NHL 2K8 (360) Impressions.
Moderators: Bill_Abner, ScoopBrady
I'm really enjoying this game offline. The control is leaps and bounds above 08, and a blast to play. But the learning curve is steep. But if I'm playing online, 08 will get all my time and attention.
Why are the rinks so small? Or is it just me? I feel like I'm on the mini rink as opposed to 08. But all in all, I rented this, I'm really enjoying my time with it. If anyone gets it, take some time and go through the training exercises.
Why are the rinks so small? Or is it just me? I feel like I'm on the mini rink as opposed to 08. But all in all, I rented this, I'm really enjoying my time with it. If anyone gets it, take some time and go through the training exercises.
gamertag: ddtrane65
I hate the controls and it's the main reason, I can't really get fully into NHL 2k8.ddtrane wrote:I'm really enjoying this game offline. The control is leaps and bounds above 08, and a blast to play. But the learning curve is steep. But if I'm playing online, 08 will get all my time and attention.
Why are the rinks so small? Or is it just me? I feel like I'm on the mini rink as opposed to 08. But all in all, I rented this, I'm really enjoying my time with it. If anyone gets it, take some time and go through the training exercises.
- Bill_Abner
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Scoop I can certainly share the sliders but I dunno what they will do for pens...outside of the pen setting being at 100. Maybe it's a play style thing? I do tend to use the standard B check button a lot but that leads to a lot of roughing/charging pens. It has made me use the RS poke check feature a lot as a result.
I'll play a few more games with the set I'm currently using, and if the penalty time holds up, I'll bew sure to post them.
As for the controls, I'm getting comfy with them now. Last night I used the RS-Pro Stick with Nash to move the puck away from an oncoming defender and fire off a wrist shot right before I was nailed. Nash scored right before getting decked and it honestly was one of the most satisfying goals I have ever had in videogame hockey.
I can absolutely understand the complaints and frustrations a lot of people have with the game (I still do see a fair # of pensalties though and I really do want to see NHL 08 in order to compare the two, but man...I'm now 5-5 with the Jackets and I spent a half hour last night trying to sign Lindross to a FA contract. Unlike a game like Madden, which has the worst FA signing model in existance, this is actually pretty cool.
I'll play a few more games with the set I'm currently using, and if the penalty time holds up, I'll bew sure to post them.
As for the controls, I'm getting comfy with them now. Last night I used the RS-Pro Stick with Nash to move the puck away from an oncoming defender and fire off a wrist shot right before I was nailed. Nash scored right before getting decked and it honestly was one of the most satisfying goals I have ever had in videogame hockey.
I can absolutely understand the complaints and frustrations a lot of people have with the game (I still do see a fair # of pensalties though and I really do want to see NHL 08 in order to compare the two, but man...I'm now 5-5 with the Jackets and I spent a half hour last night trying to sign Lindross to a FA contract. Unlike a game like Madden, which has the worst FA signing model in existance, this is actually pretty cool.
No High Scores:
http://www.nohighscores.com/
http://www.nohighscores.com/
I can understand that. But if I have to choose between the two, then 08 will be my choice. I can't understand why this game has scored so terribly. It has to be the controls.MizzouRah wrote:I hate the controls and it's the main reason, I can't really get fully into NHL 2k8.ddtrane wrote:I'm really enjoying this game offline. The control is leaps and bounds above 08, and a blast to play. But the learning curve is steep. But if I'm playing online, 08 will get all my time and attention.
Why are the rinks so small? Or is it just me? I feel like I'm on the mini rink as opposed to 08. But all in all, I rented this, I'm really enjoying my time with it. If anyone gets it, take some time and go through the training exercises.
gamertag: ddtrane65
IGN rated it well, so don't worry about the 1up score.ddtrane wrote:I can understand that. But if I have to choose between the two, then 08 will be my choice. I can't understand why this game has scored so terribly. It has to be the controls.MizzouRah wrote:I hate the controls and it's the main reason, I can't really get fully into NHL 2k8.ddtrane wrote:I'm really enjoying this game offline. The control is leaps and bounds above 08, and a blast to play. But the learning curve is steep. But if I'm playing online, 08 will get all my time and attention.
