HOCKEY. That's how you make a successful game. You want to make a street fighter game? You make it for the people who play Street Fighter. You don't? You get Street Fighter 5. You want to make a Formula One game? You make a game that plays like a Formula One racing experience. You don't? you get F1 2015. You want to make an NBA game? You make a game like NBA 2K. You don't? you get NBA Live...
Simple math really; you take a hardcore franchise and you make a game for the casual gamer? Your game will fail. Every time.
Every year I read threads about the next year's wish list. Have any of you read these wish list posts?
I strictly play EASHL 6s, or sometimes 5s if dropins. Goalies are atrocious in dropins. That being said, those wish lists are useless to me based on the mode I play. However, hardly any of these wish lists have anything to do with making the game more like hockey, or fixing AI.
Most wish lists are adding new leagues that half of us have never heard of, or don't follow at all. More player likeness. Adding outdoor rinks. More stats and more complete stats. Adding in an all star game and skills comp, adding back Online GM, goalie mask creation, logo creation, etc etc....
Based on those kinds of things I read, EA is not that far off track. Even with the new outdoor dropin format (AKA Fortnite Hockey)
But I will say this: I wish they would just pick a direction, go all out in that direction and stick to it. Time to educate the player base or just stagnate as we've seen last 5 years. Can't please everybody if your game is all over the place. Pick a player base, and stick to it. Those who don't like it will move on or adapt. I want to pop this game in and see a clear vision and direction for the game. If I don't like it, I'll move on. If I do, I'll buy it and play it.
We still have DRE's all year, dropin rollover lobby gone, still weird lobby lockups completely random. I have to do a full dashboard quit on this game more than any other game I've played.
I do believe this series is a joke, a major one. Some say it has to do with the introduction of HUT, I really don't know, but it's a mess no doubt.
Love this post. I remember trying to talk actual hockey on the LG chat box and I couldn’t stop laughing at all the streamer, hockey fanboys who looked at stats at claimed to actually know something about hockey.
As long as the cesspool of LG and “elite” streamers who have never laced up a skate before dictate the direction of this franchise (due to the big wigs having no vision) this franchise will continue to always be on the brink of greatness.
I think many of us real hockey fans who have played, coached, studied the game can tell that this game has al the potential in the world. It’s so close to being an unreal offline experience imo, but the few things that are needed are always overlooked/not given enough time to actually be fixed. The fornite hockey league players like the ones you mentioned are just too valuable to lose.
It’s too bad for us I guess.
I just read your post and I say bravo Mr.Venom ,the two streamers you mentioned are the same ones complaining that the goalies were to good and that they couldn't score , about how good the AI was this who EA listens to not the real community the ones that want something close that captures the beauty of hockey not some ballerina game
Don't get me wrong. I love watching NugeTV's stream. And I can totally understand WHY he wants the game to play the way he says; if he wants his channel to grow, he needs the game to be entertaining to his audience which is made up of 98% casual players that don't really care about realistic hockey (or just plain don't have a clue).
What I don't understand is why in the halibut (Shark Tales reference) does EA use the same online settings for HUT and EASHL mode?? One is meant for high octane, arcade, competitive and "exciting" hockey and the other is meant for competitive, realistic, League type play. Why are both modes still using the Preset 3 (Competitive) settings?? It might make sense for Drop-ins where it's a disaster area where the worst elements who play this game gather. But for clubs?? Why are we NOT using Preset 4 (Simulation)?
This is what's holding the game back. It has ONE track that tries to cater to everyone. Why not just have multiple tracks that would cater to the different likes and wants of different players?
I can't imagine people like Ben and his team like seeing their game in this state. It must drive them bonkers!! I know it would dive me absolutely insane if I were in their position.
This is to ensure people who uses the closest player to the puck wont have any issue.
For online play, its awesome.
This! The best thing EA could possibly introduce for NHL 20 would one set of tuners for HUT and VS and a separate set for EASHL. In HUT and VS, one human player is controlling one player at a time with the AI controlling the other 5, and is switching which player he/she controls. In EASHL, you have multiple human players controling one specific player each, possibly with AI filling in the rest of the positions. The two play very differently, and the needs of the players in terms of tuning are very different.
I completely agree. EASHL is its own beast and should have different sliders to be more realistic.
