Feedback: The Thread

[Eve]

After +3 hours, I don't have much thoughts, but there isn't general thread so here's one.

- Passing accuracy seems to be insanely good, which feels the biggest the reason I lost most of the games.
- Not sure if 2 rubber's per W is enough (save for boss level). Feels super grindy to have to win 5 times on regular games to get 1 skill upgraded.
- It may just be with playstyle, but I struggle so much against first two elite games, but then won 1-9 vs. the Boss level.
- Would like to see rubber reward even in loss, be it 20% or 50% of the W reward.
- A setting to skip cutscenes (between goals) or then make tapping A quicker. The bane of hockey games when you just want to get back to play after frustrating opponent goal. lmao.

[Crowbar]

I think rewarding rubber for goals instead would be a nice touch, personally. That way a loss where you did *nothing* is still worthless, but you still get some reward for solid play even if you lose.

[Sildas]

I have a couple thoughts

- Maybe this is covered later by upgrades or something, but everyone outside of Angus and Superstar is completely useless, vs either both the opposing superstar and the opposing benchwarmers. The opposing benchwarmer is going running, and there's not much the bench can do about it

- I would kill for the friendly AI to ever go somewhere useful. Having my superstar rush to be between the half wall and goal line is really limiting. Benchwarmer shot from the point is wishful thinking

- Checking feels like high risk, low reward. I clobber someone maybe 20% of the time, but if I miss that player is taking themselves out of the play

- Something more logical for selecting players would be great. cycling around and avoiding selecting the one player in a position to handle the play sucks. Even a button to switch to Angus would be something

[Hastan]

Originally posted by Sildas:

I have a couple thoughts

- Maybe this is covered later by upgrades or something, but everyone outside of Angus and Superstar is completely useless, vs either both the opposing superstar and the opposing benchwarmers. The opposing benchwarmer is going running, and there's not much the bench can do about it

- I would kill for the friendly AI to ever go somewhere useful. Having my superstar rush to be between the half wall and goal line is really limiting. Benchwarmer shot from the point is wishful thinking

- Checking feels like high risk, low reward. I clobber someone maybe 20% of the time, but if I miss that player is taking themselves out of the play

- Something more logical for selecting players would be great. cycling around and avoiding selecting the one player in a position to handle the play sucks. Even a button to switch to Angus would be something

Those are fair points! Thank you very much for the feedback!

As for the player selection, we actually have some hidden controls which we will be adding to the controls layout and perhaps the tutorial. Holding the pass button (without the puck) selects the defensemen that is the closest to your goalie. The right stick is a directional player selector when you don't have the puck!

Hope this helps a little!

[Sildas]

Originally posted by Hastan:

The right stick is a directional player selector when you don't have the puck!

I thought this was happening, but it seemed a little quirky so I wasn't sure if I understood it right. I've only been at it for a couple hours though, so it might just be a skill issue.

[Goffdog]

My main two points for the developer to see are; Please give +1 rubber per goal and maybe +3 for a hat trick. Then also let us skip the replays on goals :D

[+-VonDz-+]

You can skip replays by pressing one of the buttons, I think A/X depending on your icons. Feedback:
Saving replays would be awesome.
Custom key binds would be great.
Instead of or in addition to the icon over your head when controlling a player, how about a small glow under the controlled player. Sometimes the icon over the head gets lost in a crowd.

[Calamari]

I've only played 1.5 hours but I really like what is here so far. I am a fan of roguelites and hockey so this is a good match. Balancing and tweaks will happen obviously. My biggest point of feedback though is some form of non-roguelite season in addtion to the roguelite story.

The reason I suggest this is because the hockey itself mechanically is very fun. I have played matches with powerups turned off and it fills that hockey hole we have on steam. Would love to have some sort of season for when I want to play straight up hockey with no powerups.

Otherwise nice job devs you sre on the right track here and will be excited to see what you do with the game during it's early access period.

[TheDisappointingGatsby]

Would love to see a poke check or shot blocking mechanic added. To reiterate someone else's point, body checking feels like it takes you out of the play way too often. Would love a poke check to be able for a more low risk option. Shot blocking would just be fun! Something like pressing both bumpers to make your player lay down on the ice.

Love the game overall and I know it's early so these things may already be in the works but just what I'd like to see in the future!

