NHL 08 Impressions

[10spro]

Which is a weird thing for EA to do. Why is and for what reason is the download rosters option there for?

[Zeppo]

Some people have had to download rosters for online play every time they get on. I haven't had to do so until today. I created a player, which was saved, and after that I had to download rosters for online play. It asks if I want to save the online rosters, and I say 'yes,' yet it continues to download them again every time I start an online game. I believe that this has something to do with the fact that I've created a player, since this was something many others have had to do regularly while I have not, but now I do now that I have created a player and he has been saved.

I'm pretty sure there is no new roster download for online or offline play since the game was released. If there are specific player/team changes, or adjustments to player ratings that could be cited, I would accept that, but right now I think this is just a glitch of EA's online, where it makes people d/l the online rosters but fails to save them properly. I would bet that as of or soon after opening day, there will be a roster download for offline play available in the 'download rosters' section of the online menu.

[Diablo25]

Just an FYI fellas. I don't know if it's been mentioned but there's a roster update. I don't know if it's a placebo thing but I got waxed 4-0 in Pro after the update. The AI was more aggressive taking more shots from the point. They were hitting more.

I'll have to play again but maybe EA tweaked the AI like they did with the NHL 07 rosters.

Where the hell is this roster update and how do i get it? I looked everywhere in the game last night the option to DL new rosters and couldn't find anything. Is this update for the 360 version?

I'm having the same problem with Madden...can't find a roster download option to save my life.

You need to go to NHL 08 online. Setup a custom match, then you'll be notified there's a roster update before you can play your online match. Once the roster update downloads it will prompt you to save the roster update. I think Madden is the same way.

Thanks.

[TCrouch]

Some people have had to download rosters for online play every time they get on. I haven't had to do so until today. I created a player, which was saved, and after that I had to download rosters for online play. It asks if I want to save the online rosters, and I say 'yes,' yet it continues to download them again every time I start an online game.

That's been my experience since day 1. Every single time I play online I have to sit through a full minute of lagging roster downloads.

[GameSeven]

Here is a transcript of a "roster downloading" workaround that was posted on EA forums. I thought I had tried it already with no success, but last night I tried again being careful to follow each step and it worked (for all of last night at least). Anyone still having the issue may want to give these a try...

I've been reading a few fixes and trying out some different things and figured I should post the full fix, the complete fix. YOU CAN KEEP YOUR DYNASTY! and you don't have to delete profiles or settings either.

Sign into your 360 profile, load up 08
Load 08's main profile and turn autosave off (this will make sure the roster doesn't change)
Go into my nhl 08 save/load/delete
Delete all of the saves that are rosters (Roster1, Roster 1, Online Roster1)
After this is done, Restart your xbox (it needs to register that they are gone)
Again load your nhl 08 main profile
Go Online and play a quick ranked shootout *Actually play and finish the shootout (The game needs to actually load the rosters)
After the shootout it should take you to the main menu
Go into my nhl and save the roster as "ROSTER 1"
Then after it saves just load the roster everytime before you play 08 online.

This fix allows you to keep your Dynasty

[JackB1]

the weird thing is I never had this roster problem. I downloaded the new one early yesterday and played 3 league games without any prompts to download rosters?

[MizzouRah]

So I'm playing this one as well... anyone NOT playing on PRO?

I'm having great games on PRO, but AS is still kicking my arse.

[Sudz]

So I'm playing this one as well... anyone NOT playing on PRO?

I'm having great games on PRO, but AS is still kicking my arse.

i'm on pro. enjoying it,. some awesome games.

freaking traded for lindros...he is having a career rebirth for me.

[JackB1]

So I'm playing this one as well... anyone NOT playing on PRO?

I'm having great games on PRO, but AS is still kicking my arse.

I finally made the leap to AS and there's no going back now. On Pro, I can play relaxed, knowing I can win pretty easily, but on AS, every prossesion is tense and goals are huge. I just llove how I have to really work to win on AS.

[pk500]

Exact sentiments about the jump from Normal to Difficult in the PC version, too, Jack.

Take care,
PK

[sportdan30]

So, the demo plays like a dream on the 360 just as I had expected. I really do enjoy the game, but two things are still bothering me.

I'm having a heck of a time playing defense. Cutting off the passing lanes seems next to impossible. I think a couple of you mentioned changing the defensive strategy. Does that seem to make a significant difference.

And lastly, I can't freakin' score goals with any kind of consistency. Suggestions would be appreciated.

