Fansided

5 features we still want to see from EA Sports’ NHL series

By Nick McAdam

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 08: (L-R) Patrick Kane, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Jonathan Toews pose during the EA Sports NHL 11 Launch Event outside the NHL Powered by Reebok Store on September 8, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Thomas Nycz/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 08: (L-R) Patrick Kane, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Jonathan Toews pose during the EA Sports NHL 11 Launch Event outside the NHL Powered by Reebok Store on September 8, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Thomas Nycz/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The logo of the American video game company Electronic Arts and its sports game brand EA Sports headquartered in Redwood City, California is seen in the Munich pedestrian zone. (Photo by Alexander Pohl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The logo of the American video game company Electronic Arts and its sports game brand EA Sports headquartered in Redwood City, California is seen in the Munich pedestrian zone. (Photo by Alexander Pohl/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /

1. AI Upgrades

Improving AI is a continuous process; one that will probably never end. Every sports video game has problems with AI. Glitches happen and it’s the reality that sports gamers have to accept.

NHL can make a few small changes in a rather short amount of time that would really help. First, the use of tactics in the game seems to have no impact. Changing zone pressure, neutral zone rushes or what to do on the power-play is great, but it never happens in-game.

The man advantage is a prime example. The AI teammates will simply move to where the controlling player is not. If the controller goes from the point to the right side, the AI on the right will then go to the point. It happens in most tactics no matter what a gamer selects.

AI do not find the proper positioning either. Going through older versions such as NHL 15, experiences with the controlling player starting an attack forward only for the AI teammates to make a big change was very frusturating.

EA made some changes in NHL 17 with battles in front of the net, which helped make shots from all over harder to get to the net. It was a good thing because it resembled real life hockey. Yet, AI always seem to go in the same spots in front of the net. Some players might want their middle attacker in the high slot, but the AI aren’t aware of that sometimes.

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Changes to tactics need to be made. In 2K’s NBA series, a gamer can set plays with the ball. The player with the ball can set picks or send the AI to the proper positions. EA should surely take notes on this.

Manual passing would also help for those who want it. There’s a fine line between who the player really wants to pass to, but who the game decides to send it to instead. Sometimes, a player in the offensive zone will somehow send a pass back to the goalie. Hilariously unrealistic.

EA definitely tries to make changes every year with AI. Being keen on consistent improving needs to happen from the company. A great amount of money happens as a result of a great game, not because EA’s NHL is the only hockey game on the market.

What are your thoughts on the list of changes Electronic Arts can do to its NHL series? Any other recommendations that you want to see in the game? Let us know in the comments section below.