However, the general consensus is the "elite" players are complaining in club that even human goalies are too hard to beat. Defense is too hard to pierce. So in other words, they need to work to score goals and it seems they aren't fans of that.
Go figure.
So, you are telling me that it is fair for defense to stand in one place, get beat and bump the forward from behind. The best part is when a goalie is deep in his net and makes a glove save across the net. Sorry but nhl 19 favors players who want to trap, collapse and grind out wins. I believe that right now this game focuses on casual players more than any other year before this.
Do you think it's fair that the forwards can skate in backwards twitching left-right without loosing the puck, can't poke check them, can't hit them, can't stick lift them? Do you think it's fair when forwards just slam into the goalie and score a goal (no review)? Do you think it's fair that the forwards can go to the backhand but still get a forehand shot animation? Do you think it's fair that forward don't even need to be standing in front of the net, they can be skating full steam ahead, and still deflect the puck on net, without even facing the shot? Do you think it's fair that forwards can literally skate by the net, away from the net, and shoot a backhand that skirts the goal line and goes in while the goalie doesn't seem to be able to save it? Do you think it's fair that during a face off, the forwards can rush the d-man who receives the initial draw while he's frozen in receiving animation?
The forwrards have so much more advantages over the defense and the goalies it's not even funny. And those I just described are off the top of my head, it's not even a complete list. If forwards are too stupid to know not to skate into the d-man's skates, they shouldn't cry about losing the puck. They should learn to create space or learn to pass the puck better. I love it when people complain about the trap, but they're the ones constantly running into the other team's skates because they just wanna skate the puck through 5 players and score.
Keep the puck away from the other players. Simple as that.
You can easily get seperation from d man without pulling a sting of dekes. See, you’re thinking about individuality. Ever see real life NHL forwards go up against defensemen? It’s not easy. You can’t just deke your way to the net every time. Many dekes get shut down every time. Want to get established in the zone? Move the puck. Get the defensive team chasing.
Players spam LT trigger moves because it’s clearly an exploit without any negative to them. I don’t see anybody doing that in the NHL unless you want a reason in the hospital or just plain out losing the puck. A lot of players are probably still accustomed to how this series use to play. You could have one manned a team and not lose the puck while skating around like a clown on skates. Now, it’s not that easy to one man an entire team and players who use to do it all the team are upset because you to play the game more like a hockey game would be played.
One bad move as dman we either get burned or a trip to the box. You know how many times I see a forward make a terrible decision and still gets bailed out? Plenty. Even in this game. Defensemen don’t have a guaranteed way to stop a forward. We have to read and adjust everytime and if you can’t get the puck deep in the zone, that’s on you.
You want to create separation? Here:
Count how many times Tampa players try to deke vs. how many times they just pass the puck to the open man to create space. Keep in mind, these guys have the #1 Power Play in the league and the #1 Shooting percentage with a ridiculous 30% and 20% respectively.
I'll wait...
EDIT: On second thought I'll save you the time - It's because they play as a team. They don't try to dipsy-doodle through everyone to create space. That's just something terrible players learned from playing EA's version of "hockey". I've been on teams that just keep it simple and passed the puck around while the other team is hemmed into their own zone and can't even get a sniff at the puck for chunks of the game at a time.
Like @EpiCxOwNeD said, players abuse the LT because it's an exploit. It's the easiest way to get rewarded with the least amount of risk (and skill).
You clearly prefer an NHL 14 style where defense was a joke.
Time to watch some hockey games and see how team play is the way to go.
You can't create separation from a d man?
And for the attacking the net comment and about it being for casuals.... I don't wanna sound mean here, but your comments are making it come off as though your talent as a forward isn't that much greater than a casual player. There are many ways to beat the d, and alot of ways are not very difficult to do and don't even require any dekes to pull off.
If a defenseman can sit in front of the net and stop a person attacking the net without even pressing a button, how exactly is that defense? If casual players want to be rewarded for doing nothing just watch a movie. I played a team last night that had their whole team in front of the net and they were able to block shots with the autoblock animation, and stop players driving the net with skate collisions. Show me a top team/ average team play a different style of play and win. Obviously, the bad puck pickups, bumps, and high collisions make you guys feel like you are good at defense. EA listened to you guys this year and lost everyone to different games.