By the way, in comparison to the PS3, it seems the defensive A.I. is more aggressive on the 360 version. At least in the demo.

[MizzouRah]

So I'm playing this one as well... anyone NOT playing on PRO?

I'm having great games on PRO, but AS is still kicking my arse.

I finally made the leap to AS and there's no going back now. On Pro, I can play relaxed, knowing I can win pretty easily, but on AS, every prossesion is tense and goals are huge. I just llove how I have to really work to win on AS.

I'm sure I'll get there. I've been playing 2k8 for quite some time and going back to NHL 08 has been a learning curve once again.

[Sully]

So, the demo plays like a dream on the 360 just as I had expected. I really do enjoy the game, but two things are still bothering me.

I'm having a heck of a time playing defense. Cutting off the passing lanes seems next to impossible. I think a couple of you mentioned changing the defensive strategy. Does that seem to make a significant difference.

And lastly, I can't freakin' score goals with any kind of consistency. Suggestions would be appreciated.

By the way, in comparison to the PS3, it seems the defensive A.I. is more aggressive on the 360 version. At least in the demo.

I thought stick collision was turned off in the demo, which would mean it's more difficult to intercept passes, and block shots. It was posted earlier in this thread.

[Inuyasha]

ok, i haven't played a hockey game in a few years, but after dl'd the 08 demo and reading this thread, I may just pick this one up.

But one question, how does it compare to 2k's game? I'm more of a casual hockey fan so I think this game would be up my alley. I know 2k's game is probably more realistic, but does it provide that pickup and play aspect like ea's game does?

[Naples39]

I've been playing on allstar, but finding the lack of goals a little frustrating. I'm getting pretty tired of nearly every game going into OT at 1-1. I have officially begun messing with sliders.

Btw, for those that find AS really tough, I recommend turning down puck control, which will hurt the CPU offense more than it will hurt yours. You can also turn down CPU learning to help your offense.

I have tried turning up shot power and shot accuracy to get scores up, but so far hasn't yielded results.

[vader29]

I'm playing a dynasty on Pro with the Penguins and am struggling with a below .500 record but it's just the opposite playing with the minor league team as I'm 8-3 with them. The star players seem to be even more skilled than last years game as Crosby has 10 goals in 12 games and I think last year the most I was able to get with him in a season was 25.

[LAking]

I've been playing on allstar, but finding the lack of goals a little frustrating. I'm getting pretty tired of nearly every game going into OT at 1-1. I have officially begun messing with sliders.

Btw, for those that find AS really tough, I recommend turning down puck control, which will hurt the CPU offense more than it will hurt yours. You can also turn down CPU learning to help your offense.

I have tried turning up shot power and shot accuracy to get scores up, but so far hasn't yielded results.

So what's your record on AS? What other slider adjustments are you making? I have yet to win a single game on AS and will get rid of the game if that doesn't change. I just can't stop the cpu. They are definitely scoring more than a goal a game.

ALso, has anyone figured out how to get the game to save sliders for quick games?

[Naples39]

I've been playing on allstar, but finding the lack of goals a little frustrating. I'm getting pretty tired of nearly every game going into OT at 1-1. I have officially begun messing with sliders.

Btw, for those that find AS really tough, I recommend turning down puck control, which will hurt the CPU offense more than it will hurt yours. You can also turn down CPU learning to help your offense.

I have tried turning up shot power and shot accuracy to get scores up, but so far hasn't yielded results.

So what's your record on AS? What other slider adjustments are you making? I have yet to win a single game on AS and will get rid of the game if that doesn't change. I just can't stop the cpu. They are definitely scoring more than a goal a game.

ALso, has anyone figured out how to get the game to save sliders for quick games?

I am playing with the flyers, and on AS my record is about 8-10-0-3. For me the problem right now is I just feel it is luck whether or not the CPU beats me. I can play a competitive match nearly every time, but when the puck goes in the net seems totally unpredictable, because in general the goalies for each team play stellar games time and time again.

I haven't made any slider adjustments other than what I mentioned. Mainly I just try to clear the slot and hope that my goalie saves everything else.

[10spro]

Frustrated with the AS level I switched back to Pro. Setting your defense to high pressure really helps a lot defensively, and using the quick plays more effectively has helped my interest level again in 08.

Switching between both games back and forth, the most challenging thing for me is to memorize which control scheme does what for either game.

[MizzouRah]

Frustrated with the AS level I switched back to Pro. Setting your defense to high pressure really helps a lot defensively, and using the quick plays more effectively has helped my interest level again in 08.

