Chel players have complained online all year that scoring one-timers in NHL 24 is the hardest it has ever been in an NHL video game.
X-Factors were introduced into the NHL video game series to mimic special traits exemplified on the ice by NHL players and to provide their players with a boost. But are we too reliant on these x-factors?
EA Sports first introduced x-factors in NHL 22. They have been a great addition to the game and for the most part, have made the gameplay more fun. Alas, there are some abilities that chel players have recognized are ‘Must-use’ or else certain aspects of the game will be harder.
The conversation starts with one particular ability, one of the game’s more powerful x-factors since it was introduced, One-Tee.
One-Tee is a way for players to act like they’re Alex Ovechkin from the left-side faceoff circle and rip home one-timers past goaltenders. It’s one of the best feelings in real life or in the video game when you connect on a one-timer and blast it past the goaltender.
For those who played NHL 22 and 23, you’ll know that One-Tee was very powerful and was a go-to ability for players especially when playing EASHL. It still is quite strong in NHL 24, but the issue isn’t when you have the ability equipped. It’s when you aren’t using it.
One-timers feel a lot weaker compared to how it was in the previous two games when you take one without One-Tee. I can't tell you how many muffin-shots I've had in clubs where the party chat erupts with crying laughter.
Now, when the ability is equipped, it can’t be a cheat code and players shouldn't score on the majority of their one-time opportunities.
However, if I’m within 40 feet of the net (like in the picture above) and in the slot and I swing a cross-ice pass over, my player should score roughly around 80% of the time whether One-Tee is activated or not.
Goalies in real life have become far more athletic, but pushing over laterally and controlling your arms to stop a one-timer shot is still incredibly difficult.
Chel players have complained that it’s just been way too hard to score one-timers this year, and that the AI goaltenders get across too easily.
I played a game on Hockey Ultimate Team against the CPU on pro difficulty where all I did was attempt to score one-timer goals with players who had the One-Tee ability equipped. My best estimate is that I took around 20 one-timers in the game, maybe more, and I only scored three goals.
I've found that even with the One-Tee ability activated, it's not as consistent and that could be because goaltenders this year are way quicker in their side-to-side movements. Or maybe it's because I don't aim my shots well enough.
How can EA address this? Should they make one-timers more powerful again and reduce the lateral speed of goaltenders? Or should they get rid of the One-Tee ability and make one-timers consistent for everyone without having a trait in the game to amplify a one-timer shot?