NHL 25 Discussion

[FerrisRox]

they should just go back to original controls

I couldn't disagree more.

I would be done with the franchise if they went back to the original, basic controls.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Anybody who plays Be a Pro know if players grow physically in height & weight?

I want my player to end up 5’10 & 175lb but idk if I should make him that size from the start or if he grows & gains weight? IIRC some games they did grow and some they didn’t.

 

[tucson83]

I couldn't disagree more.

I would be done with the franchise if they went back to the original, basic controls.

then dont buy it and the majority of the ones that havent bought nhl games since 14 will enjoy it since it's not buggy and hard.

 

[FerrisRox]

then dont buy it and the majority of the ones that havent bought nhl games since 14 will enjoy it since it's not buggy and hard.

The game is filled with bugs, but I haven't had any issues with bugs with the controls.

All the new controls did was give you way more control over what you can do, with or without the puck.

It's frankly bizarre you are suggesting that the developers make a change to please the people who haven't purchased the game in a decade. Why would anyone do that?

 

[russ99]

The game is filled with bugs, but I haven't had any issues with bugs with the controls.

All the new controls did was give you way more control over what you can do, with or without the puck.

It's frankly bizarre you are suggesting that the developers make a change to please the people who haven't purchased the game in a decade. Why would anyone do that?

Bought it every year until this year, that's a broken narrative. I got 15 games into a franchise and stopped playing since the core gameplay engine is so broken and scripted to give opponents a chance, even after working hours adjusting sliders and testing to make the game play a little better.

If they let us play like real hockey with zone entries, possession, puck movement, and actual offensive zone linemate plays and defensive zone coverage, rotation and puck acquisition by our AI teammates, each game would be 20-0. Instead the decisive plays that lead to successful hockey (goal scored or not) are on rails. The most frustrating part is seeing the computer opponent do these things but we cannot.

Biggest case in point - any puck brought into the zone is lost when it's even close to an opposing defender, and when the computer team has it in our zone it sticks to them like glue. Forechecking is pretty much non existent unless you spawn checking or stick lift and get hit with penalty after penalty. Adding an edge skating gimmick button press on offense and a cheezy one timer autoscore to "correct this" rather than rework the broken gameplay code is a bad fix. But I guess what's in it for EA as long as the microtransaction dollars roll in.

This isn't bugs, it's a fundamental core part of the gameplay engine and EA would rather slap a new feature than recode it. Praying for an engine switch to Unreal, because then they would have to. Ideally they'd change to a different dev team, like Tiburon who does Madden (has its own issues but at least plays fairly realistically)

They fix this so computer and player teams are on an even playing field and add real AI (you know the thing that's revolutionizing computing today) to the oppositon and our computer-controlled teammates playing hockey than running a script, then I'll buy it. Until then I'll wait to see if they ever fix it and get it for free 4-5 months later when it's a PSN game of the month.

 

[FerrisRox]

Bought it every year until this year, that's a broken narrative. I got 15 games into a franchise and stopped playing since the core gameplay engine is so broken and scripted to give opponents a chance, even after working hours adjusting sliders and testing to make the game play a little better.

If they let us play like real hockey with zone entries, possession, puck movement, and actual offensive zone linemate plays and defensive zone coverage, rotation and puck acquisition by our AI teammates, each game would be 20-0. Instead the decisive plays that lead to successful hockey (goal scored or not) are on rails. The most frustrating part is seeing the computer opponent do these things but we cannot.

Biggest case in point - any puck brought into the zone is lost when it's even close to an opposing defender, and when the computer team has it in our zone it sticks to them like glue. Forechecking is pretty much non existent unless you spawn checking or stick lift and get hit with penalty after penalty. Adding an edge skating gimmick button press on offense and a cheezy one timer autoscore to "correct this" rather than rework the broken gameplay code is a bad fix. But I guess what's in it for EA as long as the microtransaction dollars roll in.

This isn't bugs, it's a fundamental core part of the gameplay engine and EA would rather slap a new feature than recode it. Praying for an engine switch to Unreal, because then they would have to. Ideally they'd change to a different dev team, like Tiburon who does Madden (has its own issues but at least plays fairly realistically)

They fix this so computer and player teams are on an even playing field and add real AI (you know the thing that's revolutionizing computing today) to the oppositon and our computer-controlled teammates playing hockey than running a script, then I'll buy it. Until then I'll wait to see if they ever fix it and get it for free 4-5 months later when it's a PSN game of the month.

This is all nonsense.

What does any of his have to do with going back to the "original" controls?

 

[tucson83]

This is all nonsense.

What does any of his have to do with going back to the "original" controls?

do you play the game at all? or is just about franchise and hut? even then it's freaking slow too, i dont know how you say this is fun when you have to wait almost 2 hours to get through year 1 of franchise mode? you seem like you are just an enabler for ea, that's it.

 

[Gaud]

I think EA should split the game completely instead of trying to make everything the same across the board. Have modes where realism is the focus, and where the game itself would look like something you would see on TV. None of those fortnite-like celebrations, focus on team play and strategies, no features to even the game if it is one sided, just regular real hockey. Have synergies, line synergies if you want.

