Yep. I was really hoping the inclusion of coaches and everything would add diversity to gameplay but no matter what team, what strategy, what difficulty... AI always plays the same.
Yep. The AI is just programmed to react to your controller button inputs, if you actually look when you make a cut, a pass, anything really, you can see the split second you hit the button on your controller they adjust to it. Let an AI player get close to you on a back check and just zig zag back and forth, and watch them mirror you exactly. Theres no fooling them the game just cheats you.
Which is why online most people just choose to let their D play for them. Just park your **** in front of the net and let the computer worry about everything else. How is that a recipe for a game trying to push into esports. Right now as the game is I would say for the most part on average it's probably 60% of the time the AI is the reason the turnover is caused with the other 40% actually being the player switching and making the defensive play. In an esports scene it should be the player 100% of the time...
Like I've said before, the AI for online modes needs to be good positionally, but extremely passive and easily beatable if the player isnt going to switch to them to take control.
I've tested it in offline modes setting the AI aggression very low and it's honestly the way online needs to be. Sure for single player you wouldn't want that cause it would make it too easy, but for online that's where it would force the player to switch to them and make the play.
The computer players in these online games should be there as a tool for you to use. They shouldn't be there to replace the human behind the controller, and it most cases be better defensively than the human themselves.
If anyone here disagrees with me that's fine but do me a favor and in your next online game you play, pay attention every time you lose the puck and watch whether it's the human that was controlling the D man or if it was in fact the computer. I think you guys would be shocked at the % of turnovers that have nothing to do with the opponent holding the controller. How is that competitive
When a large majority of players play the exact same way, by sitting in the slot allowing their AI to retrieve the puck for them, or simply not even switching to control the D on the rush, theres an issue.
As soon as anybody thinks the AI can do the job better than they can on D, it's a recipe for disaster in a competitive environment.
Like I said, the AI should be good positionally as a tool to allow you to switch and make the play. They should never be programmed to play FOR the human.
This game does not force the player to be responsible at both ends of the ice, their only focus is to allow the AI to retrieve the puck for them so they can get their chance on offense up the ice.
When a large majority of players play the exact same way, by sitting in the slot allowing their AI to retrieve the puck for them, or simply not even switching to control the D on the rush, theres an issue.
As soon as anybody thinks the AI can do the job better than they can on D, it's a recipe for disaster in a competitive environment.
Like I said, the AI should be good positionally as a tool to allow you to switch and make the play. They should never be programmed to play FOR the human.
This game does not force the player to be responsible at both ends of the ice, their only focus is to allow the AI to retrieve the puck for them so they can get their chance on offense up the ice.
Sadly this game has proven for many years that being aggressive on D is not a very viable strategy unless your opponent is not very good at protecting the puck. Better to be passive, let you AI clog up some passing lanes and just wait for the cross crease pass, or knock the player down when he tries to curl near the faceoff dots.
Forwards generally end up resorting to the same tactics, so defense doesn't really need to adjust. Most good defenders know the 2 spots to defend, so why run around everywhere when you can just sit and wait for those 2 plays to develop? That is the issue really.
Sadly this game has proven for many years that being aggressive on D is not a very viable strategy unless your opponent is not very good at protecting the puck. Better to be passive, let you AI clog up some passing lanes and just wait for the cross crease pass, or knock the player down when he tries to curl near the faceoff dots.
Forwards generally end up resorting to the same tactics, so defense doesn't really need to adjust. Most good defenders know the 2 spots to defend, so why run around everywhere when you can just sit and wait for those 2 plays to develop? That is the issue really.
Whenever I play 1v1 I've adapted to a kind of hybrid aggressive/skill zone defender. I never chase the forward in the corner cause it's a guaranteed goal if you miss but if you sit back too much then he will skate into the slot and snipe.
It's all too common that your CPU Dman ( back door) is on rails and doesnt see plays develop so he just sits there but doesnt adjust to slot movements too well ultimately leaving you shafted so you're forced to apply pressure down low and cover any potential slot passes.
The only thing you can do on defense is pin up the player on the boards in down low coverage as they always survive the check or still come away with the puck, block the side post from any crosses and block shots from the point. Everything else you either get caught or it ends in a penalty.
Replies
Which is why online most people just choose to let their D play for them. Just park your **** in front of the net and let the computer worry about everything else. How is that a recipe for a game trying to push into esports. Right now as the game is I would say for the most part on average it's probably 60% of the time the AI is the reason the turnover is caused with the other 40% actually being the player switching and making the defensive play. In an esports scene it should be the player 100% of the time...
Like I've said before, the AI for online modes needs to be good positionally, but extremely passive and easily beatable if the player isnt going to switch to them to take control.
I've tested it in offline modes setting the AI aggression very low and it's honestly the way online needs to be. Sure for single player you wouldn't want that cause it would make it too easy, but for online that's where it would force the player to switch to them and make the play.
The computer players in these online games should be there as a tool for you to use. They shouldn't be there to replace the human behind the controller, and it most cases be better defensively than the human themselves.
If anyone here disagrees with me that's fine but do me a favor and in your next online game you play, pay attention every time you lose the puck and watch whether it's the human that was controlling the D man or if it was in fact the computer. I think you guys would be shocked at the % of turnovers that have nothing to do with the opponent holding the controller. How is that competitive
[Socair - edited swear filter]
As soon as anybody thinks the AI can do the job better than they can on D, it's a recipe for disaster in a competitive environment.
Like I said, the AI should be good positionally as a tool to allow you to switch and make the play. They should never be programmed to play FOR the human.
This game does not force the player to be responsible at both ends of the ice, their only focus is to allow the AI to retrieve the puck for them so they can get their chance on offense up the ice.
Sadly this game has proven for many years that being aggressive on D is not a very viable strategy unless your opponent is not very good at protecting the puck. Better to be passive, let you AI clog up some passing lanes and just wait for the cross crease pass, or knock the player down when he tries to curl near the faceoff dots.
Forwards generally end up resorting to the same tactics, so defense doesn't really need to adjust. Most good defenders know the 2 spots to defend, so why run around everywhere when you can just sit and wait for those 2 plays to develop? That is the issue really.
Whenever I play 1v1 I've adapted to a kind of hybrid aggressive/skill zone defender. I never chase the forward in the corner cause it's a guaranteed goal if you miss but if you sit back too much then he will skate into the slot and snipe.
It's all too common that your CPU Dman ( back door) is on rails and doesnt see plays develop so he just sits there but doesnt adjust to slot movements too well ultimately leaving you shafted so you're forced to apply pressure down low and cover any potential slot passes.