NHL 14 News

[pk500]

that impression sounds a lot like madden 25. Just a roster and uniform update. i guess ea's mailed it in this gen.

Let's hope not with FIFA! I'm waiting on NHL 14 until Black Friday or another sale. Too many other games prying open my money clip this fall -- Madden, FIFA, GTA V, Battlefield 4 and probably F1 2013.

[vader29]

For anyone at DSP who is thinking of joining the EASHL this year (Web? ) , here is a good tutorial video on setting up your be a pro player for the EASHL. This year they have added caps on the attribute points and also increased the boosts from +1,+3,+5 to +3,+5,+7 and the new 10 division setup seems to be a great addition, read some comments that it is like FIFA but I haven't ever played the FIFA OTP, we leveled up to division 9 last night but then after a few heartbreaking losses, it looks like we will get relegated back down to division 10 once this 10 game season block is done. Hopefully we can get a big group Tuesday night for fun some intra-squad games.

[XXXIV]

There you have it.

Thanks! Vader.

Lets all come out and lose together!

[10spro]

Yep, it's a step in the right direction trying to climb up in your division. It is indeed taken a page from FUT which is huge of course.

[Diablo25]

There you have it.

Thanks! Vader.

Lets all come out and lose together!

We sure as hell did last night!

[XXXIV]

DRAGONS!!!

[Jimmydeicide]

How was it then? fill us in, was it UFC on ice and 10-6 scorlines?

[Zlax45]

What would you guys rate this game at? 1-10? Is it worth it?

[vader29]

How was it then? fill us in, was it UFC on ice and 10-6 scorlines?

The fighting is really toned down from the demo, I think we maybe only had 5 fights total in two nights? Both of the fights I was in were after I shot the puck at the goalie after the whistle and couldn't avoid the scrap and the majority of the games we played were competitive until the end, just frustrating as usual not getting rewarded when we had great pressure on the other team and then they skate down and score an easy goal.

[10spro]

What would you guys rate this game at? 1-10? Is it worth it?

Anytime you play EASHL is worth the price of admission alone. But seriously, from what I played so far Live for the moment or whatever it's called is an improvement version of Be a Pro, HUT is supposed to be an improvement too. In terms of gameplay you won't see a drastic change from 13, but nothing is for that matter in the EA sports world for the last couple of years.

The fighting engine is also an improvement. And since you like to fight so much, you'll feel right at home.

But it's always good to play for the Dragons and more so now with the division challenges.

[Zlax45]

I only like to fight because I can take their best player off the ice! I need to get my skills better

[10spro]

Haven't seen too many brawls yet, but in all of my randoms last night there were at least one in each period including not only myself but the rest of the team in a major brouhaha. It was fun to watch.

[Naples39]

Some games all guys want to do is fight. It's tolerable but can be annoying.

I was playing one game where the goalies started a fight, and then while the goalies were going, 3 more fights broke out. I was just about by myself after that!

[10spro]

IGN's review:

http://ca.ign.com/articles/2013/09/06/nhl-14-review

[Aristo]

Decided to wait to buy this year's edition. Been playing so much WSOP and NCAA 14, as well as picking MLB 2K13 up again thatI just don't have time.

Of course, I just came home from Gamestop with the the 360 version. Who the Hell was a I kidding?

[tjung0831]

Hard to believe but today is the first time since 1991 that I didn't purchase an EA hockey game on release day. Felt very weird let me tell ya.

[Gangrel]

Ignoring the presentation, which is staler than month old bread, I like 14. I haven't bought it yet, but played the ST version. Yes, it could be called 13.5, but I found enough of a difference to make me want to buy it.

Skating is better, I find shots have more zip..... penalties seem better, as long as you aren't just rushing end to end and not trying to posses the puck. I find my AI teammates no longer get so stuck in front of the net I can't cycle the puck or play the behind the net strategy.......

Everything just seems to be more refined. and I was pleasantly surprised by the changes in the GM mode. Didn't do a whole season to see if stats or whatnot were nerfed, but i care more about making my lines for example than if Crosby had 90 points or 120.......

Also, I read a lot on OS about complaints that players still aren't separated enough. Maybe that's somewhat true, but playing as the Oil versus the Pens, I had zero chance of catching Crosby with Jonesu..... so it seems to be (wait for it.....) more refined as well.

I will definitely have the game this week......

[Aristo]

Man, if I could aim worth a poop, online play in this year's version is just great. I've had three really good games so far. One was a random with the Blues in which I lost 2-0.

The other two were HUT games that I lost 3-1 and 2-1 in OT. But what has stood out is the sloppy nature of the play. And in HUT, I think the separation of players is just more pronounced. I have 45-60 rated players skating with 80 rated players.

But to this day I just cannot bury shots without using auto-aim. The game feels so good online this year that I may give it a try. In the OT loss I had a Jaden Schwartz hit off the cross bar and bounce around just in front of the line, but I could not get anyone in to poke it in. Then in OT I had a wide open net, only to see the goalie make a miracle block that left a juicy rebound that my player whiffed on.

I think they may have finally aced the poke check, as it misses unless you really time it just right. I also started getting called for a series of tripping calls when I started to get carried way with it. I'm sure people at OS will still complain, because that is what they do.. It's always too effective or too nerfed for someone.

In many, many ways this feels like every other game In the series. But in many, many subtle ways, this is a major improvement in the organic feel of the series. I feel like in terms of gameplay, its the biggest improvement in many releases.

[webdanzer]

I picked this up yesterday, but have yet to play.

Any interest in a single player per team league this year, or are most folks just happy doing the Ice Dragons?

[Aristo]

I would be interested in some single player league play. I have yet to check out GM Connected, but last year it was pretty awful. Hopefully they improved it.

[Zeppo]

I'm in with the Caps.

"Awful" is not how I would describe last years effort. I had a blast as we played trough three very fun seasons. I'm very much looking forward to more of the same.

[Aristo]

I'm in with the Caps.

"Awful" is not how I would describe last years effort. I had a blast as we played trough three very fun seasons. I'm very much looking forward to more of the same.

I ran a league over at GWJ, and we gave up on the laggy menus and terrible stat tracking. I couldn't tell who had played. It was just poorly implemented,. the games were fine. The league structure and set-up were abysmal. The laggy menus made trades and free agency tedious.

[10spro]

HUT has been improved, if any of you guys have your team built, I am for that type of vs play.

[Aristo]

I agree. It's interesting that you can now earn pucks outside of HUT, but I am sure that is to entice more people to play the monetized section of the game.

But I like the improvements.

[Naples39]

I agree. It's interesting that you can now earn pucks outside of HUT, but I am sure that is to entice more people to play the monetized section of the game.

But I like the improvements.

With all the bonus packs (5 I think for preordering, season pass, winning HUT in the demo...), and I also got 86k pucks as a reward for playing last year. I've spent about 25k pucks on my team and have a decent roster together. Took me week or two to get my team to this basic competence level last year.