NHL 08 Impressions

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:08 pm

pk500 wrote:
wco81 wrote:Would the PC versions be less tolearable if they were purchased for $30 or $40?
Oh, the minister of software morality strikes again. Very cute. Sorry, my moral compass needle isn't moving despite your proselytizing.

To answer your question, no. All three are very good games, worth the money.

Take care,
PK

I really don't care how you or anyone else got it.

Just asking, if one's perceptions or criteria changes in any way.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:12 pm

RallyMonkey wrote:Mizzou and Sudz,

I'm curious because i wanted to like Pro, but how are you getting past the passive d-coverage in the opposition's zone? Did you find a fix or are you just "dealing" with it.

I deal with it and for the most part, it doesn't allow me to score any more goals.

I'm going to try SS tonight and post back.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:11 pm

wco81 wrote:
I really don't care how you or anyone else got it.

Just asking, if one's perceptions or criteria changes in any way.

Right. Are you going to try to sell me oceanfront property in Manitoba next?

Take care,
PK

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:29 pm

Noticed there was a small patch for the game tonight on 360. Was kind of hoping it would fix freezing issues, but after a unreadable disc message in my first game, that's probably not the fix.

Anyway, I tried some games on SS, and the game definitely plays better. Mainly it's just that defenders for both human and AI are a lot more aggressive, leading to more realistic play. I've even gotten behind the defense twice in my last game, leading to a penalty shot on one occasion. I basically never got behind the defense on AS because they retreat so quickly. Also, on AS I normally (though not always) get outshot, but so far on SS I have been outshooting the CPU nearly 2 to 1.

One thing that does worry me though is it seems my goalie has gotten worse, whereas the CPU goalie definitely has tightened up. CPU goalie moves side to side better, and is less vulnerable 5-hole. Just when I was getting scoring up....

Still need to spend more time with it, but SS mode is definitely looking good so far.

kicko · Post by **kicko** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:58 pm

wco81 wrote:
pk500 wrote:
wco81 wrote:Would the PC versions be less tolearable if they were purchased for $30 or $40?
Oh, the minister of software morality strikes again. Very cute. Sorry, my moral compass needle isn't moving despite your proselytizing.

To answer your question, no. All three are very good games, worth the money.

Take care,
PK
I really don't care how you or anyone else got it.

Just asking, if one's perceptions or criteria changes in any way.

a fun game is a fun game(.) it dont matter if you stole it or paid double, it's just fun. However paying $60 for next gen titles has me thinking very hard about which ones to buy.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:13 pm

Naples39 wrote:One thing that does worry me though is it seems my goalie has gotten worse, whereas the CPU goalie definitely has tightened up. CPU goalie moves side to side better, and is less vulnerable 5-hole. Just when I was getting scoring up....

Still need to spend more time with it, but SS mode is definitely looking good so far.

I've noticed this too and Pro still feels better to me.

I do think the CPU mixes it up on offense better on SS, but I'll stick to Pro for now.

Anyone try AS after the patch?

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:46 am

Naples39 wrote: One thing that does worry me though is it seems my goalie has gotten worse, whereas the CPU goalie definitely has tightened up.

that's not good news.....the AI goalie was already too tight! If EA would just release a patch that gives you the goalie/player advantage slider in franchise games!!!

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:55 pm

After some more games on SS, I think I'm gonna stick there. The game simply plays better there with much more aggressive defenders. Seeing all the achievements available for superstar play, something tells me this is where EA expected the real players to be playing.

I turned up shooting sliders again, and the puck is going in the net. It's definitely more difficult to score on wristers (argh...the classic video game flaw), and goalies recover super fast, but I have changed my play towards more one-timers and slapshots and can still score. It's all about the onetimers to a player waiting on his forehand, because if the player waits for the puck to go across his body and then onetime it, the goalie gets more time to slide over.

Only real obstacle for me at this point is some crazy catchup logic in the last minute. Every CPU shot in the last minute is LETHAL.

RallyMonkey · Post by **RallyMonkey** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:07 pm

Naples,

I am tending to agree with you here. I've played 6 games (all of which i've lost btw) on SS now with mudtiger (i think that's the name) sliders but i've had a hard time putting the puck in the net. What did you set your shooting sliders at?

