EHM The Blue Line

What the title says, NHL 19 will be free in June for XBox Gold users through the Games With Gold program. It will be the first-ever EA Sports game (outside of SSX I guess, which barely counts) to be a part of GWG.

Any complaints or nagging anyone may have about 19.... free is free!

https://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/gold#gameswithgold

Nice spot! Let me know how you find it.

I have been keeping an eye on the NHL reviews following the release of the current generation of consoles in order to gauge whether I want to upgrade from my XBox 360. From what I gather, it hasn't been a great generation for the NHL series. The first generation (XBox and PS2) had the Skill Stick and the second generation (X360 and PS3) had the realistic skating physics. I'm not really sure if the third generation has seen any significant evolution - but maybe I'm wrong seeing as I haven't played NHL since NHL 13. From what I've read over the years, the emphasis has been on the micro transactions. I imagine this is because the game doesn't get the same level of sales (or resources) as FIFA and Madden. Sadly the single player game (being the game I'm interested in) appears to have been all but abandoned. Operation Sports sums this up pretty well (LINK):

Gameplay
Okay, so this first one is obvious and maybe impossible? But, in short, mimic the NHL style. No more arcade-like, up and down, back and forth gameplay we’re unfortunately accustomed to seeing each game. Possibly even worse is when the computer just continues to circle in the neutral zone waiting to gain entry into your defensive zone. When playing NHL 19, there is zero creativity available at your disposal. Every odd man rush is identical. Every zone entry is identical. Every game, every goal all seem to be identical.

Player/Teammate/Computer AI
Many issues still exist within teammate AI, but the number one issue (for at least three years) has been trying to get your teammate to stay onside. How could this be an issue? How could this still be an issue. I can’t even begin to count how many times I have intercepted a pass in the defensive zone and started an odd-man rush counter attack only to have my unaware CPU teammate go offsides. Another related issue is that your defenseman too often is unaware of his positioning inside the blue line in the offensive zone. While trying to establish offensive zone pressure, a D to D pass, or pass from low to high will see your defenseman turn or pivot the wrong way with the puck leaving the zone. I whine about this issue at least three or four times every game it seems.

Goalie AI is also a position that seemingly has gotten no love or attention over the past few years. You still see horrible goals trickling in and poor angles being played. But it is a tough position to play especially during shootouts when the CPU just runs right into your goalie. Don’t make a move and don’t take a shot, just slam right into the goalie.\

I'll see what the next generation of consoles has to offer and might make the leap then. I haven't actually touched my X360 for a very long time now and I always intended to finish GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption before making any upgrade. Seems like NHL 21 might be the one I'll end up upgrading to (assuming the current schedule for the PS5).

archibalduk wrote: Sun Jun 02, 2019 7:30 pm Nice spot! Let me know how you find it.

I actually bought NHL 19 for around half off in like.. February maybe? I got a XBox One S for Christmas. I had previously played NHL 11 and NHL 15.

19 has some subtle feel differences from 15 in skating, stickwork feel, and just general puck physics. IMO goals felt a little *more* organic in 15 than they do 19, but also a lot more "random"-feeling stuff happens in 19 in regards to odd goals and whatnot, which honestly is a bit more like real life.

And then... I got sucked into Rocket League and Forza Horizon 4 really badly. So... I'll get back to 19 more here soon. But had NHL 19 not gone free with GWG, I wouldn't have felt bad for the $24 US or whatever I spent for it on sale. It's a good game (though HUT is still a joke, and the whole World of CHEL thing is just... I don't get it), and definitely an improvement overall on the 15 I'd been playing.

I only ever get a new NHL game every 3 to 4 years though as a rule. That way I always see some improvement.