NHL 15 Demo: Is the Gameplay Enough? (Roundtable)

[Bleak5170]

"Though this demo features the two highest-rated goaltenders in NHL 15 (Henrik Lundqvist and Jonathan Quick), most of the goals I've seen these elite netminders allow are the same weak-angle, short-side, top-shelf wrist shots that have dominated the scoring in recent EA NHL games. In less than 24 hours since this demo's release, I've already seen not one, but two cheap moves that will score almost every time."

First thing I noticed as well - so many lame goals being scored.

[Comp]

Played a few games and the graphics and presentation are solid. Gameplay wise I really have no complaints, except every shot seems like a darn laser ones it leaves the stick.

[dukebeatsuncagain]

Honestly, to me it plays very very similar to NHL 14 and past versions. The Graphics are great, that will really be the deciding factor for me.

But for me, at the end of the day I don't care about presentation. I mean, about 1-2 months into ANY sports game, I am slamming buttons to get through cut scenes and already have the announcers turned off.

[mdb1031]

After playing through three games, I'll say that my tempered excitement has shifted to tempered disappointment. I wasn't upset by the missing modes as I'm generally not an online player.

Pros:
• NBC presentation is really nice. Even the presence of the peacock logo in the game info bar adds a lot of realism. I'm looking forward to seeing all of the arena intros.

• The graphics and lighting are mostly pretty nice. Particularly the lighting on the goalie after a goal has been scored and the red light is on. More on graphics and lighting in the "Cons".

• The gameplay feels good. Slightly better than NHL 14 in some places. Shots feel crisper and faster.

• Puck physics feel more improved than I was expecting. I haven't seen any rubber ball bouncing puck craziness yet.

• The new dynamic medium camera angle is nice. It cuts off a little too much when I'm deep in the offensive zone and dynamic high feels too far from the action for me, but I think I'll get used to dynamic medium and spend most of my playing time there.

Cons:
• The jersey graphics are AWFUL. They flutter unrealistically, all of the stripes and patches still stretch like the jerseys are made of a single piece of spandex, and the shadows cast on white jerseys look particularly terrible. I also picked up Madden 15 last night and the shadowing on the players in Madden is far superior. Even the XBOX 360 jerseys in NHL 14 looked superior.

• Some of the lighting is pretty bad. Everything in the game feels way too bright and washed out which causes skin, white jerseys, and really mostly everything else to lack depth and feel really flat.

• So far, the commentary feels really robotic to me. I'm glad to not be hearing the same 15 phrases over and over again, but Doc and Eddie's stuff doesn't sound the least bit natural in game. Maybe it's a lack of ambient noise behind them, but it sounds like they're reading from a script in a sound booth.

[Instant C1a55ic]

Quote: Originally Posted by 13whitebread

As for me only I have played six games like what I am seeing and I realize it's not the full game but in those games I never had a power play. I surely hope that will change

My first game, 3rd period got a PP for high sticking.

[Nabz]

Quote: Originally Posted by scottyo60

I feel like the players are too big... Lighting and graphics were great. NBC sports a nice touch as well. I'll play more Thursday and see what I think.. Idk

Finally someone else has said this, man the players look so damn big, and gameplay feels like they didnt work on it that much

Also wanted to see what people think, in FIFA they have player movmeents where it's really versatile the player can move a full 360 and what know, I feel in NHL they still havent adapted that like players turning and the skating just isn't as authentic

[pm83]

What has bothered me in the previous titles is that every player plays the same. From what I've now seen it's unfortunate that it's still the deal with this series. It's actually really disappointing when thinking about 15's key features: "Authentic player & equipment model" and "Unprecentended player likeness".

Yeah. They might look authentic but in the end they all act the same.

[EliJ27]

I just try not to complain too much and take what i get, only because there's not much out there for NHL games, in fact this is the only NHL title left, Yes I wish they'd listen to the public more on what we want and emphasize on. But after playing the demo I really think they're taking the right steps forward.