AI in NHL 18 is beyond shocking
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?
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?
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That said, I found that if you stay in position (good luck on that as the AI on your team is set to 3 levels BELOW mentally challenged) and don't run around after the puck too much, you might have a better chance. When I have the puck and want to score, I find that setting up for rebound plays works best. It's too difficult to deke around the AI (both skaters or Goalie). And straight up shots get blocked.
The part where I have the biggest problem with the AI is faceoffs. I can't seem to win even ONE against the AI on Superstar. No matter what I try, it always picks the counter for it.
I'm really enjoying the game offline but my got the cheat is real!
Yep, that is all truth.
I can comment on All-star because that's what I use. Especially the passing abilities are laughable sometimes.
It's been this way since forever tho, it just might be little worse this year, as the AI is "better"
I don't know whether I could just deal with it better before or if the AI is just that little bit "better" this year.
I'm compiling a selection of clips which show the one-timer. Also got a great one of the AI knocking a stick out of my player's hand by slashing him and then taking the puck past my keeper. No AI penalty, of course.
I sure hope it gets patched soon.
AI is a massive part of any sports game - and I think the Devs of NHL could learn a lot from something like FIFA (off-the-ball AI is pretty sharp for the most part). Amongst all the gripes yesterday, culminating in the above post, I even saw my own skaters skating straight into the boards yesterday when looking for a basic line pass to receive. It's like they're so dumb that they don't even stop themselves skating into boards.
It's also more evident than ever that you can feel your guys turn into sludge or not even move at all when the CPU wants to get that game tying goal.
And it is true what was said about the penalties. I have CPU penalties at 65 and my team at 50. CPU maybe gets 1 penalty a game vs my 3-4.
This. At least I hope.
I'm trying to find the perfect slider for All-Star (not touching Superstar the way AS is...)
What seem to work, yet: Reduce AI leaning to 3 instead of 6.
Jack cpu penalty (even on my team) to 90.
Reduce cpu agression (not sure of the impact. Does it cancel the penalty
slider change?)
Reduced CPU pass accuracy to 35 but I think I will reduce it even more.
Missing slider: CPU magnet on lose puck or after being poked.
Ever notice that anytime you successfully poke the puck from the cpu (especially in their D zone), it goes straight on the stick of another cpu...? That's not HARD to play AI, EA, it'S cheating.
This. It's drives me off the wall how I struggle to pick up loose pucks but the CPU just sucks it up. Every single incidental contact that creates the slightest loose puck gets sucked up like a Hoover vac. Too many instances I can count where the puck will be going one direct and get pulled back to CPU sticks.
Haha. You already know this but there are likely more boneheads worse than CPU out there. At least with CPU there's some consistency.
Most games are better when you remove the bots. Look at counter strike and rocket league. Escape from tarkov will only get better once they remove the bots as well. It's much easier to balance game play between humans than it is when bots are involved as they will always cheat.
This is classic EA. I’ve dealt with the same thing in FIFA up the difficulty get destroyed, lower it, it’s not fun because you just dominate. There is no middle ground.
I thought with the newest update 1.04 that maybe they would patch it. And at first I thought they did because I was playing on all star and went on a six game winning streak . Then I lost the following nine out of 10. There is no consistency in this game at all . So what I am trying now is putting it on pro and then increasing the slider on the last tab that says “AI difficulty.” It’s a 0 to 6 slider and I put it on three because I feel like that would be a healthy middle between pro and all star that I’m looking for. Have yet to try it out we’ll see how it goes.