And i agree with the last minute, and i've also found they tend to score pretty quickly after i take a lead which is frustrating. Although i found this on AS as well.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:13 pm

RallyMonkey wrote:Naples,

I am tending to agree with you here. I've played 6 games (all of which i've lost btw) on SS now with mudtiger (i think that's the name) sliders but i've had a hard time putting the puck in the net. What did you set your shooting sliders at?

And i agree with the last minute, and i've also found they tend to score pretty quickly after i take a lead which is frustrating. Although i found this on AS as well.

I have shot power and shot accuracy each one level below maxed out, which may be too fast for some here. I don't mind a little quicker game, so it's okay with me. At this setting, I am seeing 3-8 combined goals a game, which is perfect IMO.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:58 pm

I find the shot power at accuracy at three to works best for me. At this level, the CPU tends to miss its fair share of one timers, but if you want to score more you can bump up the accuracy a notch or two but be ready to be scored on too. It's because of the latter that I find my goalies to be weaker than the opposition, no matter who I play.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:28 pm

I might get to SS sometime later, PRO is still fun for me.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:41 pm

MizzouRah wrote:I might get to SS sometime later, PRO is still fun for me.

Yeah, I am switching back anf forth, if the goalie AI is still weak in SS, I'll be switching back. One thing this year has, that no other EA NHL games has done for me in the past, is the constant search for the perfect slider setting, something I usually do with 2K8 but there's something in this game's engine that keeps me coming back for more...

RallyMonkey · Post by **RallyMonkey** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 10:18 pm

I might get to SS sometime later, PRO is still fun for me.

I can completely see why it would be. For so many reasons pro is great, as a hockey guy i just can't stand having my way in the offensive zone when it comes to puck movement.

If they could put the defensive play of SS in Pro and leave the rest the same, i'd be a very happy guy on Pro level.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:54 am

How about some damn updated rosters from EA. The regular season is 2+ weeks old and still no rosters.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 10:13 am

2k doesn't have a roster update either. I've read that rookie NHL players have to play 10 games in order to be used in official roster sets... could be the reason.

I don't mind the play on PRO in NHL 08 because I can turn around and play a game of NHL 2k8 and get the tight play in the offensive zone.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 10:14 am

RallyMonkey wrote:Naples,

I am tending to agree with you here. I've played 6 games (all of which i've lost btw) on SS now with mudtiger (i think that's the name) sliders but i've had a hard time putting the puck in the net. What did you set your shooting sliders at?

And i agree with the last minute, and i've also found they tend to score pretty quickly after i take a lead which is frustrating. Although i found this on AS as well.

I played a bunch of games on SS last night and it wasn't the qucik fix I was looking for. The only real difference was that the AI's shot totals really went through the roof on SS. PLaying 10 min periods, they averaged 60 shots per game and usually outshot me 2 to 1. It seemed just as difficult to score on SS as it was on AS, which is my main problem with the game. I tried upping the shooting sliders, but that also increases the AI's goals and S.O.G. numbers.

This game is turning into a double edged sword for me. It's SO much fun to play, due to the smooth frame rate, great skating engine and intuitive controls..BUT...I am getting frustrated averaging 1 goal per game. Also frustrating is that the AI scores it's goals in the same manner over and over: get someone open in the slot, pass to him for the one timer into the net. It's frustrating cause you could be blanketing the AI's forwards all period long, then they get him open for 1 second and BANG....it's in the back of the net! @#$#$@!!!

I dont' think there are any magical slider settings that will fix the glaring issues I have with this game. Every time you make a slider change, it has both a positive and negative effect that usually cancel each other out.
My choices are this: Play on Pro and deal with the passive "D" or play on
AS only in exhibition mode and mess with the goalie/player slider.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 10:23 am

fanatic wrote:Not sure if anyone here has tried it, but I played a few games on Superstar and for some reason it seems a lot easier than AS and plays a lot more realistically from what I've seen. I'm using mudtiger's sliders from OS and they are working great.

Didn't see that at all. You sure it wasn't a temporary coincidence? Only thing SS did was greatly increase the AI's shot totals. It did feel like I had a little easier time getting into position for good shots on goal, but they still don't go in!

