tjung0831 wrote:Played one game of NHL 94 classic and came away disappointed. Didn't even play "Here come the Hawks" when I scored a goal like it did in the original NHL94. Didn't they say they were bringing back the original music as well. Basically it's just the NHL game with arcade like settings but they threw in the blue ice to make it seem legit!
Blue ice, old goalie horns, no ads on boards. Didn't notice goal music.
Not sure I'll play this much single player. Would only be fun in MP for me. They also could've made it more NHL-94ey by juicing up one timers and allowing goalies to pass the puck like normal players. Now it does seem kinda generic arcade hockey.
Naples39 wrote:-More realistic to see players hold one another after the whistle, not that it really makes any difference to gameplay. Haven't seen a fight yet though (although I did notice you see a player skate to the box after a minor from the normal in-game camera, which is different).
I *have* seen a number of fights (through probably about 8 periods of play). Somewhat concerningly, I had Stamkos go twice in consecutive games, once against Chara. Huberdeau also fought twice. I'm hoping it doesn't become like past games where unlikely fighters have a go just as often as the grinders and enforcers.
I do think some of the flareups are pretty cool though. I had one in HUT against Halifax where two guys were circling like they were going to go when Barret Jackman and Trey Lewis flung their gloves from an area away from the action. Jackman proceeded to one-punch Lewis in a quick fight
Yeah...so far and hopefully it's just the settings but they should rename this NHL Fisticuffs 14. I like the new fighting angle though but in 3 games played i'm about 20-0...haven't lost a fight yet and that included wins with Marchand over Bickell and Toews over Chara several times.
I played 4 games (periods) this morning and had 3 fights, best one was when I destroyed a player with a check at the blue line and one of their players quickly skated across the ice to grab me for the fight. Played a couple of games in the HUT tournament, the first game I was dominating against Halifax until I went up 2-0 and then the ea catchup ai took over and I couldn't get the puck out of my zone for the last 4 minutes of the game but held on for a 2-1 win. Then lost 4-1 against Boston giving up a goal from the blue line, 2 in the slot and a one timer in front of the net with Jonathan Quick in goal.
PLUSES
+ Hitting toned down
+ Easier to deke
+ Fewer stretch passes by CPU
+ Fewer tic-tac-toe passes by CPU in human defensive zone
+ Human snipers actually can hit corners from high slot
MINUSES
- CPU offense still far too frenetic in human defensive zone
- Computer-controlled defensemen on human team still a step too slow in their defensive zone, adding to frenetic feel of CPU offensive play in defensive zone of human player.
- Ridiculous number of clears by CPU goalie to a defenseman in the slot
- CPU still doesn't dump and chase enough, instead preferring to skate into the zone and blast from the points
- Computer-controlled defensemen still are idiots against cross-seam passes low in the slot, letting CPU have too many uncontested tap-in goals
The demo seemed to be more of deft sandpaper usage on NHL 13 than any ground-breaking improvements. That's EA's philosophy on Madden, too.
That's not a huge problem since NHL 13 was a solid game. But I'm still not sure that I want to pay $60 for spit-and-polish, especially since almost all of my NHL gameplay is against the CPU. This was a solid demo, but I don't sense any major advances in gameplay this year.
Plus there's the small issue of GTA V, Battlefield 4 and increasingly FIFA 14 looking like release-day purchases for me. The money clip can only be opened so wide.
"You know why I love boxers? I love them because they face fear. And they face it alone." - Nick Charles
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
Yeah, the changes seem subtle in the demo but pleasantly noticeable. The skating engine is good, very fluid, puck chops improved, deflections realistically implemented. Hitting is quite satisfying when you time it perfectly.
The one touch dekes is going to be a deke fest online I am afraid.
I have since had several fights, and I am officially worried about the enforcer engine. The fights were certainly more entertaining than first person crap of the past few years, but the problem is who is fighting. My last 2 games, Taylor Hall has fought. Earlier, 2 fights in consecutive games for Zetterberg. One for Stamkos.
If they really want a realistic portrayal of NHL enforcement, a tougher teammate should step in before your high scoring star gets jumped.
found the demo to be boring. first thing i noticed is no more momentum skating. took me a while to get use to it last year and I really enjoyed it since it added some realism. but in the demo, it's more arcade where guys are full speed once they touch the puck. maybe better to pick this one up sometime next march once they put out the 10th and final tuner set.
as for the 94 game, i wish it had sprites instead of today's player models.
Is it really that hard to put home ice advantage for line changes back into the game? It was there in NHL 10, but they dropped it because stupid, stupid online players would bail any game in which they were the road team.
I don't know why that has mean its removal from all modes. It was a fun part of the game, matching my opponent's lines with specific lines of my own.
Otherwise, the game felt like NHL to me. I will probably get it day one.
After playing this demo, I'm definitely ready for the next gen consoles. I can't see spending $60 plus for this game. While it was fun, there wasn't enough new enhancements to warrant the purchase in my eyes.