Why are the rinks so small? Or is it just me? I feel like I'm on the mini rink as opposed to 08. But all in all, I rented this, I'm really enjoying my time with it. If anyone gets it, take some time and go through the training exercises.
The code for the new unis in this game is:
S6j83RMk01 (case sensitive).
Go to Features then Unlock 2007-2008 Jerseys and enter it.
Both games have good moments and not so good. They deliver a different game experience to me and as I have mentioned since day one, I have no issues with the new control scheme whatsoever and I am enjoying the gameplay. Yes, I wished they were more penalties called.
S6j83RMk01 (case sensitive).
Go to Features then Unlock 2007-2008 Jerseys and enter it.
Both games have good moments and not so good. They deliver a different game experience to me and as I have mentioned since day one, I have no issues with the new control scheme whatsoever and I am enjoying the gameplay. Yes, I wished they were more penalties called.
- ScoopBrady
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Well, after last night I am officially hanging up the skates on this one. I'm not falling into the old slider trap that 2k games of the past have been. I started tweaking some sliders and started to see more penalties but that was at the expense of goal scoring.
My main beefs with this game are:
Rink is too small. It's not a camera angle thing, it's too damn small period. This wouldn't be a game killer if the cpu didn't want to take your head off at all costs. That combination makes for some of the most unrealistic hockey I've seen since NHL 2005.
Lack of Penalties. I know Bill is having a lot of success with penalties called in a game but until the last game I played last night I was averaging less than 1 called per game for both teams combined. After some slider tweaks my last game of the night saw a combined total of 6 penalties. I used Venom's sliders as a base and lowered Speed Burst to 5 with a length of 5 and I raised the game speed since speed burst was efffectively taken away. I also raised the check strength or whatever it is and I started seeing penalties. The problem is the checkfest became much, much worse.
Way too much checking. As I stated earlier the rink is too small and with the overly aggressive defensive AI it leads to way too many checks in the open ice. I almost had to pause I was laughing so hard when my guy was checked (as usual) in the open ice and Cole made the comment "You don't see open ice hits like that anymore these days." I thought to myself, "You obviously haven't been playing this game then." When the AI will let you skate up the boards without checking you yet they will punish you for trying to take a slapshot from the point there is a big problem. There's no aggression slider so this cannot be fixed. This is the biggest issue in the game IMO. It makes it unplayable in the end just like NHL 2005 was.
The new controls suck. I'm used to them, I just think that they are extremely unintuitive and they overcomplicate the process. This was the big addition for this year and it's a total flop.
One-timers. They didn't fix the amount of one-timers the cpu AI attempts, they fixed how successful they are at them. If JRod thinks 08 is a one-timer fest he should try this one on for size. My stat lines routinely read like this for the cpu:
Shots: 17 One-timers: 1 for 10
Lack of goal variety. I see more rebounds and wristers by the AI go in but it still pales in comparison to the variety of goals I'm seeing in NHL 08.
The skating physics flat out suck. The only thing they do well is glide after building up momentum. Whooptee-fricken-doo. They don't do crossover steps. They don't turn on the ice as you would expect them to. Again, it pales in comparison to the skating in NHL 08.
Puck physics are not that great. I still see too many pucks zipping around the boards or rebounding off the boards in ridiculous ways. This is with turning down puck friction. I mentioned it in an earlier post; I see too many pucks miss the net high that hit the glass and bounce back in front of the net. It happens several times a game. That's something that is a fluke in real life and I see it all the time in this game.
I honestly don't know how anybody that was critical of NHL 2005 could even say with a straight face that this game has any redeeming qualities. This is NHL 2005 version 2.0 and 2k sports should be utterly ashamed of themselves for releasing such a crappy, crappy game of hockey. They were once the king of videogame hockey and now each release regresses more and more.
My main beefs with this game are:
Rink is too small. It's not a camera angle thing, it's too damn small period. This wouldn't be a game killer if the cpu didn't want to take your head off at all costs. That combination makes for some of the most unrealistic hockey I've seen since NHL 2005.
