NHL 2K10 Gameplay Video (2KHockey.net)

[savoie2006]

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

For sure man, I'm sure sliders will most definately help thats not even a question. But if the basic defensive AI routines are still pretty much retreat to their own defensive zone and collapse once a turn over occurs, sliders won't fix that. I'm still puzzled that making videos to show the game to the hardcore guys, he wouldn't make the slider tweaks necessary to actually showcase the game in the best possible aspect that would make us want to go out and get it day one. Though considering the videos are for 2khockey.net maybe he doesn't need to as the fanboys will buy it regardless anyway.

Maybe this quote from the AI Insight will help you. It sounds like this would be the answer(hopefully).

Quote:

The Defensive Aggressiveness sliders are probably the most important as far as making the game easier or harder to play. With this slider on 0, CPU players will not battle as much for loose pucks, they will be “lazy” on defense, and you will pretty much be able to skate circles around them. With this slider on 100, they will be super aggressive toward the puck carrier, and they will cover you like glue

[Splitter77]

Not bad.
But I will not get this game unless I can try it first or the price drops to 20.
This looks like it plays the same as the past 2k games, and I will not like it.

Things I do wish EA's game had though
-faceoffs
-camera angles
-full benches
-all officials
- how the goalies tie up the puck all the time and get a quick whistle
-arenas

I'll stick with EA this year until I get a chance to play the game hands on.
This was not built from the ground up by the way. What a crock that statement was.

[original6]

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

For sure man, I'm sure sliders will most definately help thats not even a question. But if the basic defensive AI routines are still pretty much retreat to their own defensive zone and collapse once a turn over occurs, sliders won't fix that. I'm still puzzled that making videos to show the game to the hardcore guys, he wouldn't make the slider tweaks necessary to actually showcase the game in the best possible aspect that would make us want to go out and get it day one. Though considering the videos are for 2khockey.net maybe he doesn't need to as the fanboys will buy it regardless anyway.

Couldn't agree more, RealmK. I'm still in question about a number of things after watching the vid. A concern I have is whether or not the cpu offense will actually be effective. The improved cycling is great and all, but if they can't score, what's the point? This was something I struggled with quite a bit in 2k9. I found that if you made the game look sim, the cpu was inept and easy to shut down. One thing that has always bothered me with the 2k series is the high frequency of quick and accurate backhand passes. Seems the cpu doesn't want to take the time to bring the puck to the forehand before passing, as real NHL players would do to get a quicker and more accurate pass off. The frequent zippy backhand passes really look cheesey and take away from the "immersion factor" for me. It's a bit of a nitpick, but nonetheless something I'd really like to see addressed.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by original6

Couldn't agree more, RealmK. I'm still in question about a number of things after watching the vid. A concern I have is whether or not the cpu offense will actually be effective. The improved cycling is great and all, but if they can't score, what's the point? This was something I struggled with quite a bit in 2k9. I found that if you made the game look sim, the cpu was inept and easy to shut down. One thing that has always bothered me with the 2k series is the high frequency of quick and accurate backhand passes. Seems the cpu doesn't want to take the time to bring the puck to the forehand before passing, as real NHL players would do to get a quicker and more accurate pass off. The frequent zippy backhand passes really look cheesey and take away from the "immersion factor" for me. It's a bit of a nitpick, but nonetheless something I'd really like to see addressed.

Couldn't agree more about the backhand passes comment. It breaks any sort of realism the game is going for. When you see a guy like Hartnell thread a blind, behind-the-back pass through skates and sticks, and put right on the tape of a teammate, you start to wonder if you're playing Blades of Steel.
I really hope sliders can fix that.
And you're also right about the CPU's intelligence. There were times in that video when the CPU could have shot, but chose to pass or dump.
Near the end of the video Carcillo is moving one-on-one and is at the top of the circles. Instead of letting a shot go he dumps it into the corner for Laparriere.
But again, sliders might fix that.