Switching between both games back and forth, the most challenging thing for me is to memorize which control scheme does what for either game.

Yep, playing 2k8 is a PITA after playing NHL 08 for about 5-6 games.

[Gangrel]

Anyone with the PC version know where I can get opening night rosters? NHLDEPOT.NET has one set, but apparently they won't work in Franchise mode yet......

[pk500]

Anyone with the PC version know where I can get opening night rosters? NHLDEPOT.NET has one set, but apparently they won't work in Franchise mode yet......

Bit of a controversy on that front, Gang. The dude who does the best NHL PC rosters, Watis, was offended that a bunch of morons gave his beta roster a low grade. So he scrapped the whole project.

The guy either must have a huge or fragile ego -- or both. Many people are trying to persuade him to resume the project.

Speaking of mods, I've added these to NHL 08 on the PC, and they're great fun:

New Reebok Edge Jerseys
http://www.nhldepot.net/forums/download ... le&id=1095

Note: Apparently the EA patch that contains these jerseys is a flea-ridden piece of sh*t that causes more problems than it solves. So these are third-party jerseys that look GREAT.

Arena Ditties
http://www.nhldepot.net/forums/download ... ile&id=957

Note: Much better arena music than what EA puts into the game. More realistic.

Accurate Board Ads
http://www.nhldepot.net/forums/download ... file&id=37

Note: These are from NHL 07 and work with 08. They aren't updated with new sponsors on boards for this season, but they're a HELL of a lot better than the default EA board ads. Gotta see those Tim Horton's ads on the Canadian team's boards!

Halfway Ice Update
http://www.nhldepot.net/forums/download ... ile&id=948

Note: These are 13 rinks from NHL 07, and they work in NHL 08. The author of this mod is working on the other 17 rinks for this season and will update these 13 so we have all 30 rinks current for this season.

All good stuff. And remember to run bhimport every time you install one of these mods!

Take care,
PK

[Zeppo]

Been playing for a while now, and though I haven't played nearly as many games as many around here, I thought I'd jot down some things about the game that keep springing to mind.

Some Pros:

I love the way defensmen play on offense in this game. This is the first hockey game I can remember where I am 100% confident in a pass back to the point; they play as if they are aware of both the blue line and the offside rule, something that can't be said about any NHL game I've played in the past.

I love the difficulty of physical play, and thus the satisfaction of laying the wood when you get it right. Just skating into people can knock them off balance quite often, so this kind of physical interaction is great.

I like that they have loosened up the linesmen's reading of the red line for icing. Time was in video games, you really had to be ahead of the red line to avoid it, vs. real hockey where there is a bigger gray area. This feels a lot more like the way it's called in real hockey than games in the past.

I love the skill-stick and shooting, just as I did last year. It may be tweaked, I don't know, because it was really good last year, but hey, they didn't break it or anything. Great fun just moving and skating around, which makes the game tremendously fun all the time.

I love playing goalie. It's not easy, and there is definitely room for improvement, but for the most part, they really nailed it. Playing online three on three with human goalies makes the games all that much more fun for me, whether I am a skater or the goalie. There is nothing else in sports gaming that gives me the kind of nervous intensity, and then satisfaction when making a save or stoning a guy on a breakaway. Nothing else even close. Sure, soft goals are given up often, but I feel like I am getting better the more I play, so there is improvement coming. I even enjoy playing offline v. CPU in goalie mode. It can be great fun for me.

Obviously, up to six 360s in online games is brilliant, and has been such a long time coming, but thank you NHL08 for giving it back to us. Now, next time steal Rivals' pond mode just for the heck of it.

Some Cons:

I HATE the fact that the pass button and the 'become the guy' button is the same button. HATE IT. They NEED to take a queue from WE/PES, just as FIFA has, and separate those two functions. There is really no way I can tell to stab at the puck just to knock it on, or one-time it past an opponent, unless you already have possession, and this is LAME and takes away a lot of the scruffy play all hockey games need. It's so frustrating for me to be trying to become the guy, only to have the computer decide I'm already that guy, and thus pass the puck when that's not what I wanted at all. SEPARATE THESE FUNCTIONS TO DIFFERENT BUTTONS!

It is far too easy for players to pick the puck off the boards, and this results in making hard arounds pretty much useless. There are also no scrums for the puck along the boards or in the corners, something that happens, what, like one million times a game in real life? Even Gary Thorne on the commentary seems to think this is 'in the game,' but it's not, and the main reason is that picking the puck off the boards and skating off with it in full possession is far too easy to do. It also makes whatever pinning function there may be somewhere in there useless, too, and when you add in how hard it is to stab at the puck and try to move it when you don't officially have possession, the board play is just not there.