Lack of Penalties. I know Bill is having a lot of success with penalties called in a game but until the last game I played last night I was averaging less than 1 called per game for both teams combined. After some slider tweaks my last game of the night saw a combined total of 6 penalties. I used Venom's sliders as a base and lowered Speed Burst to 5 with a length of 5 and I raised the game speed since speed burst was efffectively taken away. I also raised the check strength or whatever it is and I started seeing penalties. The problem is the checkfest became much, much worse.
Way too much checking. As I stated earlier the rink is too small and with the overly aggressive defensive AI it leads to way too many checks in the open ice. I almost had to pause I was laughing so hard when my guy was checked (as usual) in the open ice and Cole made the comment "You don't see open ice hits like that anymore these days." I thought to myself, "You obviously haven't been playing this game then." When the AI will let you skate up the boards without checking you yet they will punish you for trying to take a slapshot from the point there is a big problem. There's no aggression slider so this cannot be fixed. This is the biggest issue in the game IMO. It makes it unplayable in the end just like NHL 2005 was.
The new controls suck. I'm used to them, I just think that they are extremely unintuitive and they overcomplicate the process. This was the big addition for this year and it's a total flop.
One-timers. They didn't fix the amount of one-timers the cpu AI attempts, they fixed how successful they are at them. If JRod thinks 08 is a one-timer fest he should try this one on for size. My stat lines routinely read like this for the cpu:
Shots: 17 One-timers: 1 for 10
Lack of goal variety. I see more rebounds and wristers by the AI go in but it still pales in comparison to the variety of goals I'm seeing in NHL 08.
The skating physics flat out suck. The only thing they do well is glide after building up momentum. Whooptee-fricken-doo. They don't do crossover steps. They don't turn on the ice as you would expect them to. Again, it pales in comparison to the skating in NHL 08.
Puck physics are not that great. I still see too many pucks zipping around the boards or rebounding off the boards in ridiculous ways. This is with turning down puck friction. I mentioned it in an earlier post; I see too many pucks miss the net high that hit the glass and bounce back in front of the net. It happens several times a game. That's something that is a fluke in real life and I see it all the time in this game.
I honestly don't know how anybody that was critical of NHL 2005 could even say with a straight face that this game has any redeeming qualities. This is NHL 2005 version 2.0 and 2k sports should be utterly ashamed of themselves for releasing such a crappy, crappy game of hockey. They were once the king of videogame hockey and now each release regresses more and more.
Last edited by ScoopBrady on Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I am a patient boy.
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait.
My time is water down a drain.
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait.
My time is water down a drain.
- dbdynsty25
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To each their own, but there is some things 2k8 does RIGHT.
1. Faceoffs, best ever in a hockey video game.
2. Camera, I love the panoramic camera. It brings you close to the action, while allowing you to see the whole rink. I honestly think is why the rinks seem small - although I'm not convinced they really that small.
3. Best ice and the way the ice deteriorates is spectacular. I also think the sounds on the ice are excellent.
4. Contols are not really THAT bad once you get 5-6 games under your belt.
5. Presentation, as always 2k knows what presentation is all about.
6. Game pace seems perfect on defaults for ME, I know not everyone likes a speedy game.
7. Franchise is quite engrossing.
Next year 2k HAS to get rid of speed bursts though and make penalties more realistic.
I like both of these games and the great thing is, they both play a good hockey, but totally different gameplay. Too bad I'm going to have to decide on one for this season.
I'm still leaning NHL 08 right now, but 2k8 imo.. has made some strides this year.
1. Faceoffs, best ever in a hockey video game.
2. Camera, I love the panoramic camera. It brings you close to the action, while allowing you to see the whole rink. I honestly think is why the rinks seem small - although I'm not convinced they really that small.
3. Best ice and the way the ice deteriorates is spectacular. I also think the sounds on the ice are excellent.
4. Contols are not really THAT bad once you get 5-6 games under your belt.
5. Presentation, as always 2k knows what presentation is all about.
6. Game pace seems perfect on defaults for ME, I know not everyone likes a speedy game.
7. Franchise is quite engrossing.
Next year 2k HAS to get rid of speed bursts though and make penalties more realistic.
