NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

[blaziruku]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gagnon39

Been playing some more and as it stands I feel pretty confident that there's no doubt this game a) has made some major improvements but b) will also have to have some major slider adjustments for me to enjoy it. I'll probably mess around with the free skate option quite a bit but as far as playing the Kings and Devils demo I'll probably stop playing it. The game is fun for sure but not very realistic at the default levels. The shot totals are what completely kill the realism for me. I've played enough games now to see that the CPU will generate easily 50-60 shots per game with the default settings and 10+ minute period. I don't want to play 5 minute period games because its just not my style. The problem that EA has always faced was that they have to appeal to the hardcore hockey/gaming fans and bring in people that aren't familiar with the game at the same time. With that in mind I think the default settings are geared toward the latter. Its fun be reminiscent of the old arcade-type NHL games we saw in the early 2000's. All that aside, I have total confidence that slider adjustments will make this game as authentic as we've seen. And as I've said multiple times, as well as other users on here, the pass reception slider will be huge. I do wish however, that EA would tune the game to make the CPU just shoot less in general. It seems that they often take low percentage chances and throw everything they can on net. They also rarely miss the goal. Lastly, one other concern that I have is that I've now played 15-20 games and the CPU is yet to take a penalty. Maybe its just coincidence but didn't EA say that this was no longer an issue? All-in-all, I'm looking forward very much to the release of NHL 13. Unfortunately, I do have very high expectations for this years game, so hopefully I won't be disappointed.

True, since the game by default should be set to 5 mins (any game higher would deter most players) When I usually play the game, 5 minute periods usually results in a full game taking anywhere from 20-30 minutes, which is a decent amount of time you need to dedicate into just one game, so the game can't really be faster like that, although if you get a lot of shooting going on you could reach a normal 20-30 shots on both side, which I've had in a few games (taking in you can only play the third period, I'd have one where the shots were around ~10 both sides, which is decent)

[Majingir]

Goalies are way better this year than in years past. I can barely score 1 goal during the games(that start in 3rd period).

I looked at the sliders, and it looks like they're not default sliders.

AI Learning is max
Penalties(for rules) is not maxed
CPU penalties is only halfway on the sliders
Pass assist is max
Pass accuracy is midway for CPU, almost maxed for user
Pass reception ease is max for user, almost max for CPU
Shooting is all in the middle
Hitting assistance is about halfway
Hitting power is almost max
Goalie reaction speed is almost max

Basically what I'm trying to say, is that the sliders have been adjusted to really display the changes made to the game.

So once we get the full game, we can adjust sliders and make them how we're used to playing at, and game will be great.

And for people talking about penalties not being called, the penalty slider isn't even on max, and CPU penalties is only halfway, so ones those get maxed out, we should be seeing penalties happening like normal...hopefully

[peter21]

Downloaded the demo for the PS3 and put it through its paces with all the modes. I haven't seen the blurry factor a few other posters have mentioned.

Overall, I like it. The skating takes some getting used to, but I agree it's a welcome change. Fingers crossed that playing defense will actually be rewarded now. I liked the aggressive forecheck by the computer as well.

Team AI still leaves something to be desired, and my passing was way off, but that i'll attribute to getting used to the new game.

A few little things I noticed, the active sticks are a great thing. Kopitar got his stick on a rebound with a wide open net and his shot got deflected behind the net. Would have been a sure goal in '12. Also, the wide shots are a nice touch too.

In all, I'm still optimistic. It's not radically different from '12, but it's a definitely improvement. It plays a (for me) much more fun game of hockey.

[RoyalBoyle78]

I'm SOLD!!!! I love what I came away with loved it... Can't wait for the full game.. I'm in heaven right now... 360 demo

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by Majingir

Goalies are way better this year than in years past. I can barely score 1 goal during the games(that start in 3rd period). I looked at the sliders, and it looks like they're not default sliders. AI Learning is max Penalties(for rules) is not maxed CPU penalties is only halfway on the sliders Pass assist is max Pass accuracy is midway for CPU, almost maxed for user Pass reception ease is max for user, almost max for CPU Shooting is all in the middle Hitting assistance is about halfway Hitting power is almost max Goalie reaction speed is almost max Basically what I'm trying to say, is that the sliders have been adjusted to really display the changes made to the game. So once we get the full game, we can adjust sliders and make them how we're used to playing at, and game will be great. And for people talking about penalties not being called, the penalty slider isn't even on max, and CPU penalties is only halfway, so ones those get maxed out, we should be seeing penalties happening like normal...hopefully

Which is promising about penalties since I see at least one on average every period or two. I also really like how they've cleaned up the hitting animations to not look as awkward as past years. I'll more than likely end up lowering the hit power and assistance but I do like what I see along the lines of collision detection.

Will likely tone down goalies slightly as well, I have seen some clean goals, and some beauts. But they're just a little TOO good at times at least in the demo. It'll be interesting to see what the day one tuner will affect.

Turned a puck over in my zone fiddling with FC bias and watched in horror as an uncovered Zajac received a pass right on the tape to slap a one timer and roof it just under the bar, kicked myself but god it was a gorgeous goal. But they're just a little TOO good at times at least in the demo. It'll be interesting to see what the day one tuner will affect.

I've not scored a lot on super star, couple breakaway goals and a really nice wrister just under the blocker with Brown on the rush. Much harder to set up and cycle this year the AI on SS default is pretty active.

[gopher_guy]

Some of you guys must be EXCELLENT passers (the ones who say pass accuracy needs to be lowered), because playing on hardcore, there are times when I can barely complete a damn pass, LOL.

The difficulty level of the goalies is kind of refreshing, I must say. They are very, very good. And I will probably slider them down so they're not as good. But I was playing LA against Phoenix, Mike Smith was making some brilliant saves one me, and I was peppering him pretty good for a while there. I scored the game winner late in 3OT, and I threw my hands up in the air and shouted "YES!"

Pretty rare for me to react that way to a video game, but it was very satisfying to score that game winner after so many close calls, haha.

[Weapon X]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gagnon39

I do wish however, that EA would tune the game to make the CPU just shoot less in general. It seems that they often take low percentage chances and throw everything they can on net. They also rarely miss the goal.

Remember Gags, we can also nerf the CPU Shot Accuracy sliders to make them shoot wide more often to see if that remedies the problem of to many pucks on net.

WX

[Splitter77]

my impression of the demo is that it killed my original 60 gb fat ps3.
yup. got the ylod while it slowly tried to dl the demo.
Now i gotta figure out how to get mlb the show 12 out of the system .