NHL 14 Info Dropped

Yeah, this is way too early, but here it is:

NHL 14 Drops September 10th

NHL 14 Features

NHL® Collision Physics – Developed from the same core technology that powers EA SPORTS FIFA’s critically-acclaimed Player Impact Engine, NHL® Collision Physics introduces bigger, more thrilling hits, and truer-to-life collisions. A new left-stick control scheme makes delivering a game-changing hit simpler and more rewarding than ever.

Enforcer Engine – There is a code in hockey, when it's broken you have to respond. A first for the NHL franchise, Fight Night technology delivers a new 3rd person experience, physics-based punch targeting and player size differentiation to every fight, creating the most authentic and electrifying experience yet.

One-Touch Dekes – Experience what it feels like to be a superstar through a new, more responsive deking system controlled only with the left stick and one-button. From beginner to advanced gamers, the system allows for quicker reactive dekes and intuitive combination dekes, creating more moves than ever before.

True Performance Skating – Built on the breakthrough innovation that introduced physics-based skating and over 1,000 new skating animations to the EA SPORTS NHL franchise. The second year of the True Performance Skating features improved acceleration, explosive first-strides, quicker pivots and enhanced lateral skating, resulting in greater player responsiveness and unprecedented control.

Live the Life – The new incarnation of the Be a Pro Career Mode, now you can truly Live the Life of an NHL player. On or off the ice, every decision you make shapes your legacy as an athlete. Interact with teammates outside of the rink. Take part in media interviews. Each choice you make will affect your relationship with fans, teammates and management, influencing your skills and progression.

EA SPORTS NHL Online Seasons – NHL 14 adds the best-in-class promotion and relegation system in the sports category to the Hockey Ultimate Team & EA SPORTS Hockey League modes. Win games and advance to the next division to face tougher competition, fall short and see your team bumped down. Teams will be able to track their progress across multiple seasons.

Where's the lockout mode?

I wonder if they'll ever make another Rock The Rink or NHL 2-on-2 Open Ice Challenge.

The only thing that sucks about announcing NHL 14 is that I lose interest in NHL 13.

Some nice info in the latest developer blog on changes to goal scoring balance, including deflections, rebounds and breakaways.

Here's the short version, via trailer:

I really, really wish these games came out on 2 year cycles.

*Legion* wrote:

I really, really wish these games came out on 2 year cycles.

I don't disagree, but you could just buy the game every other year. The NHL series has done a nice job building up their game incrementally, and it is totally fair to say that improvements each year are not worth the price.

But if you compare NHL 13 to NHL 11 and NHL 09, I think there are significant improvements. But I like that EA has gotten into a mode where each game in a series feels essentially the same. In previous gens, it was too often that developers felt like they had to change a lot, and often ruined what made the original game so good.

While I would love a nice $15-$20 roster and schedule update each year, I can't see how that would be more profitable for publishers in the long run. I've been playing the NHL series since 09, and I have yet to actually feel ripped off.

I only felt ripped off with the Dreamcast and NHL2K. I sill remember the almost constant "(Player X) comes to center." I would have liked to see what EA could have done with the Dreamcast hardware.

Come to think of it, the last time I was any good at the NHL series was on the Genesis.

Jayhawker wrote:

I don't disagree, but you could just buy the game every other year.

I tend to do this, or once every three years.

But really, my point is that I would find more value in the game if the rest of the community around the game didn't up and disappear so fast.

What inevitably happens is that my interest piques when the NHL season is well underway, and by then, the game only has a handful of months left before it's replaced.

You know what would be a great compromise? If the game was "sold" as a 12 month subscription. The new engine updates release every offseason, the rosters update, and no matter when I put down my money, I get 12 months of the latest content. So if I don't get interested until April, I play the old game starting in April, download the new engine and rosters as the new season starts, and play the new content up until the next April.

As it is right now, to play the "latest" game for 12 months, I have to buy the new one the day it comes out. And if I'm not in the mood for it yet (because, you know, the one sport better than hockey is in full swing), then tough.

Also, just as an aside, f**k EA for dropping PC support. That's hurt my interest level for the past however-many years too.

You are right that users migrating to the latest release hurts the old game's value. But I probably play solo 90% of the time.

And I'm sure they would make a PC version if people bought it and didn't wait until it is $5 on some great PC game sale.

It looks like NHL '14 will have NHL '94 Anniversary Edition with updated graphics, but the same arcade-y gameplay. Seeing as how NHL '94 is the best hockey game ever made, I approve, although I'll take my original Genesis cart over the reboot any day.

Demo is live for Xbox 360. Downloading now, but I won't have time to play until this evening. If anyone else gets a chance to play, impressions would be delightful.

