NHL 08 Impressions

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:26 pm

10spro wrote:The lack of a rosters update and whatever they may do with the game is the only thing holding me off from starting a franchise.

Absolutely.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 1:39 am

I was wondering when I would see a fight against the CPU in this game and all of the sudden I get three in the same game all together.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 2:11 am

You should be able to fight at will, whenever the cpu starts coming back or hits for 3 quick goals i hit y and the gloves are off , pound the crap out of the guy and change momentum.

Sometimes they dont want to fight but i just press y repeatedly and as soon as a willing combatent steps on the ice they will go.

If your talking them initiating fights it doesnt happen much but then im usualy getting my arse handed to me so they have no need to punch me in the face aswell.

Absolutely love this game still, i think ive settled on my sliders and im ready for the roster update.

Digital crack for me right now.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 11:35 am

What Jimmy said... and I should add, for those who don't know, you can hit Y well away from contact to "register" your desire to drop the gloves. You don't need to slash someone in conjunction with your search to fight. So when you think you're in need of a momentum shift, tap the button a couple of times (slashing optional

and look for someone to throw down.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 12:06 pm

Yeh im never taking a penalty to get in these scraps always away from the play.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:11 pm

Check out how nice these accurate, add-on boards look for NHL 08 on the PC:

http://www.nhldepot.net/ndforums/downlo ... le&id=1354

I downloaded and installed these today the minute I found this thread. They look fantastic in-game and add so much immersion.

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 10:30 am

when will ea put out new rosters for the f***in 360?

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 10:58 am

Sudz wrote:when will ea put out new rosters for the f***in 360?

No doubt about it!

fiore22 · Post by **fiore22** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:32 pm

Just a heads up, apparently the EA rosters up. 11/14/07.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:00 pm

fiore22 wrote:Just a heads up, apparently the EA rosters up. 11/14/07.

Yay! I finally get Kane and Toews.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:09 pm

HA!

they must have heard me!

anyone check them out?

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:54 pm

Yes , played one game, Kings roster was fine anyways so i didnt see any difference.

Scoop will be happy his guys are there.

And to any 07 ers hoping it may have tweaked gameplay , i didnt feel any difference in the single game i played.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:15 pm

Yeah, more than the rosters update (which is always nice) I was hoping that the update would affect the gameplay somehow especially on SP vs the CPU where scoring on AS is rather low and the CPU's AI tends to lean a bit too often on the one timer, not to mention their super-goalies.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:46 pm

Glad about the update, was hoping it would make AS playable.. I'll have to play a game tonight.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 10:06 pm

I always play on allstar its easier to win than ss.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:05 am

Not for me with 08.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:11 am

MizzouRah wrote:Not for me with 08.

I here you tho , i tried a superstar franchise after i was so frustrated with allstar and with what people were saying about your team play better and i agree with it all , i loved how it played but i was 0-7 at the start losing 3 goal leads and stuff i couldnt get over the hump, but after going back to allstar with the same sliders i havnt looked back.

Maybe ill try another on SS with the update.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:14 pm

I would agree that SS is harder. The game is just alot harder this year.

wabash97 · Post by **wabash97** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 11:28 am

Well, after four games last night, and I am convinced there are some significant (yet difficult to immediately perceive) changes. I play on SS, and noticed way less goalie control of rebounds. There are a lot more pucks sitting around for a few beats in front of the net. Also, I noticed SS goalies can be beaten with well-placed wristers or slap shots.

I think (this is tougher to judge), the CPU is missing a few more passes and making better decisions in the zone. It's a small sample, but the goalies definitely are a bit different.

Or I'm thinking wishfully.

And (edit), most importantly (this post was made pre-coffee), I'm finally noticing a realistic amount and variety of deflections. That was the biggest reason I was getting better chances. Point shots were hitting more people, and my offensive players were making a real effort (and succeeding) to get their sticks on shots. That seems to be the coolest improvement, if it's anything more than a three-or-four game anomaly.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:12 pm

Shot deflections is one aspect of the game I'd like to see more in both SP and MP.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:11 pm

Just got the game last week. I like it alot. It feels so good I can see Myself playing an entire season with with either the Habs or the Hawks. Thats saying alot for a hockey game for Me.

I only have one problem. The frequency of hitting the posts. In one sequence last night I hit 3 posts in one possesion.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 2:44 pm

Well I didn't notice much of a difference with the downloaded rosters but I have definitely noticed a difference after the update I got a couple of nights ago. I'm playing on All Star defaults with only Game Speed, passing speed, and saucer pass speed lowered plus goalie passing frequency lowered and goalie freezing raised. I was getting fantastic results with 10-minute periods.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 2:53 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:Well I didn't notice much of a difference with the downloaded rosters but I have definitely noticed a difference after the update I got a couple of nights ago. I'm playing on All Star defaults with only Game Speed, passing speed, and saucer pass speed lowered plus goalie passing frequency lowered and goalie freezing raised. I was getting fantastic results with 10-minute periods.

Same here, Scoop. I also lowered shot accuracy, since too many shots were hitting the net, which is not the case in the real NHL. I typically hold the CPU to mid 20s-lower 30s in shots. I'm using Mudtiger's All Star sliders that are posted over at OS, and am having terrific results. I'm also seeing more deflections, and much better neutral zone play from the CPU. Feels like one-timers were toned down, too.

I'm loving this game offline. I've played 26 games in my Flyers dynasty since the update, on 10 minute periods. I'm addicted. I can't remember the last time a sports game has grabbed me like this with its offline play.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 2:57 pm

I'm in the midst of playing a full season with the Oilers with the PC version. It's only the third time ever I've played a full season with any team sports game, the others being Rugby 06 on the Xbox and NCAA 99 on the PSX.

Take care,
PK

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 3:50 pm

Been playing a bunch of Team Online games, having a blast.

But there' no mistake that the action is scripted at times.

Early on the game, you could make crisp passes and checks, move the puck around really well

Then there are times when you can't check anyone, they just bounce off you and on the other end, you can't even clear the puck because they're ale to bounce off you when they have the puck but you can't even make a simple pass without them knocking you out.

Also the faceoffs and the way the goalie defends seems smell of momentum, like in NBA Live how they will have 11-2 runs and so on.

Team Online is a great feature and they're putting it on all their games. So with more humans controlling the action, there should be no need for the scripted, momentum gameplay. You should be able to turn that s*** off.