Then other modes where the focus is on the play of the game and doesnt worry about realism at all. Have all those costumes you want. make it possible for a guy to take his player from one end of the ice to the other without passing hte puck once. Have "equalizers" to make the games more even. Have checks that hits the guy and breks the glass, hit him into his team'S bench, hit him after whistles. Hell! have "hes on fire!" like NBA jam. Make it fun. Let's have zamboni races, or maybe even limit break moves!

The game kind of does this to a degree, but it is like they are just trying to be in between all the time. HUT could be split between HUT Reality and HUT Arcade.

 

[FerrisRox]

do you play the game at all? or is just about franchise and hut? even then it's freaking slow too, i dont know how you say this is fun when you have to wait almost 2 hours to get through year 1 of franchise mode? you seem like you are just an enabler for ea, that's it.

I have never played HUT and I haven't played Franchise in at least ten years. I can't comment on how long it takes you to play Franchise.

I play CHEL, pretty competitively.

Again, I still have no clue what any of what you're saying has to do with a conversation about switching back to the original, basic, control scheme.

How do you think the controls have affected your ability to play Franchise? What the hell are you talking about?

 

[tucson83]

I have never played HUT and I haven't played Franchise in at least ten years. I can't comment on how long it takes you to play Franchise.

I play CHEL, pretty competitively.

Again, I still have no clue what any of what you're saying has to do with a conversation about switching back to the original, basic, control scheme.

How do you think the controls have affected your ability to play Franchise? What the hell are you talking about?

alright what's your issue with going back to basic controls?

 

[ManWithNoName]

For the first ever I’m actually thinking of uninstalling the game. I’ve always played through all the bugs and shit, but NHL 25 doesn’t offer me any joy whatsoever.

There are so many things wrong with this game it’s beyond repair.

 

[belair]

Playing just WOC, this is the best release they've had in years. Control of your player using skillstick is the best its been since 2019 and where you put your stats actually have an impact on how the player performs on the ice.

 

[FerrisRox]

Playing just WOC, this is the best release they've had in years. Control of your player using skillstick is the best its been since 2019 and where you put your stats actually have an impact on how the player performs on the ice.

Not only that, the actual "builds" feel different for the first time.

When you play as a Grinder, it feels different than playing as a Sniper, or a Playmaker.

In previous versions, there wasn't really much difference moving around. Basically you needed a forward build that could win faceoffs if you played centre, and then a forward build that didn't have face-off skills and that was about it.

This year, for the first time, changing builds actually makes a difference and I see people, in the lobby, actually swapping out profiles way more often because they are picking how to play their opponents based on their size and load outs. That used to be pretty rare in CHEL.

 

[Jay26]

I remember when these games used to be fun. Maybe they were less "realistic" and took less skill but they were so much more fun. The AI in this game a decade and a half ago was better than now. Your teammates went to scoring positions and soft spots to accept passes. You can't make plays now.

It feels like modern EA NHL games reward one on one play and fancy dekes and what not. I like playing an east west game with more passing and cycling and stuff. The game doesn't reward this at all

Plus is it just me or does it feel like everything is so sluggish in these past several games? I can't really explain it but gameplay doesn't feel smooth at all. Feels like I'm playing on slow motion but of course the AI opponent is perfect and lightning quick.

 

[kanucks25]

Anybody know what to do in Franchise mode this year? For those that sim only, don't actually play.

In previous years it didn't seem difficult to win the Cup every handful of seasons at least, while winning the President's Trophy pretty much every season.

In NHL 25 I can just barely make the playoffs, sometimes miss, and if I do make it I'm out in round 1.

And the better my team gets on paper, the worse it performs lol. My top-6 forward and top-4 D are all like 88+ overall with +3 or +5 chemistry yet the team always sucks lol. I had a better record while trying to rebuild with misfit 82-84 overalls all over my lineup.

I read that apparently the Poise stat is really important and you should have 80+ for all players. I took a look and my team average is like 85 so that can't be it either.

Any ideas?

 

[Half Clapper]

The game is better than it has been in years. Idk how people whine and cry so damn much. It is never going to be perfect.

 

[Slats432]

I bought it because of the Franchise mode changes, and so far it has been fine, and I can toggle the pressure meter off.

There are still a couple of annoying bugs. The way I play franchise is I sim every game until about 5-7 minutes left in the game. If my team is winning I don't interrupt and sim. If I am tied or down by 1, I interrupt and play the final minutes. (If down by two, I leave it).

I have my own custom settings, and there are times when the sliders don't save into the interrupted game. The other weird one that I haven't seen yet was in previous years, if I interrupted a sim to play, sometimes in regular season I would get 5v5 overtime and in playoffs I would get 3v3 overtime. Hopefully that is gone.

Quite enjoying it although it is way tougher to trade now.

 

[ManWithNoName]

The game is better than it has been in years. Idk how people whine and cry so damn much. It is never going to be perfect.

Not sure what game mode you play, but HUT is a major disaster. ”Play 50 games with this and that player for a guaranteed non tradeable 60+ player”. What am I gonna do with him? I haven’t had a player below 80 since day 2.

