EA Sports NHL 15

[CJ]

Who the hell watches the roof while playing NHL. I don't care for any arena detail..

[philou21]

At least you'll have the feeling to be really playing at home. I mean, there's just not the roof that is different. The players benches, the penalty boxes, ht eboards, the way seats are etc... I think it's pretty cool as a small detail.

[archibalduk]

Here's the first E3 trailer. Worryingly, it's all about the graphics. Yes, they look very impressive (although the users on Operation Sports have been picking them apart) but where's gameplay?

[CJ]

At least you'll have the feeling to be really playing at home. I mean, there's just not the roof that is different. The players benches, the penalty boxes, ht eboards, the way seats are etc... I think it's pretty cool as a small detail.

Well I'm never "at home" when playing NHL.

Just like Archi said above. All about graphics (Which I don't care about). Gameplay is the most important thing in a game!!

But I'm aware of marketing and such things so I know "graphic" sells. Which is sad.

[philou21]

They call that a gameplay trailer but new gen/engine will bring first how amazing the "evolution" is compared before actual gameplay. They try to earn people that way. Actual gameplay vids will be shown after another "gameplay" vid like this most of the time. They just try to build hype.

At least compared to the screenshot of Thornton most players were looking alike. Ovy was pretty well done IMO with the missing tooth.

[archibalduk]

A couple more screenshots here:

- http://media.operationsports.com/shots/ ... -media.jpg
- http://media.operationsports.com/shots/ ... -media.jpg

And a gallery of all screenshots and videos here: http://www.operationsports.com/media/1167/nhl-15/

What really gets me about the trailer is what I've been reading over on Operation Sports. The press release accompanying the video mentions all new player physics, animations, etc but users on OS have pointed out that many/all of the animations are the same animations from NHL 14 (including some that are effectively broken/wouldn't work IRL). And apparently the audio is not audio from the game but instead commentary from a game broadcast on TV. And does anybody else notice that the jerseys look like they're blowing in the wind when the players are standing still?

Not impressed but not surprised either!

[archibalduk]

There's a hands on preview here: http://www.operationsports.com/features ... pressions/

When you take out the presentation/graphics improvements, it sounds like physics improvements and some improvements with offence. Unfortunately it sounds like defence and goalies have largely been left the same (which are perhaps the two areas I think need most work).

[philou21]

"Less fighting from big hits, though."

I don't know why that guy says it like it's a letdown. Last time I heard people were complaining alot that there was too much fighting because of big hits.

[archibalduk]

I thought he was saying it is a good thing.

[philou21]

Question of perspective I guess.

I thought the "though" sounded like a disappointment.

Edit: Nevermind I found that : "Hitting doesn't cause fights as often, as EA realized it was tuned a bit high last year."

[zbguy]

Re: the graphics, I'm a huge fan of presentation in hockey games and it's the one thing I really miss from not playing the latest version of NHL anymore (well, that and the controls). I really really wish they'd release games for the PC again, then I can have modern presentation/graphics AND the customization/gameplay tweaking I prioritize even more.

I've taken a look at the latest incarnations of CAP and CAT and it's just so disappointing. But I'm a very particular fellow so I can't expect much anyway. Thankfully NHL 04 is good enough.

[archibalduk]

There's a leaked gameplay video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IOODkpBPc0

Previous copies of the video were pulled by YouTube at EA's request so this one might get pulled eventually too.

As users have pointed out on the Operation Sports forums, it just looks like NHL 14 with prettier graphics. Really poor showing.

P.s. there's also some more details about the game here: http://www.operationsports.com/features ... l-details/

[archibalduk]

I've been following at lot of the screenshots and video previews released by EA. It still remains the case that it appears to be almost exclusively a graphics upgrade (although it's rather funny that Bergeron is the cover player but his in-game face is still many years old and doesn't look like him!). The physics seem like they have been upgraded too. However, I haven't seen any footage to show any real gameplay improvements. There was a recent interview with one of the devs and, when you strip away all of the marketing-speak, there was little of note regarding non-graphics features.

The latest video is here:

[philou21]

The trailer is definitely impressive. Too bad the in-game won't be as awesome.

[OmegaTheory]

One big change for me is the play-by-play. It seems like the play-by-play has been 99% the same for the past 5 iterations. I'm VERY much looking forward to new play-by-play and color commentary.

[philou21]

Well in this one there's suppose to be new commentary IIRC.

[dave1927p]

One big change for me is the play-by-play. It seems like the play-by-play has been 99% the same for the past 5 iterations. I'm VERY much looking forward to new play-by-play and color commentary.

same play by play, different voices. That scoreboard banner i can see getting in the way.

I really hope that in BAP mode we can simulate many games and as long as our player is performing well (points) he will not be punished...but i doubt they've done that.

[philou21]

I really hope that in BAP mode we can simulate many games and as long as our player is performing well (points) he will not be punished...but i doubt they've done that.

I know right. Last time I played BAP I was a offensive defenseman drafted first overall by Anaheim. In pre-season I did something like 8 pts in 5 games and they sent me back not in the AHL....in the OHL dammit! I raged quit that game.

[archibalduk]

To be honest, I doubt they've done much other than make the graphics fancier. It sounds like the highly popular EASHL might be dropped from this year's version - I can only guess this is because they ran out of time. I get the impression that they have spent all of their time and resources re-modelling the players and arenas and some of the physics. If there were any other improvements, we'd have heard about them by now.

[philou21]

I would buy it if those games weren't too costly since I plan on having my PS4 soon and I have no hockey games. I think the smartest move is go and find NHL 12 or 13 at 10$ in sale.

[CJ]

I would buy it if those games weren't too costly since I plan on having my PS4 soon and I have no hockey games. I think the smartest move is go and find NHL 12 or 13 at 10$ in sale.

You should get NHL 13 if you get it cheap. No point in buying a new NHL game. Such small changes has happened in the past 10 year...
I know for a fact cuz my friends always buy the newest NHL and I play against them or with them... hundreds of games.

The first impression is always like wow this is different. But after maybe 10 games you know how it works, and it's not so different after all..

[philou21]

Yeah I'm guessing with 15 it's gonna be the same. Like, wow those graphics/new physics are AWESOME and ten games later you can see all the little bugs/non-improvements from past games.

[zbguy]

One of the things I'm hoping for when the next Video Game Console Crash happens (any day now!) is a return to the PC for NHL. Imagine what modders could do with those kinds of graphics. (Provided the gameplay is not unsalvagable)

[philou21]

Next video game console crash?

Not sure if I understand well your message but seeing how many PS4 and Xbox that are sold I don't think console are near their end at all. Gamers are constantly growing and in that, most of them are casual so consoles will always be popular. If it wasn't, NHL would still be on PC.

[zbguy]

It's gonna happen and it must happen because I need NHL on PC once more.