EA's NHL series...What has happened?

[Seppo]

Seriously, what the hell has happened since the great days of NHL 98? Electronic Arts have lost their grip, their NHL series is falling deeper into the swamp or arcade hockey. I mean, if they wanna make an arcade game, then do it well. Not 50/50 arcade and simulation, because believe me, that won't do anything good.

NHL 2003 isn't even fun. When my brother tried it after me, I said he would be pissed in less than ten minutes. Well, I was right, heh. For myself it was less than ten seconds. The overall feeling in the game is like you're going with roller skates rather than sliding on real ice. The "NPCs" are always faster than yours. The whole shooting mechanism is totally crap, so clumsy. It's totally random whether your one-timer will work or be executed as a wrist shot. It's almost impossible to get to the rebounds, which of course the computer will always get.

Well, the deking is a nice thing to have, especially on breakaways. But I hate how you can't hook anymore. The control options have a button for "hooking", but when in game it practically never works. It's stupid. The player animations are also real nice, but this just proves again that good graphics aren't as importatn as the gameplay.

I haven't played NHL 2004, but I have heard it's closer to the feeling of NHL 98 than NHL2003. There are already some good challengers, so EA better get over themselves and start making entertaining hockey games again.

 

[x84D80Yx]

never liked NHL 200x (i mean any year) .....only madden 2005 and nba live 2005 can satisfy my needs

 

[Seppo]

I just read some NHL 2005 previews, and apparently EA is aware of the problems in the previous games. It looks like NHL 2005 will be something I'm gonna like. Most importantly the skating has been improved, for example players can glide and skate backwards more easily.

 

[A True Canadian]

NHL 2003 is pretty much the exact same as NHL 2002 except with slightly better graphics and updated rosters. NHL 2004 however, is a complete re-working of the series with better controls, more fluid skating and checking, shooting and passing are easier; as well as fighting being completely redone as well.

I'm confident in EA's abilities, and they are listening to what gamers want. For example, they are now including online play for the consoles (Gamecube excluded).

 

[ShadowFox]

2004 is MUCH better than 2003. I couldn't stand 2003 with its silly gimmicks and annoying commentary. Thankfully those two "features" have been eliminated. Unfortunately the defense AI still sucks.

Oh and your spot on with your sig. Calgary or Philly would both have been much more deserving.

 

[ACLeroK212]

best nhl game is still nhl 95 on the genesis

 

[ACLeroK212]

Oh and your spot on with your sig. Calgary or Philly would both have been much more deserving.

off topic but how can anyone be more deserving of being the champion than the team that went through and actually WON the playoffs.

 

[ShadowFox]

off topic but how can anyone be more deserving of being the champion than the team that went through and actually WON the playoffs.

I'm not talking about the team... sure they deserve it more than any other team. (even though Calgary did win game 6)

I'm talking about the fans. Tampa fans are known bandwagoners.

 

[ACLeroK212]

I'm not talking about the team... sure they deserve it more than any other team. (even though Calgary did win game 6)

I'm talking about the fans. Tampa fans are known bandwagoners.

hahaha, I can't think of much more that's gotta piss the canadians off than the stanley cup going to florida of all places.

 

[Pressure]

I'm not talking about the team... sure they deserve it more than any other team. (even though Calgary did win game 6)

I'm talking about the fans. Tampa fans are known bandwagoners.

I know what you mean. I started going to Lightning games in 6th grade(7 years ago) and the Ice Palace was always empty. It was that way until this year when they got into the play offs and had a good chance of winning then all of a sudden every seat was sold out. It's kinda like the way I used to go to the old Bucs games (when they had their old colors) and it was always empty then all of a sudden it fills up when they're good and then suddenly seats start to empty when they do bad.

 

[Seppo]

I know what you mean. I started going to Lightning games in 6th grade(7 years ago) and the Ice Palace was always empty. It was that way until this year when they got into the play offs and had a good chance of winning then all of a sudden every seat was sold out. It's kinda like the way I used to go to the old Bucs games (when they had their old colors) and it was always empty then all of a sudden it fills up when they're good and then suddenly seats start to empty when they do bad.

Yeah, but that's just how it goes. Who wants to see their home team get their ass kicked, and pay for it.

 

[ray_MAN]

I thought NHL 2004 was the best of them all. It fixed many of the bad things in NHL 2002 and 2003. I can't wait for the next installment to the series.