Playing on SS doesn't fix the 2 largest issues:
1) Goalies are too tough!
2) AI scores the same way over and over - feed the slot for the 1 timer.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 10:26 am

A suggestion for those struggling on defense - on SS the computer becomes very one-timer heavy. Usually they are always looking for a specific player to one-time it, and that's the forward who is waiting near the faceoff circle hashes on the opposite side of the puck. For the most part you can let the CPU puck carrier skate around the zone and even take some shooting opportunities, as long as you closely mark that specific onetimer man.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 11:55 am

I keep thinking PRO will become easy, but it hasn't for me. Every game is fun and different.

I can play a game of 2k8, but overall, it's just not as fun joystick wise as NHL 08 is.

Maybe they will come out with a roster that will fix some of the issues on AS?

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 12:25 pm

MizzouRah wrote:I keep thinking PRO will become easy, but it hasn't for me. Every game is fun and different.

I can play a game of 2k8, but overall, it's just not as fun joystick wise as NHL 08 is.

Maybe they will come out with a roster that will fix some of the issues on AS?

Pro isn't "easy" for me either...at least to win I mean. Only thing that's easy, is how the AI lets you skate into the zone and pass the puck around the perimeter. I definitely have an easier time scoring goals in "Pro" as opposed to AS or SS.

I don't like SS difficulty because it increases the AI's tendency to look for 1 timers in the slot and that's already a problem on AS. Why would I want to make that worse? I love the challenge of winning on AS, but I hate how hard it is to put the puck past the goalie. I wonder if I could just edit each goalie of the opposing teams as I play them?

RallyMonkey · Post by **RallyMonkey** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:53 pm

Jack,

It's funny you mention that upping the shot accruacy slider has increased CPU scoring as well because i didn't find that when i did it in my AS franchise. I found it helped me tremendously but really did not alter shot totals or goals for them. Granted i only played three games but in those three i felt the only difference was on my end.

I have to disagree on shot totals increasing on SS. Using mudtiger's sliders my totals over 7 games have been between 30 and 40 for the CPU, far lower on average than where i was on AS.

You are 100% correct though that the one-timer is the primary shot source for the CPU though. I've learned to deal with it and try to play more solid in slot D.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:42 pm

Very early impressions, but this is a good gameplay mod for NHL 08 for the PC if you're looking for the CPU to be a tougher challenge on defense and smarter in its offensive zone on the Difficult skill level:

http://www.nhldepot.net/forums/showthre ... post130841

This has made a fine game even better. I'm impressed.

Take care,
PK

wabash97 · Post by **wabash97** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 3:34 pm

That was actually the one huge improvement to me on SS ... I am now holding the CPU under 40 shots in every game I've played.

I upped the shot acc. and power and got spanked this morning (dumb defense), but managed to score twice, which is a good sign for me.

Also, I find the CPU scoring on all types of shots. In that game I gave up five goals (ugh, bad D once again). One was a one-timer, one was a wrist shot off a bad, bad turnover, another was a rebound on a powerplay, and another was a deflected shot from the point.

I clog the hell out of the middle of the ice, and go to a knee constantly to block passing lanes to the slot, and to block shots from outside.

I'm really enjoying SS so far, but hoping goal variety for me picks up. We'll see.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 3:52 pm

RallyMonkey wrote:Jack,

It's funny you mention that upping the shot accruacy slider has increased CPU scoring as well because i didn't find that when i did it in my AS franchise. I found it helped me tremendously but really did not alter shot totals or goals for them. Granted i only played three games but in those three i felt the only difference was on my end.

I have to disagree on shot totals increasing on SS. Using mudtiger's sliders my totals over 7 games have been between 30 and 40 for the CPU, far lower on average than where i was on AS.

You are 100% correct though that the one-timer is the primary shot source for the CPU though. I've learned to deal with it and try to play more solid in slot D.

I am not sure if the increased shot totals were due to the SS diff level or upping those shot sliders because I did that both at the same time. I could try AS again with the same shot sliders. What do you have them at?
I think I tried 4 for each.

Also, I was using Qbert's sliders. I will give mudtiger's a shot and see what happens. Are you playing 10 min periods?