Or this new bound shit they’ve started with. At least let me trade the players I don’t want to use.

New rewards are absolute dog shit. Unless you play for a couple of hours every day, you’ll just get shit. One hour a day in NHL 24 still got you good rewards.

The idea behind the new Icons and x-factor cards is a complete failure.

No one is expecting it to be perfect, but fixing shit that ain’t broke is never a good idea.

 

[Half Clapper]

Not sure what game mode you play, but HUT is a major disaster. ”Play 50 games with this and that player for a guaranteed non tradeable 60+ player”. What am I gonna do with him? I haven’t had a player below 80 since day 2.

Or this new bound shit they’ve started with. At least let me trade the players I don’t want to use.

New rewards are absolute dog shit. Unless you play for a couple of hours every day, you’ll just get shit. One hour a day in NHL 24 still got you good rewards.

The idea behind the new Icons and x-factor cards is a complete failure.

No one is expecting it to be perfect, but fixing shit that ain’t broke is never a good idea.

Rewards are better! Now if you pull an 80+ the card is worth way more than before, and 84 ovr cards will be able to be used way longer as well. The way the game is set up is better for people who don't play the game as much, because they will have an easier time to keep up with the die hards.

The game is good minus the d2d one ts and line changes.

 

[Gaud]

Not sure what game mode you play, but HUT is a major disaster. ”Play 50 games with this and that player for a guaranteed non tradeable 60+ player”. What am I gonna do with him? I haven’t had a player below 80 since day 2.

Or this new bound shit they’ve started with. At least let me trade the players I don’t want to use.

New rewards are absolute dog shit. Unless you play for a couple of hours every day, you’ll just get shit. One hour a day in NHL 24 still got you good rewards.

The idea behind the new Icons and x-factor cards is a complete failure.

No one is expecting it to be perfect, but fixing shit that ain’t broke is never a good idea.

will those regular X factor cards upgrade? I mean if they end up being 99s by the end of the season, why trade them all in to get one of 4 players, then trading those for one McJesus? It's crazy to have to grind 32X factor cards (nvm the 38 players you have to trade for each) to get that one card.

 

[ManWithNoName]

will those regular X factor cards upgrade? I mean if they end up being 99s by the end of the season, why trade them all in to get one of 4 players, then trading those for one McJesus? It's crazy to have to grind 32X factor cards (nvm the 38 players you have to trade for each) to get that one card.

No they won’t and that’s what’s so bad.

Team builders are equally stupid. You need 16 77OVR at least to get an 83OVR and you need six 83s to get an 86OVR.

77s sells for approx 12K. That’s 1.15 million for a card that you won’t be able to upgrade.

 

[Frosty415]

The game is better than it has been in years. Idk how people whine and cry so damn much. It is never going to be perfect.

This garbage costs 100 dollars with absolutely minimal upgrades yearly since 2015.

We're allowed to whine.

 

[Blitzkrug]

No they won’t and that’s what’s so bad.

Team builders are equally stupid. You need 16 77OVR at least to get an 83OVR and you need six 83s to get an 86OVR.

77s sells for approx 12K. That’s 1.15 million for a card that you won’t be able to upgrade.

Power up icons also don't upgrade outside of the one level which is hilariously underhanded even by EA standards.

You want to keep Joe Thornton for theme team purposes? Oh golly guess you're gonna just have to get the new card we released for him.

I'd be shocked if this turn they took doesn't kill HUT, and by extension the game off entirely.

 

[Harry750]

I bet Be A Pro starts off at the outdoor rink. I dunno how they could make enough changes to keep people happy
unless they have been working on a complete new game for a few years (which I doubt) it'll be the same copy and paste crap over and over again cause no way they are making any huge changes in one year

I agree, Be A Pro might start at the outdoor rink – probably a nod to hockey roots. But yeah, you're right, EA won’t make huge changes in one year. Seems like another copy-paste job.

Also, I just can't see EA suddenly overhauling anything without a longer development cycle. As long as people keep buying, they'll stick to what works. We might get small improvements, but I wouldn’t expect any big revolution.

 

[Gaud]

No they won’t and that’s what’s so bad.

Team builders are equally stupid. You need 16 77OVR at least to get an 83OVR and you need six 83s to get an 86OVR.

77s sells for approx 12K. That’s 1.15 million for a card that you won’t be able to upgrade.

omg.. what's the point then??? What about the icons? Those holograms look great, but if they dont upgrade....

I liked last year's system because the cards were less reliant on specific event tokens; you could upgrade anything with the same tokens. Now im looking at each event and it is obvious the cards are more expensive than regular cards of teh same level.

From what i gather from looking online, there are 3 levels of x factor, 2 of which are upgradable to an unknown degree. You will need 38 75+ players to get one base X factor, then those 8 base xfactors to get a 2nd tier, and four 2nd tiers to get mcjesus. I assume there will be more of these sets throughout the year. Still, that means you need 1216 players 75+ to get him.

The costs will come down - they always do. What you are paying now for an 85 is what you will pay for a 90 in 3 months when 85s are abundant - its just supply and demand.