I like both of these games and the great thing is, they both play a good hockey, but totally different gameplay. Too bad I'm going to have to decide on one for this season.
I'm still leaning NHL 08 right now, but 2k8 imo.. has made some strides this year.
Read any of the reviews from IGN or Gamespot, they explain it. In fact, I think IGN's review is pretty good.jimd wrote:Can someone please explain the new control scheme?
I was really psyched for 08, but after a week of regular play, I am just not feeling it like I was with 07. I am thinking about giving 2k8 a try, but I would like to hear more about this complicated control scheme.
Thanks.
- Bill_Abner
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I finally played the 08 demo and man, that is one smooth game.MizzouRah wrote:To each their own, but there is some things 2k8 does RIGHT.
1. Faceoffs, best ever in a hockey video game.
2. Camera, I love the panoramic camera. It brings you close to the action, while allowing you to see the whole rink. I honestly think is why the rinks seem small - although I'm not convinced they really that small.
3. Best ice and the way the ice deteriorates is spectacular. I also think the sounds on the ice are excellent.
4. Contols are not really THAT bad once you get 5-6 games under your belt.
5. Presentation, as always 2k knows what presentation is all about.
6. Game pace seems perfect on defaults for ME, I know not everyone likes a speedy game.
7. Franchise is quite engrossing.
Next year 2k HAS to get rid of speed bursts though and make penalties more realistic.
I like both of these games and the great thing is, they both play a good hockey, but totally different gameplay. Too bad I'm going to have to decide on one for this season.
I'm still leaning NHL 08 right now, but 2k8 imo.. has made some strides this year.
As for 2K8, it does do a lot right. My beef isn't with penalties, like I said I swear I see my fair share every game, but my issue with with CPU powerplay AI. It's no differnt at all from what I can tell.
Franchise mode, thus far, is extremely cool. There's a traditional Kush bug that freezes franchise mode unlkess you turn off CPU-CPU trades, though.
I'm at the point where I really don't have an issue with the controls, other than I don't know why they didn't copy EA here. I mean everyone copies off each other, right?
It's just clunky to Pro Stick with the RS, pass with the LB, shoot with the RB, and slapshot while holding down LS. It's almost 2nd nature to me now but it just seems overly clunkified for no good reason.
I do love the pace, too. I have speed right where I want it and each team gets anywhere from 25-40 SOG per game. I agree with Scoop about the defense..they check way too much. esp at the point. My GOD it's like a bee to honey when you pull for a slapshot from the blue line. Very odd.
I'm gonna get the full NHL 08 game because the demo was pretty slick, and I can see why some are shelving 2K8 because of it but still...I'm having fun with my now 6-12 Jackets squad.
No High Scores:
http://www.nohighscores.com/
http://www.nohighscores.com/
I've been playing one game of 2k8, then one game of 08 - yes it sucks going from one control scheme to another.
Maybe playing NHL 07 to death last year has something to do with it, but 2k8 is now becoming my favorite over NHL 08. For some odd reason, I love the camera so much more in 2k8 and I'm almost thinking the rinks in NHL 08 are too big instead of the rinks in NHL 2k8 being too small.
I played with the franchise modes in both games and 2k8 is much more engrossing, imo. They did a great job on signing players and such.
About the freeze.. wonder if they can patch that, as that's my only concern as I don't want to turn trading off?
Competition is great, too bad football isn't this way.
Maybe playing NHL 07 to death last year has something to do with it, but 2k8 is now becoming my favorite over NHL 08. For some odd reason, I love the camera so much more in 2k8 and I'm almost thinking the rinks in NHL 08 are too big instead of the rinks in NHL 2k8 being too small.
I played with the franchise modes in both games and 2k8 is much more engrossing, imo. They did a great job on signing players and such.
About the freeze.. wonder if they can patch that, as that's my only concern as I don't want to turn trading off?
Competition is great, too bad football isn't this way.
