The robo-goalie problem

[jyoung]

Anyone who's spent some time with NHL 10 (or last year's game, for that matter) has probably noticed that the CPU goalies are insanely good -- too good, most would say.

Here is my primary theory as to why the robo-goalie problem still exists in this game:

99% of the time, the CPU goalie is never out of position.

Just watching the way goalies track the puck as it moves around the ice in NHL 10 is enough to see that they are inhumanly quick and precise when sliding through the crease and shutting down open shooting lanes.

The result is that, no matter how much you cycle the puck in NHL 10, the only time you'll ever catch the goalie out of position is on rebounds, which is the only area of their game where the CPU goalies actually feel human.

In the past, I imagine the CPU goalies were given superhuman positioning to counter the user's ability to make the equally ridiculous, tape-to-tape passes, but for some reason, when the NHL team brought in the new passing system that eliminates the user's tape-to-tape passing ability, they forgot to bring the CPU goalies back to reality, too.

Sure, there are there still ways to score on the CPU goalie, but that's not the point of this thread; my point is:

The most basic element of generating scoring chances in hockey -- cycling the puck around the ice to create an open shooting lane -- is ineffective in NHL 10 because of how inhumanly well the CPU tracks the puck and closes down shooting angles.

I think if the CPU's puck tracking and net positioning were simply toned down, we would all see a much more realistic hockey game from NHL 10.

I really hope this issue is being looked at and addressed with a future patch/tuner set.

[OSUFan_88]

I think the problem isn't being out of position and it has more to do with the recovery/quickness of the goaltender. The goalie seems to be able to recover very quickly from any mistakes he has made and severely limits the amount of time you have to capitalize on the mistake.

I do not think it is as big of a problem as you make it seem, but I do think there is a robo quality to the goalies this year that could easily be fixable with a good tuner set.

[Eski33]

I tuned the reaction time of the CPU goaltenders down to half of what the default setting is. I played one game on this setting and scored one goal, a PP goal with a shot from the point where the goalie was screened.

I have found that my issue isn't so much the goaltending as it is trying to get through the defense. Played against Calgary and I swear that no matter what, they had four guys back every time I broke out on a rush. It was nuts...Not that I mind, I like the challenge.

[DXZeke]

Initially I was frustrated with that, but then I changed the sliders.

I'm playing on Pro.

I've got Goalies Reaction Slider at 0
I've got Goalie Screen at Max.

Since I changed that I'm scoring an average of 3 goals per game.

last game I played:
9-1 Hurricanes over New Jersey.

I've scored every each way.

Give it a shot for those of you that are frustrated.

[jsquigg]

I disagree with the OP. I had no problems scoring last year once I got the hang of it and this year I'm still trying to generate quality scoring chances while getting used to the new passing system. On one goal I scored against Pittsburgh Fleury made the save but when he went to pull the puck in for a cover up he accidentally pulled the puck between his legs for a goal. I'm willing to bet that the same people who say the goalies are in perfect position all the time would complain if the game had them out of position at times. It just goes to show you can't make everyone happy.

[jyoung]

Again though, the issue isn't that you can't score, it's how you can't score from moving the puck around and shooting from high percentage areas.

Goals in this game are basically limited to the following types:

Quote:

-- cross-crease one timers (the only kind of one-timers you can consistently score on because of how quickly the goalie reacts to passes) -- screens or deflections -- rebounds (the one area in this game where goalies are fairly realistic) -- shots so powerful that the goalie has no chance even if he gets a piece of it -- dekes (pretty much all the stick dekes from 09 work in 10)

Those are basically the only ways to score consistently this year.

Even though it's a fundamental strategy of hockey, cycling the puck and shooting from high-percentage scoring areas simply isn't something that can generate goals in this game because of how inhumanly well the CPU tracks the puck.

[kerosene31]

The problem with the goalies in 09 and still in 10 is they don't let shots in. Just straight on shots. At least in 10 you get rewarded for shooting with rebounds or tip in opportunities, but you still see far too few pure shots going in. Sometimes, good shooters get in good position and rip it home. Far too little of that in EA's games.

[bukktown]

Robo goalie is definiely an issue online. My new defense strategy is not to challenge the puck carrier at all in the hopes he will actually try to beat my goalie on a breakaway deke. The lateral movement of the goalies is insane. I've only given up 2 goals in about 100 breakaway chances.