[Hastan]

Originally posted by TheDisappointingGatsby:

Would love to see a poke check or shot blocking mechanic added. To reiterate someone else's point, body checking feels like it takes you out of the play way too often. Would love a poke check to be able for a more low risk option. Shot blocking would just be fun! Something like pressing both bumpers to make your player lay down on the ice.

Love the game overall and I know it's early so these things may already be in the works but just what I'd like to see in the future!

Shot blocking is on the roadmap!

[kevass009]

I'm not sure if this is because im in canada watching the NHL, but the soccer chants from the crowd is really throwing me off of hockey

[Eve]

Originally posted by kevass009:

I'm not sure if this is because im in canada watching the NHL, but the soccer chants from the crowd is really throwing me off of hockey

I meant to comment the same, I forgot! It feels out of place.

[Rancidwolf]

Originally posted by Sildas:

I have a couple thoughts

- Maybe this is covered later by upgrades or something, but everyone outside of Angus and Superstar is completely useless, vs either both the opposing superstar and the opposing benchwarmers. The opposing benchwarmer is going running, and there's not much the bench can do about it

- I would kill for the friendly AI to ever go somewhere useful. Having my superstar rush to be between the half wall and goal line is really limiting. Benchwarmer shot from the point is wishful thinking

- Checking feels like high risk, low reward. I clobber someone maybe 20% of the time, but if I miss that player is taking themselves out of the play

- Something more logical for selecting players would be great. cycling around and avoiding selecting the one player in a position to handle the play sucks. Even a button to switch to Angus would be something

I have found benchwarmers to actually be strong than star players due to some really strong items that are designed for benchwarmers. That being said I agree 100% with your checking comment.

[Morton Norbury]

Originally posted by Rancidwolf:

Originally posted by Sildas:

I have a couple thoughts

- Maybe this is covered later by upgrades or something, but everyone outside of Angus and Superstar is completely useless, vs either both the opposing superstar and the opposing benchwarmers. The opposing benchwarmer is going running, and there's not much the bench can do about it

- I would kill for the friendly AI to ever go somewhere useful. Having my superstar rush to be between the half wall and goal line is really limiting. Benchwarmer shot from the point is wishful thinking

- Checking feels like high risk, low reward. I clobber someone maybe 20% of the time, but if I miss that player is taking themselves out of the play

- Something more logical for selecting players would be great. cycling around and avoiding selecting the one player in a position to handle the play sucks. Even a button to switch to Angus would be something

I have found benchwarmers to actually be strong than star players due to some really strong items that are designed for benchwarmers. That being said I agree 100% with your checking comment.

Agreed, it seems like it's a choice in any given run to specialize on improving a given player or boosting your benchwarmers to be good. You can buff them with items, resting to improve everyone, plus as you mention there's specific items that boost stats on benchwarmers specifically. Much like building a deck in slay the spire or other roguelites you have to tailor your play to the items/bonuses you get along the way.

I agree that AI passing seems quite strong. They can often pass to players off screen quite effectively. It would be nice if there was some kind of indicator for your own players off screen beyond just the one you have selected. Also it would be nice if, while holding the pass button it highlighted the player that was being targeted. As sometimes it's quite difficult to tell if your character is going to fire a pass off to the player standing in front of the net, or to the random guy standing on the far side of the rink that you can sometimes not even see.

[VonFIDDE]

Yeah one rubber per goal would be great :D, going really slowly forward other then that great stuff. Hard not to enjoy those classic 94 NHL goals over and over again.

[Kestrel]

Originally posted by TheDisappointingGatsby:

Would love to see a poke check or shot blocking mechanic added. To reiterate someone else's point, body checking feels like it takes you out of the play way too often. Would love a poke check to be able for a more low risk option. Shot blocking would just be fun! Something like pressing both bumpers to make your player lay down on the ice.

Love the game overall and I know it's early so these things may already be in the works but just what I'd like to see in the future!

I agree with some sort of option to poke check or stick lift. Primarily because without the puck, the player is on defense, and aside from body checking, it's mostly about player position and moving your character into the person with the puck, which is all done with the left stick.

From a game design standpoint, there's not enough 'verbs' for the player to use on defense to make it feel meaningful.