People just love to bash 2K Sports but they give EA a free pass when it comes to flaws. What I love is that the CPU is aggressive and they do play defense unlike NHL 2K7 and the sliders work this time for a change. This is the best representation of ice hockey on the market today IMO, but NHL 08 is not bad at all. I love the shot stick, offensive controls and the puck physics and collision detection in NHL 08, but I feel like I am on a power play all the time even with the aggression slider maxed out and the passing is too tape to tape. The defense in NHL 08 is good, they block shooting lanes and they defend the slot very well, but they do not pressure the puck carrier enough. This does not bother me too much though because there are so many good things in NHL 08, but it is not perfect.
NHL 2K8 is not as fun as NHL 08 but the passing is less tape to tape and it is harder to dominate possession time just contantly passing the puck in the offensive zone. I play both games and each game has flaws.
NHL 2K8 is not as fun as NHL 08 but the passing is less tape to tape and it is harder to dominate possession time just contantly passing the puck in the offensive zone. I play both games and each game has flaws.
- dbdynsty25
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I disagree that NHL 2K8 is as bad as NHL 2005. That is really an insult and low blow. There is so much strategy in NHL 2K8 that is not possible in NHL 2005. NHL 2K8 has the best puck physics ever in a video hockey game. The skating is closer to real hockey and not arcade like EA hockey. Not all shots are 250 MPH like EA hockey either. It seems the more sim a game is the more it is hated.
I understood and agreed with mostly everything you said except this:
This is the one sentence that made me do a double take. There have been many times in my own end on a simple LB tap that the pass exploded to the other end of the ice for an icing call.
No game is perfect, but these yearly iterations are starting to show what these next generation systems can do.
TRI wrote: NHL 2K8 has the best puck physics ever in a video hockey game.
This is the one sentence that made me do a double take. There have been many times in my own end on a simple LB tap that the pass exploded to the other end of the ice for an icing call.
No game is perfect, but these yearly iterations are starting to show what these next generation systems can do.
gamertag: ddtrane65
I think I'm to the point where I'm going to take back NHL 08 and pick up NHL 2k8. I'm going to start renting games first or maybe join gamefly in the future as I always seem to pick the wrong game.. or pull a Dan and change my mind over and over.
If NHL 08 was the only hockey game, I'd play it just as much as 07, but NHL 2k8 has fixed the things that bugged me last year and I'm finding it hard to put down. I've put in a few non-stop hours on the control scheme and it's finally clicked for me. Trying out the different gamer profiles online is something that will be standard on all sports games to come and I love not having to print out sliders and change them manually all the time.
Franchise mode has really sold me on this game - I just hope after a year, the freeze glitch goes away for good and I can have CPU trading on.
If NHL 08 was the only hockey game, I'd play it just as much as 07, but NHL 2k8 has fixed the things that bugged me last year and I'm finding it hard to put down. I've put in a few non-stop hours on the control scheme and it's finally clicked for me. Trying out the different gamer profiles online is something that will be standard on all sports games to come and I love not having to print out sliders and change them manually all the time.
Franchise mode has really sold me on this game - I just hope after a year, the freeze glitch goes away for good and I can have CPU trading on.
webdanzer wrote:Are you even reading the things listed as issues in this thread?!TRI wrote: It seems the more sim a game is the more it is hated.
Yes I agree there are flaws in the game. I did not mean to imply that NHL 2K8 is perfect. Some of the issues have already been mentioned in this thread. There are things that I hate in NHL 2K8. The CPU still takes too many one timers but not as bad as NHL 2K7 at least with my sliders. The last game they had 32 shots on goal and about 8 one timers. I like the passing because I can bank passes off the boards and cycle the puck and have more control where I want the puck to go.
- Sully
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My issue with the 2k series is that it's always been a slider tweak-fest out of the box. I can't remember the last iteration of 2k hockey I played where the game played great out of the box.
It's like they showboat all of these new gimmicks, options, and strategies each year, but expect you to tweak it into a good game of hockey.
It's like they showboat all of these new gimmicks, options, and strategies each year, but expect you to tweak it into a good game of hockey.