Played a couple of demo periods last night. Here are some quick impressions:

It plays much like NHL 13, but with some positive tweaks. It's definitely not a radical change from last year's gameplay.

Skating seems smoother, more responsive. It feels like an upgrade over the first version of the new skating engine. That said, my impression was that weight and momentum are less a factor this year than last. But that could be the locked slider settings for the demo.

One-button dekes seems like a nice addition, but it will take some time to get used to the mechanic. Basically, you use LB+LS for a quick deke.

Checking seemed way overpowered in the demo. I know this has been an area of focus—getting the checking to be more realistic—so I was a bit disappointed. Every single solid check I made resulted in the opposing player hitting the ice. Not those crazy, skates-up-in-the-air tumbles of last year, but still, every check knocked the opponent down. That includes knocking Charra to the ice on every single check. It may be that they've tweaked the demo sliders to highlight the new collision physics, and I'm sure this can be adjusted for, but it was a bit startling.

Front of net play is definitely much improved. Your teammates look to establish themselves in front of the net for deflections and rebounds, which results in greater goal variety and, at times, a more frenetic scramble in front of the net.

Goalie behavior is improved as well. I saw Rask dive in a full stretch across the goal to stop a one-timer from Hossa off a quick cross-ice pass. Looked and behaved very realistically. Nice to see. I also received a goalie interference penalty from a play that resulted in a goal. Goal was properly waved off and my player headed for the box.

The new Enforcer Engine was in full display, as I was offered the opportunity to drop the gloves several times. I accepted the invitation once and the 3rd person fighting view is definitely an upgrade, as you can see the players and teammates better. Don't think I'll be doing it a lot, but it's a nice upgrade.

The ability for defenders to move laterally while skating backwards is a great addition as well. Means you can track offensive players more easily and don't find yourself way out of position or quickly beat to the net.

Unfortunately, my pet peeve from the last several versions remains—the AI skating back and forth horizontally in the neutral zone. I'm still not seeing the CPU dump and chase enough. But at least I didn't see any of those long stretch passes that were the CPU's go-to move last year.

One other disappointment was that I still had no trouble skating the puck into the zone. I was under the impression from one of the developer diary's that this had been addressed and that the CPU would challenge you at the blue line. Not seeing that so far.

Again, who knows how much of this is due to default Pro sliders for the demo and small sample size. I'll definitely be putting some more time into the demo. Bottom line: It's NHL, it plays great, and I'll likely pick it up.

B Dog wrote:

That includes knocking Charra to the ice on every single check.

But it's so fun to watch that.

B Dog wrote:

SNIP

Everything in agreement, though I have seen more balanced hitting than that. Yes, I've destroyed some people but I've yet to knock Chara on his giant ass. However, I'm playing mostly on All-Star in Hardcore Simulation mode so that might have much to do with it. I played a few on Pro/Sim mode and everything was toned up: hitting, shot speed, skating acceleration, the works.

It's a refinement of good gameplay and I happen to like all of the refinements. I preordered after, say, 10 games. They keep creeping up on a really organic, realistic experience and they've crept further again this year. The hitting in particular and the way some players -- Nash stands out in this regard, though I only faced him once in HUT -- can be jostled and bounced around and yet still end up with the puck is nice. Some players stand out in agility and puck-handling more than others. I've noticed that Loui Eriksson is a slippery sumFemale Doggo for the Broons, for instance. I got hemmed in my zone for bit and the Broon forecheck really applied pressure and got several quality chances that Crawford made some nice, realistic saves on.

Yes, the fighting engine is now infinitely better but I don't usually fight in my hockey games anyway. I'm one of those for whom the work on a fighting engine is lost. Give me the core fundamentals over fighting and getting all up in arms over the sock colors and equipment choices :), or the Facebook ranters that want, and I'm serious, crowds that react more and go diving for pucks in the crowd. Yes, let's spend development resources on handling puck-diving crowds. Itinerant mouth-breathers.

I agree with you, ColdForged, stepping up to All-Star/Hardcore Simulation definitely got rid of the arcade-y hitting. I was also still using the right stick for most of my hits, but have now remembered that you can check a player this year by just moving into them with the left stick. That's made checking much more realistic—except for when I really have one lined up and can level the guy with the right stick.

B Dog wrote:

I agree with you, ColdForged, stepping up to All-Star/Hardcore Simulation definitely got rid of the arcade-y hitting. I was also still using the right stick for most of my hits, but have now remembered that you can check a player this year by just moving into them with the left stick. That's made checking much more realistic—except for when I really have one lined up and can level the guy with the right stick. :)

I love that collisions can just happen now. It really forces you to skate in open spaces and not through people.