First off, and this is being nit picky, but the crowd looks like a**. They all move their hands and contort their body the same way at the same time. Hoping next gen looks more realistic.
I am soooooooo bored of these announcers. How many more versions of this game do we have to listen to them?
The throw in 94' game is anything but. Blue ice and and stars above the player's heads. That is not how I remember that game! Wasted effort IMO.
The revamped fighting is a nice addition, but I'm already tired of the repetitive cut scenes of a player from each team pushing each other away, when I decide not to drop the gloves. EA has a very bad track record of repetitive cut scenes in their games, and this is no different. The fights I found to be much improved, but I can't imagine having the desire to drop the gloves a couple times a period.
I love that you can now score from the point. The goalies do seem to get shielded where as before they could super deflect anything thrown their way.
I agree with Pk that they CPU doesn't dump and chase enough. The problem with this series has always been that the teams play much too similar. Over time, it feels like you're playing the same team with different jerseys.
All in all, it's a good demo, but not worthy of the price considering it feels more like minor upgrades.
I see a ton of work done with skating and hitting... although I've played over 200 games in NHL 13. Fighting adds another dynamic to the game, looks to be well done.
Presentation and commentary need a huge overhaul for next gen though.
sportdan30 wrote:I agree with Pk that they CPU doesn't dump and chase enough. The problem with this series has always been that the teams play much too similar. Over time, it feels like you're playing the same team with different jerseys.
All in all, it's a good demo, but not worthy of the price considering it feels more like minor upgrades.
Have you tried playing on Superstar, Hardcore simulation yet? The skating is much more fluid and I am enjoying the checks much better in 14. The changes are subtle nothing earth shattering but enough of an improvement over 13.
I am really enjoying this demo, the 94 mode is better played with another buddy, it reminds me of the Hitz series a silly mindless arcade mode but still fun. While I don't care much about the fighting stuff, it's also an improvement over the first person view although a little zooming over the fighting action would be nice. And just let your regular gooners do their stuff, The likes of Hossa, Kane, Stamkos shouldn't be dropping the mitts.
"That was a mustard shot"......good Lord I am so tired of hearing Gary Thorne in this series. I would love for EA to hire TSN's Gord Miller to do the games for the next generation.
sportdan30 wrote:I agree with Pk that they CPU doesn't dump and chase enough. The problem with this series has always been that the teams play much too similar. Over time, it feels like you're playing the same team with different jerseys.
All in all, it's a good demo, but not worthy of the price considering it feels more like minor upgrades.
Have you tried playing on Superstar, Hardcore simulation yet? The skating is much more fluid and I am enjoying the checks much better in 14. The changes are subtle nothing earth shattering but enough of an improvement over 13.
I am really enjoying this demo, the 94 mode is better played with another buddy, it reminds me of the Hitz series a silly mindless arcade mode but still fun. While I don't care much about the fighting stuff, it's also an improvement over the first person view although a little zooming over the fighting action would be nice. And just let your regular gooners do their stuff, The likes of Hossa, Kane, Stamkos shouldn't be dropping the mitts.
I was going to say the same thing about switching to those difficulties. Hardcore Sim is just that I liked what I saw. The ease of deking is very nice. It will definitely be a solid upgrade for me.
I still have about 20 games left in my current season and then playoffs before I'm ready to trade it in towards NHL 14. NHL 13 is definitely my favorite hockey game to date.
Well I know I'm going to get the game, I haven't missed an NHL release since the series started in 91. However if there was ever a year to not get it, it would be this year at least for me. There just doesn't seem to be enough to justify the $60 IMO....it feels like NHL 13.5. I'm ready for the NHL series on the new consoles, too bad it won't be until a year from now I suppose.
Positives would be that it feels a bit better, roster update already, and I'm a sucker for the new Dallas Stars jerseys. The Stars look good again. No more avoiding playing as the Stars because their uniform was a letdown the last few years!
tjung0831 wrote:Well I know I'm going to get the game, I haven't missed an NHL release since the series started in 91. However if there was ever a year to not get it, it would be this year at least for me. There just doesn't seem to be enough to justify the $60 IMO....it feels like NHL 13.5. I'm ready for the NHL series on the new consoles, too bad it won't be until a year from now I suppose.
Positives would be that it feels a bit better, roster update already, and I'm a sucker for the new Dallas Stars jerseys. The Stars look good again. No more avoiding playing as the Stars because their uniform was a letdown the last few years!
Funny I just mentioned that to Vader in the Ice Dragons thread. I Agree. If we could paste our logo in that nature green, we are already winners, look wise at least.
Good times last night with the ST version of the game. The game feels a lot like 13 which may hamper some from upgrading to 14. Overall it did seem to play smoother. The new deek system is solid. I like the fighting engine but don't plan on fighting much. I only played 5 EASHL games so I didn't delve into any of the other modes. Ill probably give HUT another go this year. I'll be playing randoms online as usual. I love the series so upgrading for me is a no brainer. Others may not feel the same.
I liked what I saw. The ease of deking is very nice. It will definitely be a solid upgrade for me.