Done.

[Flyermania]

After yet another laughable screw job by the CPU, I am officially done with this game.

All-Star isn't enough of a challenge, and Superstar is so ridiculous I can't decide if I want to laugh or throw my controller through the wall. I was beating the Blues 3-0 after 2 periods...simply dominating all aspects of gameplay. What happened in the 3rd period exemplifies this game in a nutshell for me. They get two quick goals, then tie the game, and then score the winning goal with 5 minutes to play to win 4-3. Four goals in the third period.

I play this game realistically...hockey is my favorite sport. I play great defense (as anyone who has ever played me online can attest), but I can't overcome my goalie consistently playing 10 feet out of the crease. And most of all, I cannot overcome what the CPU does on Superstar. Call it attribute boosts, manic mode, comeback logic, or whatever you want --- but it is in there. The CPU has low shot totals on every skill level, but will score on numerous cheapies to magically make the game close. It's as bad as it ever has been in this series....I never felt it was in there in 07/08/09, but it is definitely there.

To all those still enjoying it, good luck. If I am asked back to the Community Event next year, I certainly hope they are ready for some feedback. This series, unfortunately, has gone backwards --- and as a result I will have to wait for next year to see if things are turned around.

[ether]

Sorry to hear that, Randy. If it weren't for the phony comebacks, superstar would work for you? EA should be able to patch something like that you would think.

[StiflersMom]

unfortunately the sports game producers (not only EA) don't know how to create a challenging game without cheating engine. i've seen it too often (a few years ago it happened often that i turned off the console being incredibly aggressive), you play a great game and all of a sudden nothing works and the CPU makes some crazy moves and goals...or you totally suck and start a comeback (we don't notice that because it's positive ). there should be close games, there should be great wins, there should be huge losses. some games have a comeback slider, imo an essential slider for all sports games.

[Battlestar]

I'm not quite there Randy but I COULD be joining you. I'm gonna give it a few more games and decide from there. If I'm not happy I may trade it in towards Dragon Age: Origins since it still has a fair bit of trade-in value.

[Flyermania]

To me, NHL 08 has been the best of the next-gen releases. 09 had a ton of issues before the patch, and now NHL 10 has even more issues. I really think they are spending most of their time on the online/BAP stuff.

[Battlestar]

I TOTALLY agree Randy. There is a reason why I still have a copy of that game for the 360... I really enjoyed that game. If you remember when it came out it was universally loved.... before all this online BS that they included in 09-10.

I'm thinking of maybe updating the rosters for 08 if 10 doesn't work out. IMO 08 is to the consoles what 04 is to the PC. Yes it is THAT good.

[StiflersMom]

it's pretty easy to see... offline gaming is slowly dying. those kids who play online only missed so much.
i didn't realize it until i visited the 2k forums some weeks ago to read about NBA 2k10. most people call the game total bs and stuff like that, it's unplayable, they wasted their money, 2k producers should be killed.... it's one of the most realistic sports games i've ever seen. there are some bugs (although i, the ps3 offline user, hardly notice them) but they'd have gone crazy if 2k postponed the release. and then you read things like "online gaming is all that matters, i don't care about the rest"

[emuguy37]

Couldn't agree more, they spend way too much resources on the online fluff, which I will never use. If they put in online co-op vs the CPU then maybe, but they refuse to do that for some stupid reason.

I'd much rather play offline then get cheesed and screamed at online...that's just not a gaming experience I wish to have.

I'm still enjoying NHL 10, but I've barely played due to real life getting in the way. Maybe that's their plan...just go after the casual guys, and screw the hardcore fans.

I hated the choppy frame rate in 08, and was broken hearted when Custom Music again didn't show up in 09...so I'll be sticking with 10.

More than anything, I wish they'd go to a 2 year release cycle and just update rosters in off-years. There's no need for a new hockey game this complex with tons of new features (that don't even work!) every year, other than pure greed. It's the kiss of death for a development team. That's just simply not enough time, which is why they spend the first 3 months troubleshooting and releasing patches after it ships. And after that, it's time to work on the next year, instead of supporting this year.

This post has been edited by emuguy37 on Nov 8 2009, 09:43 AM

[Battlestar]

Well my renewed interest in the game just went away. I cannot for the life of me get consistant settings. Either I win 8 times out of ten or if I try to toughen up the sliders a bit the CPU gets their cheating going.

In other words bye bye hockey gaming for the forseeable future. Its annoying as this game is SO close to being great.

[Drezz]

That's too bad, guys.

I've been fine with playing offline - the CPU doesn't put up as much of a challenge, so I have to compensate by making it more difficult on myself by adjusting the sliders.

I haven't been burned by the cheapie goals, but I'm well aware of the hidden momentum modifiers that have been in the game since its inception at the 3D level. What bugs me the most is the outright denial of it - when we've clearly seen it within the hacked .ai files in previous versions.

If they're going to give you options, Tuner sets and sliders, at least activate the hidden ones so you can REALLY alter the outcome of the game.

I've often thought that there should be a advanced kit that allows you to make the tweaks and insert them into the game via a code - sort of like a gameshark or hidden code option. That way, if you bugger up the settings, you can just revert back to your last good settings.

[monarchy]

I think I hit mine too. I've long believed that there is not only some sort of catch up logic but also some sort of home ice advantage. Neither of those really explain the screw job I just got.

Kings at home vs. Penguins. All game long I felt like I was trying real hard to keep up with the speed in the game for the Pens. I'm probably not the best defensive player but I held them off and Pit was leading 1-0 after one. I got one back to tie it in the first half of the second. A few minutes later, I got a great cycle going that led to a goal by Kopitar. Pittsburgh tied it early in the third.

My defense started to come apart a little in the third and of course Pitt scored with like 54 seconds remaining but a legitimate goal. No more than 10 seconds later I got a goal from Brown to tie it up. It was 3-3 and, with exception of those two goals in ten seconds, it was a great, close game, very tight. OT was much the same and I killed off a penalty. But with 20 seconds left, Guerin shot a wrist shot from center ice (and right on the ice, no height to it). Quick didn't go into the butterfly to stop it. He moved over just enough for the puck to go off his skate and into the net.

I don't know if I'll sell the game, or play it again. I don't know.