Evo_IX
November 5th, 2003, 11:09 PM
Just like NHL 2k3, 2k4 has lots of potential, its just a lot of glitches that need to be fixed (as opposed to overhauling the game). Here is my list.
1. Fix the goaltender/net glitches - No exageration, I had a goal on an empty net (goalie off to side on a dive save) and a shot that was about 6 inches in from the post hit an apparent invisible wall and hovered along the goal line to the post where it rebounded off and away from the net. The most ridiculous glitch I have ever seen in an NHL game. Goaltender passing is also horrible.
2. Fix the control - The players are often sluggish and unresponsive. When changing players, often the player will stop or change direction for no reason. When doing one-timers often the player will hesitate a second or two before shooting (resulting in a re-positioned goaltender).
3. Fix the puck-handling - Countless times in a game a human controlled player will skate directly over the puck without picking it up. Don't make it so sensitive or specific.
4. Fix the AI - All CPU players (whether on a human or cpu team) seem to hate the puck, and numerous players will often choose to skate in the opposite direction for no apparent reason.
5. Fix goaltender styles - The goalies love to dive, and will dive endlessly and uneccessarily all the time. In a situation that would normally be a toe or pad save, instead is a dive, leaving the net totally unguarded while the goalie spasms on his side. Goalies will also pounce on the puck at random, often inconvenient times when the puck is too far out from the net to cover it, and will also come out from the net at bad times (sometimes ruin an icing call).
6. Fix penalties - Interference and charging are totally or near non-existent. Do not include interference on the goaltender (keep the goalie pretty much non-checkable as it is in 2k4) otherwise it results in tons of annoying goaltender interference penalties due to control glitches like in other hockey games. Just include interference on non-goaltender players.
7. Allow for player vs. player in franchise mode - Straightfoward.
8. Allow for more flexible play in season/franchise mode - As long as player-controlled teams aren't facing each other, you should be able to play as far into your schedule as you can regardless of where another person is in the season with their team (ie., Joe with Toronto should be able to play as far as he can until he plays Tom with Dallas, even if Tom is weeks behind him on the calender). Having to have all player-scontrolled teams at the same point on the calender makes playing a season with 2 people difficult, and 3 people practically impossible (without taking years to finish anyway).
9. Fix fights - Take some inspiration from NHL Hitz, the fighting in 2k4 is horrible.
10. Allow for creating players in franchise - Although I can get around this by editing existing players to make a new player, its a hassle.
11. Goalie masks - Where are all the goalie masks? Belfour's eagle? Cujo's cujo?
12. Fix player stats - How exactly is the "fatest goal" stat calculated? Why are ties not recorded? Where is the stat for "saves" coming from (I would think it would be shots faced minus goals allowed, or saves in shootout/one-on-one, but its neither)?
13. Include historical rosters - Not having names and even correct jersey numbers pretty much makes the feature of having historical teams worthless.
14. Support 16x9 tvs! - Goldeneye for N64 back in 1997 supported widescreen tvs, I don't know why every game released doesn't, since 16x9 tvs are far more popular now, and having to hold "select" or some button at a specific point during the opening movie or logos is not good enough, make it an option on the option menu.
15. Fix stat glitches - When displaying a goalie's stats during a game, the number of ties is always the number of games played (ie. GP 11, W 5, L 6, T 11).
16. Fix freeze glitch - Freezes if you go to "Injuries" in both season and franchise after playing a game.
17. Show relevent stats - Too often the player highlights during a game show career stats, or stats for players that have 0G, 0A, and 1 hit.
1. Fix the goaltender/net glitches - No exageration, I had a goal on an empty net (goalie off to side on a dive save) and a shot that was about 6 inches in from the post hit an apparent invisible wall and hovered along the goal line to the post where it rebounded off and away from the net. The most ridiculous glitch I have ever seen in an NHL game. Goaltender passing is also horrible.
2. Fix the control - The players are often sluggish and unresponsive. When changing players, often the player will stop or change direction for no reason. When doing one-timers often the player will hesitate a second or two before shooting (resulting in a re-positioned goaltender).
3. Fix the puck-handling - Countless times in a game a human controlled player will skate directly over the puck without picking it up. Don't make it so sensitive or specific.
4. Fix the AI - All CPU players (whether on a human or cpu team) seem to hate the puck, and numerous players will often choose to skate in the opposite direction for no apparent reason.
5. Fix goaltender styles - The goalies love to dive, and will dive endlessly and uneccessarily all the time. In a situation that would normally be a toe or pad save, instead is a dive, leaving the net totally unguarded while the goalie spasms on his side. Goalies will also pounce on the puck at random, often inconvenient times when the puck is too far out from the net to cover it, and will also come out from the net at bad times (sometimes ruin an icing call).
6. Fix penalties - Interference and charging are totally or near non-existent. Do not include interference on the goaltender (keep the goalie pretty much non-checkable as it is in 2k4) otherwise it results in tons of annoying goaltender interference penalties due to control glitches like in other hockey games. Just include interference on non-goaltender players.
7. Allow for player vs. player in franchise mode - Straightfoward.
8. Allow for more flexible play in season/franchise mode - As long as player-controlled teams aren't facing each other, you should be able to play as far into your schedule as you can regardless of where another person is in the season with their team (ie., Joe with Toronto should be able to play as far as he can until he plays Tom with Dallas, even if Tom is weeks behind him on the calender). Having to have all player-scontrolled teams at the same point on the calender makes playing a season with 2 people difficult, and 3 people practically impossible (without taking years to finish anyway).
9. Fix fights - Take some inspiration from NHL Hitz, the fighting in 2k4 is horrible.
10. Allow for creating players in franchise - Although I can get around this by editing existing players to make a new player, its a hassle.
11. Goalie masks - Where are all the goalie masks? Belfour's eagle? Cujo's cujo?
12. Fix player stats - How exactly is the "fatest goal" stat calculated? Why are ties not recorded? Where is the stat for "saves" coming from (I would think it would be shots faced minus goals allowed, or saves in shootout/one-on-one, but its neither)?
13. Include historical rosters - Not having names and even correct jersey numbers pretty much makes the feature of having historical teams worthless.
14. Support 16x9 tvs! - Goldeneye for N64 back in 1997 supported widescreen tvs, I don't know why every game released doesn't, since 16x9 tvs are far more popular now, and having to hold "select" or some button at a specific point during the opening movie or logos is not good enough, make it an option on the option menu.
15. Fix stat glitches - When displaying a goalie's stats during a game, the number of ties is always the number of games played (ie. GP 11, W 5, L 6, T 11).
16. Fix freeze glitch - Freezes if you go to "Injuries" in both season and franchise after playing a game.
17. Show relevent stats - Too often the player highlights during a game show career stats, or stats for players that have 0G, 0A, and 1 hit.