NHL 15 News Post

NHL 15: Reviewer Impressions (PS4/XB1)

11:45 AM - September 8, 2014 by RaychelSnr

After a delayed and protracted PR schedule, people are finally getting to play NHL 15 on Xbox One and PS4. To say that there has been a lot made of the missing EASHL and other features would be an understatement. Fans have made their feelings known that the absent features and modes are going to impact purchasing decisions, while EA has remained steadfast in their belief that the game will stand on its own merits and make people believers (well, only for so long, as EA plans to patch in certain elements).

After playing the game for some time, three things remain clear in my mind: this is the best-looking version of the game to date, it plays very well, and it�s not worth the full asking price.

Read More - NHL 15: Reviewer Impressions (PS4/XB1)

Game: NHL 15Reader Score: 6.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 16 - View All

NHL 15 Videos

Member Comments

# 41 Inflict @ 09/08/14 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christian9


	Dude do you work for EA??? Seriously. You just joined here and seem to have no clue what you're talking about. Your quoting other games with somewhat inaccurate information.

Nah. Long time lurker who is trying to bridge unrealistic expectations. What inaccurate information are you talking about?

# 42 Sheba2011 @ 09/09/14 12:13 AM

Most of the outrage would have been quelled if they released the game for $29.99 or $39.99. Most of us would have still bought it on day 1 and accepted that it was basically a very beautiful but limited game and happily waited for the content updates to make it at least somewhat playable. Some of us even would have paid for DLC like a full featured GM Mode. EAC messed up monumentally with this in two ways, charging full price for half a game and complete breakdown in communication.

# 43 Sheba2011 @ 09/09/14 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gsanda


	Thank you for this article. Since I read this, I read many comments of frustrated consumers on Google, twitter, etc. I have purchased EA Sports hockey games nearly every year, but now I cancelled my order through Amazon. I emailed Amazon and asked them to consider assuming some responsibility for promoting and selling an incomplete and unfinished product for FULL PRICE. Maybe when retailers start standing up for consumers, Manufacturers would present better products before trying to sell them.

I understand your frustration but it's not the responsibility of Amazon, GS, Best Buy or any other retailer. If any of those stores removed products everytime customers complained they would all be out of business. The responsibility is entirely EA and the consumer. EA to not charge full price for an incomplete game and the consumer not to purchase it.

# 44 Sheba2011 @ 09/09/14 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spidertour02


	Unless you live in New York City like I do, where there IS no Walmart.

I live in Thailand where none of these stores exist and you have to buy the game imported from Hong Kong with import tax. Usually new games cost between $65 and as much as $85 depending on the title. American sports games are usually sold at cost otherwise they won't sell here. Needless to say I won't spending that much on this game. I'll wait till I'm back in the US and it's in the $20 bin at GS.

# 45 CheapyD @ 09/09/14 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheba2011


	Most of the outrage would have been quelled if they released the game for $29.99 or $39.99. Most of us would have still bought it on day 1 and accepted that it was basically a very beautiful but limited game and happily waited for the content updates to make it at least somewhat playable. Some of us even would have paid for DLC like a full featured GM Mode. EAC messed up monumentally with this in two ways, charging full price for half a game and complete breakdown in communication.

My guess is their contract with the NHL specifies a "full-priced" retail release.

# 46 EliJ27 @ 09/09/14 02:59 AM

in create a player you can't even edit a goalies pad color, custom faces are gone, you have to pick from the generic faces they put in the game, the word bank for your player name is really shrunken down, idk i'm really bummed right now..

# 47 EliJ27 @ 09/09/14 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EliJ27


	in create a player you can't even edit a goalies pad color, custom faces are gone, you have to pick from the generic faces they put in the game, the word bank for your player name is really shrunken down, idk i'm really bummed right now..

man I just wish that if they keep charging you almost $70 for these games they'd let you have full control over your game that you buy..

# 48 AdamJones113 @ 09/09/14 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EliJ27


	man I just wish that if they keep charging you almost $70 for these games they'd let you have full control over your game that you buy..

Did you just reply to yourself?

# 49 Nate99 @ 09/09/14 05:28 AM

I can't believe they couldn't even get edit player in the game, how incomplete is this game!

# 50 EliJ27 @ 09/09/14 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamJones113


	Did you just reply to yourself?

lolol i didnt mean too, and then i figured it'd just look like i was adding on to what was previously said and i could play it off cool ha.

# 51 DBMcGee3 @ 09/09/14 09:57 AM

I played the demo for a few minutes this morning and thought it was pretty blah. It should be noted that I'm not a hockey enthusiast, but it plays exactly the same as the last couple, iterations I played. Graphics are pretty good, but nothing to write home about. I have no idea what all they've 'stripped down' for the game, but I can definitely see how that would upset people and kill sales numbers.

EA has its moments, but all in all they're a pretty terrible company from a consumer's standpoint.

# 52 russ99 @ 09/09/14 11:00 AM

I'm still getting it.

The commitment to add missing modes works for me. If they bring back the AHL games/management to Be-A-GM, that will satisfy 95% of what I get out of the NHL series, since I don't really spend a lot of time with online play or EA's cash cow (HUT).

So I'll play two GM seasons this year, start with the bare bones one, then start over when they fix it.

