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

[Bleak5170]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rules

Just finished playing two games. My impressions: Gameplay is okay. Not really buying the whole A.I. gameplay improvements from NHL 14. To me it seems as if they only made a few tweaks as I just don't like how the game plays defensively. Graphics are impressive. Definitely looks next gen except for how the jerseys flap in such a windy indoor environment. Commentary is okay but what really annoyed me is the arena music constantly repeating over and over. Yes it is a demo but I'm afraid without the inclusion of custom music / sounds, there is no way I could stand listening to some of the same songs playing over and over. Is there even an option for organ music? I really love the presentation but without solid gameplay and missing modes, I just can't justify a purchase especially at $60. Cut that in half and that seems to be the proper price to get my attention. Until then, I will just wait to see what they bring to the table next year. I also think it is misleading that EA puts how many awards NHL has received as that is not current. Living off their past is getting stale!!!

Totally agree with the A.I. comment. It has always been this series' Achilles' hell and it's not different this year. It's still atrocious.

[Mad 69]

I have been saying it for years - the ice surface is too small a d the players too big, this creates too much traffic, we need more open space to play, Fifa gets it right, NHL isn't there.

[El_Poopador]

Quote: Originally Posted by Glenn Wigmore

Is the buffed visual/audio presentation and the revamped gameplay enough to compensate for the missing and stagnant modes? I don't know. I think a mode or two missing would've been understandable, to a degree, but removing any semblance of career mode and completely gutting the online package is a serious blow. I honestly feel kind of melancholy playing the game, as it's just begging for more ways to be played, and I know the final game won't have them.

Didn't they say Be a Pro will still be there, just not the whole Live the Life portion with the text-based decisions?

[Pezell04x]

A good demo should leave me with the desire to play more. I've played 1 game so far since Tuesday and I have no desire to even play it. I am so dejected w/ this game man.

[Paradingwolves]

the Jersey's are terrible! the same fluttering motion whether you're in full gear or sitting on the bench, also the numbers on the Rangers jerseys made me want to puke. Pause the game and take a look at how far the 6 and 1 are away from each other on Nash's jersey.

The announcers were robotic, I took the puck from the corner and cycled out above the goal line, in no way was I in a scoring position only to have the announcer yell "in front of the net!" like I was alone in the slot or something.

Goalies are terrible, one of my goals was because Lundqvist did the old lets cover the puck that's been gone for a good 2 seconds just like they did in like 2009.

I'm a diehard hockey fan and it's killing me that this will be 3 years in a row where the game is just nowhere near good enough to warrant a $70 purchase. I want the days back when I had a countdown to the release of the new NHL game, I bought every year up until 12, haven't bought one since.

[NYRangers31]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pezell04x

A good demo should leave me with the desire to play more. I've played 1 game so far since Tuesday and I have no desire to even play it. I am so dejected w/ this game man.

That sucks. I've felt the opposite. The 2 minute periods fly by too quick for my taste!!!

[Mgbleu1986]

Seeing how I hadn't bought an NHL game since 2012 I downloaded the demo for PS4 and I was impressed. Only thing that bothered me is the easy scoring (maybe in the actual game you can use sliders to make opposing goalie better?). I came down the wing, teed one up at the blue line and it went top shelf on King Henrik. That would never happen! Since I don't play online modes I'll probably buy this game. I feel like I'm finally do.

[ManiacMatt1782]

Quote: Originally Posted by TerminallyOdd

Online has been confirmed as All-Star/Hardcore sim, if that's the setting you're referring to.

Color me surprised. Then why not default that in the Demo?