Despite that, there was a lot I liked in that video:

- You could very easily spot the slower from the faster players. When Green had the puck he looked very fast and agile. But when Erksine had the puck he lumbered like he should.
- CPU looks much more intelligent in that it will move the puck around more. And I've seen some nice little moves by the more offensive players out there.
- PK box looked very nice. I like how Philly kept it tight. I'd be interested to see what a more aggressive PK like Pittsburgh employs would look and feel.
- LOVE the camera customization!
- Liked how Lappariere fired it way wide on a partial breakaway.
- When Ovechkin got his own partial breakaway on the PP, I really liked how the CPU didn't get that cheat boost to recover like they did in 2K9. Glad to see that's gone.
- at the 9:58 mark you see the glass in the bottom left corner really shake after a hit. Looked awesome!
- hitting appears to be really toned down to a realistic level. At the 10:19 mark Laich drills Timonen in the corner. Timonen doesn't go down, but stumbles and loses the puck. The animations looked great. In 2K9 that would have been a garage sale with all the equipment and bodies on the floor.
- when Ovechkin shoots, you can tell it's Ovie. It's incredibly hard, quick and always on net.
- Barely saw any one-timers.

Observations
- I wish whomever was playing didn't gloss over the cut scenes. 2K has the best presentation going so why not show that off?
- at approximately the 11:30 mark Ovie makes a nice move to get around a defender and has a pretty good opportunity on Emery, only to get his pocket picked by Cobourn. Come on user, you have to shoot that puck when you're in that close!

[Russo]

You guys are nitpicking on the passing animations, but have you seen EA's ( 07' to 10') ? Up till now, every pass is tape to tape regardless of the position of the recipient. Pretty unrealistic if you ask me, and not to mention, how there is no animation , or barely any arm movement when a player does a pass in the NHL series.EA suffers from the same problem, the passes throgh skates sticks, and bodies. What can you do? No big deal, but 2k has better puck physics, so it is not as noticeable. In EA, if your defenseman has high AWARENESS, he will most likely intercept that puck, if not, he's completely incompetent, and plays like he belongs in Pee-wee.This game looks solid.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by Russo

You guys are nitpicking on the passing animations, but have you seen EA's ( 07' to 10') ? Up till now, every pass is tape to tape regardless of the position of the recipient. Pretty unrealistic if you ask me, and not to mention, how there is no animation , or barely any arm movement when a player does a pass in the NHL series.EA suffers from the same problem, the passes throgh skates sticks, and bodies. What can you do? No big deal, but 2k has better puck physics, so it is not as noticeable. In EA, if your defenseman has high AWARENESS, he will most likely intercept that puck, if not, he's completely incompetent, and plays like he belongs in Pee-wee.This game looks solid.

I think if you check the EA forums you'll see that pretty much everyone has pointed out that there's still too much tape-to-tape passing.
And on both forums, both sides are hoping that sliders can improve this.

I'm also optimistic that this will be the case for both NHL10 and 2K10.

[Flyermania]

Overall I liked the video. Graphically it has taken some huge strides this year, and they should be commended on the work they have done. I like the graphic overlays a lot...it looks like an autual TV-style presentation.

The commentary is still lifeless and bland, and the in-game sound effects (hitting the post, boards, etc) need an overhaul. My biggest concern has to do with the CPU AI...the unnecessary backwards passing, skating straight ahead into the defense when there is a clear lane to the outside, etc. The CPU AI still seems to be too pass happy as evidenced by only 5 shots on goal. I expected better AI, especially on "sim" settings.

[dm3k]

What I like about the CPU passing is that it utilizes the boards and that there is D to D passing instead of D to F all the time.

And I'm convinced those weren't the best "sim" slider settings on behalf of video length and all. Also it was obvious that the player clicked away from cutscenes.

Looking forward to the 2nd and 3rd period to see some goals.