Been playing NHL12 for the past year or so, and I think I'm gonna pick up a PS3 so that I can try out 14 (my XBox is an Asian version, and I don't think they'll be releasing an Asian version of 14 since they didn't for 13). I'm just hoping that there are some interesting improvements to the Be A Pro mode. That's pretty much all I play.

So, anyone pick this up yet? I'm highly tempted to go pick it up.

Laarrs wrote:

So, anyone pick this up yet? I'm highly tempted to go pick it up.

Yup! But only got to play one 5 minutes period of Quick Play last night :(. I believe I will dig it muchly.

Playing Be a GM, SuperStar, Simulation, 6-minute periods. Auto-aim on.

Love the updated physics so far. I dig it very muchly.

It feels so good right out the box. Hitting has been improved immensely. The skating physics feel like great improvement on what already made the game feel more organic last year.

I played All-Star, Hardcore Simulation, 5 minute periods and with auto-aim on in a Play Now game last night. Winnipeg beat my Blues 3-2.

Digging it muchly.

So...scoring is much easier this year. I'm bumping up to Hardcore Simulation hoping that'll help. I know I'm playing with the best team in the league, the Leafs (HAHA), but even so I shouldn't be winning 6-1, 6-2, 5-0 my first three games.

Going to try some sliders to make it more difficult...I'm 11-0-1. Anyone tried these?

magnus wrote:

Going to try some sliders to make it more difficult...I'm 11-0-1. Anyone tried these?

I am so glad I do not have that problem. I'm playing on All-Star and getting a full challenge.

My first HUT Online Season was a bust, going 2-7-1, which left me one point shy of promotion.

I really like how they have improved HUT, and it's been what I am spending most of my time on for now. Each Online season is 10 games, and you are only matched with teams in the same season as you. Five points gets you promoted to the next level and 10 points earns you a division title (and I guess access to the playoffs?). So as you continue to get promoted, your competition gets tougher and tougher.

I suppose there is a minimum point requirement to avoid demotion, but I will have to actually get promoted to find out. My team is not great, but it is better than many of the teams I face. At the end of each game your puck total gets increased or decreased based on talent level. If teams are even, you get a 1.00 multiplier, if better, you get a sub 1.00 multiplier, like .95. If the other team is better, you get a plus multiplier, like 1.10.

Last night I was rolling with a 2-0 lead in the third, only to cough it up, losing 3-2 in regulation. I didn't even get a freaking point, as he scored with 14 seconds left. To add insult to injury, it was a .88 multiplier.

My favorite game, which was also a loss, saw me rally from a 4-1 2nd period deficit to make it 4-3 heading into the 3rd period. I knew I felt over matched, and he popped in two 3rd period goal to beat me 6-3, but my multiplier was 1.22, which meant I was totally outgunned. My next step is to evaluate my team and try to make sure my strategies are a match for what I have built up.

I have not spent any money on my team, and I don't plan to. Worst case scenario, I will play more Season mode, because they are now giving you some pucks for your play in other modes. It's not nearly as many, as my totals in HUT range from 350-500, and its about 35-40 in a Play Now game. I'm sure it is just an attempt to draw more players into the mode, and hopefully get them to pay some cash.

But mostly, no matter what mode I am playing, online or offline, I am loving the significantly more organic feel to the game. I think they have also gotten hitting and fighting just right. Not only is there better hitting, it seems like it is happening around the boards 90% of the time instead of mid ice, which is more realistic and makes for better play. And I have never been a fighter, but the mode seems quick and seems to get triggered in realistic moments. I still ignore the offer most of the time, but there is something cool about a good fight right after a huge hit.

In that game where I scored two goals to make it 4-3 against a better team, it all started when I went into aggro mode and just started hitting everything that moved. This led to some fights, which I won, and momentum really seemed to shift. But it never takes over any game, and its the only one where I felt like it really made a difference. I also took a boatload of penalties, but it was all I had.

I need to practice my fighting a bit, but the new third person view that doesn't zoom in is so much better. You don't feel like you have launched a new game mode, and the mechanics are simple enough. I think you will be rewarded by using the right guys, and by learning when to block and duck. You can also pull the player down on the ice and end it that way.

I never would have thought I would enjoy fighting in a hockey game, but they really did mix it in perfectly.

So even on SuperStar, the CPU difficulty adjustment slider is at 0. Cranked it up 2 notches and it made a world of difference. I'm now happily losing games.

Hmm.

magnus wrote:

So even on SuperStar, the CPU difficulty adjustment slider is at 0. Cranked it up 2 notches and it made a world of difference. I'm now happily losing games.

Hmm.

Ahh... excellent. I've been playing default All-Star/Hardcore Sim and my BAP season in Drummondville is currently 8-0-0. It had just reached the point where I was like "alright, really?" I'll have to check out the CPU difficulty adjustment slider.