Super goalies. There, I've said it. The goalies are too good. They're not 2K super goalies, where ever game seemed to be 0-0 OT all the time, but they are overall too good. It seems to me like they overcompensated for the goalies from last year, where they were too easy to beat. It's not enough to break the game for me, but it can be really annoying. One time Jimmy and I played Kazakhstan v. Great Britain, the two worst teams in the game, and even those goalies were pretty much standing on their heads the whole game, so much so Thorne and Clement couldn't shut up about it. They don't need to be adjusted much, but methinks they really are too good.

Line changing is frustrating. It's impossible to see what the fatigue of your lines is without calling for a change, and when you do call for a change, too often the guys on the far side away from the bench just never get off the ice. I think it has something to do with the picking the puck off the boards problem, in that you can dump it in, but it's immediately back on the attack the other way. I've come to actually skating my guy to the bench to force him to change, which works, but the game is a little screwed up in this area.

There needs to be a radar, especially for playing multiplayer three on three on the ice. Whether your a winger waiting near the red line for that outlet pass, or a defensmen trying to hold the blue line on offense, you can't really do it very well if you have no idea where you really are on the ice. Get us a radar option, at least for online team play, please.

There is no season mode option for the Swedish or Finnish leagues. LAME.

Online leagues are very rudimentary, and may be completely broken, it's hard to tell. Not having injuries, trades, or even any kind of stat tracking is, you guessed it, LAME! Add to that the screwed up standings, and the lack of any ability for the admin to fix a result or reset a game when it gets disconnected doesn't help anything at all. The idea of automated leagues is nice, but really, this effort is pretty embarrassing considering what other systems have been out there in the past. Fer crissake, XSN's very first hockey game, Rivals, had a MUCH better league system.


Well, that's all for now. There is so much to like in this game, I have fun with it in just about whatever mode; practice, skating practice, shooting practice, goalie practice, offline games in goalie mode, online shootout mode (where you play goalie!), online head to head, two on two, three on three with human goalies, it's just a damn great sports video game. There's stuff that could be improved, but none of it really breaks the game, and the fun factor is just incredible.

[WillHunting]

Nice writeup Zeppo. I can't wait for Leebo's copy so I can join up for some 3on3!!

[Jimmydeicide]

Cant you just hit the back button Zep ? that would seem better than a radar to me. radars blow and would be useless in a hockey game only serving to cover part of your screen so dont ask for it if EA put it in ill never speak to you again.

Im still having fun with this game and my allstar Dynasty is realy tough, think im 12-15 in NHL and like 12-12 in AHL thanks to a 6 game win streak. Not realy having trouble soring on 10 min periods, good result variety.
I like the fact that you can feel if you have the jump on a team some nights, it seems sometimes they just play flat and the same goes with your team to. The ebb and flow of the season is done realy realy well.
During the season its easy to get in a rut as the AI learning can realy shut you down until you snap out of your routine and listnening to Bill and Gary realy is a must in order to win these chess matches, constantly having to change stategies and pressure to compensate, its too clunky to change strategies, having to pause to do so and then not have it take sometimes is very annoying and needs to be accessable on the fly like pressure.

So i guess the few points that stand out at this junture for me is,
Still your D are just too passive, especialy in neutral zone which leads to the offence just setting up constantly, which leads into puck control and passing is just to tight for a hockey game, Zep you mentioned icing what icing? ive seen 2 i think the puck is never missed never lose long enough if they could just loosen those couple of things up i think it would open up the game more like 07 was it would take away the constant set up in the offensive zone, would lead to more breakaways and give back that dimension that is missing this year.
Line changes realy need to be addressed they are just bad and lines stay out way too long, need seperate O and D changes and a fatigue meter .

Goalies need a small tweak a few more desperation saves needed they move side to side to well and they went overboard on the trickle pucks almost taking them out completely as they did overboard on the cycling factor which just seems to be the IN hockey term at the moment instead of just being part of the hockey staple.

Multiplayer 3 on 3 is the bombdiggity yo.
Single player multi can be frustrating and its because its to easy to 1 time and pass.
This game is very close to being the ultimate sports video game experience just being held back by a few things , so EA losen up the players and puck some more and were golden.
if your gonna steal one thing from 2k make it the pass assist slider.