More ESPN NHL slider ramblings

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 5:22 pm

Boys:
 
 I´ve tried a ton of different slider permutations with ESPN NHL Hockey, and I´m slowly but surely coming to the conclusion that the game plays best as close to default as possible.
 
 I´m playing Pro skill level, and the only changes I´ve made are:
 
 -- Maxing out fatigue effect and fatigue duration sliders for me and CPU, and minimizing fatigue recovery sliders for me and CPU. This is the only way your third and fourth lines will get realistic ice team with auto line changes set.
 
 -- Setting goalie control to automatic. This is the only way the goalie doesn´t make stupid passes and turnovers. Goalie covers up at correct times, adding to realism.
 
 That´s it. The only other change I´m pondering is game speed. I´m experimenting with 5 (default) and 3. A speed of 3 feels more realistic, but I do like the "loose," gliding feel of the skaters at default speed, and it doesn´t feel like nitro hockey like the default speed of NHL 2K3.
 
 I´m getting realistic scores in the 2-1 to 4-3 range consistently with these settings. And yes, the CPU is scoring on me.
 
 I´m going to mess with game speed a bit tonight, make a decision on that. Then I´ll lock in my settings and start a season or franchise with Edmonton.
 
 It seems every time I screw with a ton of sliders that one problem is solved and another created. Honestly, I think Kush designed the game around default sliders, and it seems to play best as close to those as possible, at least for me.
 
 What are you guys settling on for sliders?
 
 Take care,
 PK

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 5:42 pm

I have been palying on Pro level with default settings and having a blast! I have only played about 10 games,but I am loving this game.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 5:43 pm

I agree that game speed needs to be tweaked. Right around 3 seems pretty realistic to me. I´ve heard others going as low as 2, but hockey is supposed to be a fast game.
 
 A suggestion Grog had was maxing out or at least going 3/4 of the way on Ice Friction. This way, it allows your defense to position themselves nicely and not slide past the oncoming player with the puck. On default, I sometimes felt as though I wasn´t as in control.
 
 I´ve toyed around with dropping the CPU goalie to 4....I think one notch below default. I´m getting pretty good results, as I´m having a hard time scoring. However, much of that can be made to my bad decision making.
 
 I also dropped CPU interception down one notch, but then disocovered how to pass effectively in my last few games. Every pass that was getting intercepted was for a very good reason.
 
 You´re so right that this game basically plays a very good brand of hockey right out of the box. I´ve never been a huge video game hockey fan because of the arcadish feel, but this game has certainly taken over the majority of my playing time.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 5:52 pm

I´m playing on All-Star with default sliders except for shot accuracy and I´m getting my ass handed to me regularly...and I love it.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 6:36 pm

DB:
 
 Very refreshing post.
 
 I´ll bet that 90 percent of the people moaning about "AI flaws" and "needed, numerous slider tweaks" are those who aren´t playing fundamental hockey and want to win 7-6 shootouts.
 
 Well, that´s not hockey.
 
 True, there are nitty-gritty tweakers like Grog and Hrudey. But those guys are in the 10 percent of tweakers who actually seek the holy grail of sim perfection. The rest just want this game to play more like EA´s past NHL series than they care to admit, seems to me.
 
 Flame away, f*ckers! See -- I had a big-ass glass of Merlot with dinner, so the vino muscles are bulging! <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 15-09-2003 15:36 ]

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 6:40 pm

Quick follow-up: I know it´s heresy to some, but I´ve also stayed with the default shooting setting of Auto.
 
 I get about the same amount of goals with Auto and Manual, but it seems that I get a greater variety of goals with Auto. I´m so concerned about moving my players that when it comes to shooting with Manual, I just lack the dexterity to put the puck exactly where I want it.
 
 Take care,
 PK

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 6:55 pm

I´ve been going back and forth on the auto/manual shooting. I can´t really tell the difference really, so who knows which one I´ll stay with. I guess it depends on which one I´m using when I actually win a couple games in a row. That has yet to be seen though, so I guess I´ll be switching a little bit more.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 9:26 pm

I have stuck with auto,but I plan to switch the more I play. I am getting crushed and its great!