NHL 10: Improving Your On-The-Fly Coaching

[RaychelSnr]

Raise your hand if you have ever cursed out an AI teammate in a video game.

*All hands go up*

Keep that hand raised if you have ever cursed out an AI teammate in NHL 10.

*Most hands stay up*

For as much fun as NHL 10 can be, there is nothing more frustrating than watching your AI teammates commit dumb mistakes that lead to easy goals for the other team.

And for gamers not familiar with EA's NHL series or hockey in general, keeping those AI teammates on track can be completely mystifying since the game lacks any sort of tutorial that explains how to manage the on-the-fly coaching options mapped to the D-pad.

So for everyone out there who has no idea what a forecheck is or what separates a 1-2-2 High from a 1-2-2 Low, here is a guide that will help you get the most out of your AI teammates in NHL 10.

Read More - NHL 10: Improving your on-the-fly coaching

[Sherman91587]

Good stuff man.... I always fix this up before game and change it round if I give up a bad breakaway or something. Didnt know 100 percent what the pressures meant tho so its good to have the details.

[carlmac]

Thanks man, i am gonna go and practice, getting in and out of these forechecks and pressures so i can apply them in game situations, this is gonna make me dangerous
thanks again
carlmac

[Vikes1]

Re: NHL 10: Improving Your On-The-Fly Coaching

Very good read.

Good to get a better understanding of how these different strategies make the AI players behave.

[Borgskier]

I nominate Jayson for Commisioner.
Thanks for educating us and giving us new things to try!

[tazbk]

Good analysis, just gave me some extra hockey knowledge there. Been playing NHL 10 like crazy the past couple weeks to get me to baseball season.

[savoie2006]

Re: NHL 10: Improving Your On-The-Fly Coaching

These kind of things need to either be in the game as a tutorial or in the manual. It's awesome that OS posts these.

[BigBadJon]

PERFECT, Thanks.

[BKBond007]

Good read, I was looking for these a month ago..thanks

[Fiddy]

Re: NHL 10: Improving Your On-The-Fly Coaching

its funny when i play guys, that have played this game for 2 years plus and still dont know to adjust strats. they say it doesnt help etc.

it sure does help out. depending on who i play in my leagues, i adjust my strats to there game. some games i put a ton of pressure, others i sit back and wait for a mistake.

one thing you need to make note of, that when playing online the only way to change strats and have them stick during the game is using the d-pad on the fly. if you make strat changes at edit lines screen or from pause menu they dont stick at all. this has been that way for past 2 years. hopefully ea fixes this next year!!

[JayhawkerStL]

I've been checking out OS for a number of years, but lose interest as the signal to noise ratio becomes unbearable. I just want to mention that Jayson Young is one of the contributors that keep me coming back.

My experience with the game improved dramatically when I began using strats with the D-Pad in game. One thing to pay attention to is the commentary, as they will clue you in to when a change is needed. When they complain that the slot or point is no longer available, you know the AI defense is using a corresponding defensive strat and pressure.

Likewise, they talk about the slot or point being open for the other team, it is a clue you need to switch up. In time, you will recognize when this is happening and make the switches before being called out. Then you get the reward of the commentators pointing out that the other team keeps trying something that is no longer available.

Sometimes, as I read complaints about the AI getting easy goals, or catch-up logic, I have to believe these guys are not making adjustments. And in online play, altering your strategy can have dramatic effects. Too many players role with whatever they have set-up to begin the game.

I would love to read even more in-depth discussion of strategies that affect gameplay in NHL 10. Things like what kinds of players to place on different lines, and how to evaluate what kind of offense is good for different types of player would be great.

I just started getting into real hockey a year or so ago, and Jayson's articles on how to play defense in BAP really increased my enjoyment of hockey on TV. NHL 10 is probably the best game for actually teaching a sport that I have played.

[Hack22]

Re: NHL 10: Improving Your On-The-Fly Coaching

seems like the only forcheck that works is the 3-2. Everything else just has the players retreat to the blueline.