If people want to boycott, that's understandable. But let's hit them where it hurts. A one-year boycott on microtransaction purchase across all EA games.

# 53 enice128 @ 09/09/14 11:35 AM

I completely understand how a lot of people feel regarding the game launching with very important modes not included. However, myself as a huge hockey fan am in love with the new upgrades such as presentation especially with the addition of my 2 fav commentators. Gameplay still needs some work but c'mon people....it's a f****g video game! I love the nhl way too much to not be playing this game & I know what a lot u r gonna say.....that I'm giving in to EA by purchasing this game at launch, a game which is flawed & incomplete. My main point being is that just watch......when this game is finally updated by i believe in Oct with all of its modes all the haters & bashers will eventually purchase......I promise!!!

# 54 enice128 @ 09/09/14 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by russ99


	I'm still getting it. The commitment to add missing modes works for me. If they bring back the AHL games/management to Be-A-GM, that will satisfy 95% of what I get out of the NHL series, since I don't really spend a lot of time with online play or EA's cash cow (HUT). So I'll play two GM seasons this year, start with the bare bones one, then start over when they fix it. If people want to boycott, that's understandable. But let's hit them where it hurts. A one-year boycott on microtransaction purchase across all EA games.

Haha...me too!

# 55 Sheba2011 @ 09/09/14 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheapyD


	My guess is their contract with the NHL specifies a "full-priced" retail release.

I would imagine it's either a certain percentage of sales or a set amount of money every year, not so much a set price for the game.

# 56 SGMRock @ 09/09/14 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by statnut


	And that was then. When Madden and FIFA hit next-gen, they managed to get everything in and add things like coach glass, etc.

I think FIFA and Madden have a bigger dev team and bigger budget though. Also I think that Madden 25 on the Xbox One was basically a port from the 360 because they didn't do much with the graphics game play unlike Madden 15 where you can see they actually used the power of the new consoles, I would expect FIFA 15 will be he same where we will see them dig into the power of the new consoles. Next year I would expect Madden 15 and FIFA 15 to do that even more.

As for NHL 15 I think they will keep patching in modes as they can while they recreate them for NHL 16 as I expect NHL 16 to basically be this years play and presentation with all the missing stuff added back in. They will leave some stuff out of 15 for sure to make us by 16 to get everything back we missed from 15.

# 57 BCDX97 @ 09/09/14 05:14 PM

Seems like the reviewer went in wanting to complain about stuff and so he complained.

I wonder how many people here actually play sports video games and how many just complain about them on the internet.

Before the internet, did you all sit around with your friends complaining about games?

# 58 statnut @ 09/09/14 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCDX97


	Seems like the reviewer went in wanting to complain about stuff and so he complained. I wonder how many people here actually play sports video games and how many just complain about them on the internet. Before the internet, did you all sit around with your friends complaining about games?

Of course he would complain about stuff, there's a legit beef there.

And for the record, I play sports games all the time. Played Madden earlier today, NHL 14 last night. Have been getting NHL Day 1 for a long time and still own NHL 94.

# 59 Rhinoboy50 @ 09/09/14 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheba2011


	Most of the outrage would have been quelled if they released the game for $29.99 or $39.99. Most of us would have still bought it on day 1 and accepted that it was basically a very beautiful but limited game and happily waited for the content updates to make it at least somewhat playable. Some of us even would have paid for DLC like a full featured GM Mode. EAC messed up monumentally with this in two ways, charging full price for half a game and complete breakdown in communication.

EXACTLY! I look at games like recently released The Golf Club which sells for $34.99. It, like NHL 15, intend to add more post release but it is priced accordingly both as a lesser game and being from a smaller studio. Similarly, when Gran Turismo Prologue arrived, it was reduced significantly in price due to the amount of content. That NHL 15 is being sold for full price adds to the already established "money grubbing" reputation of EA.

# 60 8iron @ 09/09/14 05:52 PM

This strikes me as nothing but EA hate. Everyone on these boards is fawning over the Golf Club (probably deservedly), for focusing on game play and not putting in a bunch of fluff that would have sacrificed quality game play.

EA Canada made decisions to use the resources they had to produce a game that the most people would enjoy. They came right out and said they had data that one mode they axed didn't get played all that much. Huff huff but they got in HUT...yeah...people like HUT. UT is a microtransaction champ for EA because people love it.

I'm not the typical OSer...I believe however that I'm much more the typical EA franchise buyer. I play Ultimate Team until contracts would cost me money, then I play a few seasons as GM or player. I wish a few things were different in every game (more frequent penalties would be nice in all of them) but those absences don't ruin the experience for me.

$60 is too much for almost every game. $120 is certainly too much to pay for COD every year but tons of people do it. Plenty of people pay $60 a year for "roster updates" in one or more sports games of their choice. And they play Play Now games or they go online and "cheese" and have a ton of fun doing it, then they trade in this year's copy next year for a few bucks off the next roster update.

People on boards like this are delusional with their inaccurate sneakers rage and their missing modes meltdowns. Its become impossible to get accurate information about whether the game itself is actually fun. I think the fact that most of you seem to need so many bells and whistles to distract you suggests that for you, the answer is no.

« Previous 1 234 Next »

More Links

NHL 15: Reviewer Impressions (PS4/XB1)