Not a bad hockey, but with the known problems

I have the game for a week now and have mainly played the "Live life" and Season Mode. So that I can to the Online Modes say much. For my review, I must confess that I (but NHL 11/12) have not played NHL 13 and prefers to have former times always the NHL 2K series.

Summary of my first impressions:

Positives:
- Graphics / presentation: Like almost every year, the NHL series from EA a great presentation in terms of graphics. Also I like the whole licenses for sundries Player Equipment. Furthermore, I also like the atmosphere better than its predecessors. All in all a plus point of this game.

- Skating: I find this feature feels quite realistic. Simply the best Skating implementation that I've ever seen in a videogame. I believe, however, that this feature has already been introduced in NHL 13.

Neutral:

- Fighting: Clear had the Fighting Engine to be revised urgently, but my struggles are too often and therefore partially simply annoying. A caused by the new check engine completely exaggerated CPU Check leads directly to the next fight, etc ... Since you already feel sometimes a bit annoyed if you just simply want time to play a round NHL.

- Checking: On a beautiful thing, only partially the check seem artificial and hard. This robs but in some places the game even if you just running towards the gate and then suddenly in the air flying from a situation would result in the in reality never check out. Right here is missing something the fine tuning which players are able at all to such a check and which are not.

Negatives:

- AI: A still so beautiful graphics / presentation of the game does not help if it is not easy as Hockey feels. When I think back on as the old parts of the NHL 2K series ... The problem with NHL 14 are simply the players in their team, "too stupid" are the simplest actions. The falls on va when acting as sole human player in a team. Since it is completely free and does not get in spite of the puck, which also tackles the CPU player is on the band felt rotten. Actually situations are adjusted, although a completely insane pass is played or unnecessarily lost a duel and already wriggling the puck in the net. This development has always existed in principle at EA because of increasing difficulty, the enemy AI is artificially promoted.
As an example: Recently I've played on All-Star and had the game totally under control. After the 1: 0 was scored, I no longer came out of my third. Fortunately, the suddenly so aufspielende KI (exceptionally) not score. That leaves me somehow in the long run the whole game - so if you feel to be verschaukelt. In the old 2k games, although the presentation / graphics certainly was not nearly as good, yet you never had the feeling that the enemy AI was suddenly preferred. It just felt like balanced Hockey, every game was completely different from.

Also I noticed in NHL 14 that defenders want to match their counterparts Defender while meeting almost his own goal or at its own gate remain quasi hanging.

- Live life: I was thrilled when I read that you can re-enact in the NHL series from EA the career of a hockey pros now. This I already knew from NBA 2k13. Meanwhile (after 10 NHL games) I am very disappointed them. Everything seemed very superficial. No sooner had I made 2-3 good games in the AHL, I was drafted as the 1st overall and could immediately course play in the 1st row in the NHL. So far so good, only 3 games, I was transported back to the 2nd row on the grounds that I would play too headstrong. Well, in my previous match I had an "A" under teamplay and both other statistics were at "A +". So overall I had played the season in the 1st row to date really good, which is why this came totally reset in the 2nd row from nowhere. Likewise, the interview questions can not convince. Much is predictable and standardized. Since EA should take a look at NBA 2k13 throw.

- Magnetic pole: The problem I know even from NHL 11/12. It just end up way too much surplus the post / bar. That is just totally unrealistic in my opinion. How often do come in a NHL game before Pfostenschüße? In NHL 14 in every game 2-3x determined!

- Goalkeeper: These were fortunately already a bit improved over the last years. Nevertheless, they can still take 2k8 a model of the gatekeepers of NHL. In the EA series are the keeper just once again far too responsive even with one-timers. On the other hand, they are made of special positions out repeatedly (too easy) beatable and that regardless of whether a Brodeur or an AHL-teen is in the gate. A great pity, because the own goal rather ordinary blunders tend to be the enemy.

- Defensive Control: I do not know how others feel this only I have no control in some defensive actions. The Pokechecks fall out effectively and in some cases lacking to a total stop, select an attacking player makes sense. One feels helpless in the face, the speed of some opposing player. 2K NHL had often control of his defensive action alone is out of the 360 ​​degrees pokecheck out, but the VA was very realistic in shorthanded game over. Although EA has introduced a similar pokecheck functionality, but convinced them, because it is not me to effectively and rather does not correspond to how they handled them in real hockey.

Conclusion: Nevertheless, EA is a passable NHL 14 succeeded in what short / medium term can prepare fun. However, the problem with the AI ​​and it easily most Henden glitches / cheats for VA is known online game in my opinion for years. Unfortunately, EA addresses the issue of not great. It is just now telling that the AI ​​of a vanished years ago NHL series has better acting than the current AI in NHL 14, but I hope that EA will soon present an update that may go in the direction.