NHL 10 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360 & PS3)

[tyler289]

I'm amazed at all the new sliders. The gameplay in the demo is fantastic but with all the editing options we can increase human pass speed and lower CPU accuracy, work on goaltenders (which have some great new animations, btw), everything.

My only issue is human passing, which I'm sure I'll be able to get a hang of. Hopefully they can work on the pass speed without having to charge up.

[Spanky]

Quote: Originally Posted by tyler289

I'm amazed at all the new sliders. The gameplay in the demo is fantastic but with all the editing options we can increase human pass speed and lower CPU accuracy, work on goaltenders (which have some great new animations, btw), everything. My only issue is human passing, which I'm sure I'll be able to get a hang of. Hopefully they can work on the pass speed without having to charge up.

Can you list the sliders.

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by FlyingFinn

Passing is far too slow on hardcore. You can't even hold it long enough to get a strong pass because it passes automatically if you hold for a certain period of time. I really love the no pass aim assist but they need to up the default speed of passes because as it stands now you can't even hit an outlet pass to someone breaking free up ice.

You do realize there's sliders for things like pass speed right?

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by akula

ea needs to see this.. hardcore mode isnt very hardcore considering you cant make hard passes without waiting for it to charge up! is this an oversight or is there a fix in the works? hmm.. i like the idea of controlling pass speed but this sure is one NASTY side effect redshirt?

Actually you can, its called the saucer pass.

[Plzhelpme]

Quote: Originally Posted by Spanky

Can you list the sliders.

Skill Level
Game Style
Period Length
Game Speed
Auto Backskate
Penalty Time Scaling
Post Whistle Rules

Fatigue Effect (Human/CPU)
Fatigue Recovery (Human/CPU)
Injuries (Human/CPU)
Puck Control (Human/CPU)
Player Acceleration (Human/CPU)

Created Plays
AI Learning
AI Difficulty Adjustment
AI Face-off Difficulty
AI Fight Difficulty

Pass Assistance
Manual Passing
Pass Speed
Saucer Pass Speed
Pass Accuracy (Human/CPU)
Pass Interceptions (Human/CPU)

Shot Accuracy (Human/CPU)
Shot Power (Human/CPU)
Slapshot Accuracy (Human/CPU)
Slapshot Power (Human/CPU)
Onetimer Accuracy (Human/CPU)

Hitting Difficulty
Aggression (Human/CPU)
Hitting Power (Human/CPU)
Stick Lift Effectiveness (Human/CPU)
Poke Effectiveness (Human/CPU)

Goalie Passing
Goalie Cover Puck Frequency (not sure I want to keep this one)
Goalie Screen Effect (Human/CPU)
Goalie Reaction Speed (Human/CPU)

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

You guys are killing me?!?!? I'm in a Wisconsin hotel (12 hours driven today, 8 more hours tomorrow until we arrive in Winnipeg) and I'm dying to have access to my 360. Anyway, I'm loving what I'm hearing. RealmK, it really sounds like your geeked about the puck physics and style of play. Love hearing that. I have a few questions: 1. How are the one-timers. In some of the gameplay videos it seemed that not every one-timer was money. If the puck was in the skates our outside the wheel house it resulted in a non-shot or something inaccurate. 2. I've heard some guys mention that if you try to line up the CPU, they'll implement a 1-on-1 move. Do all the CPU players do this? So will Talbot be able to execute these moves as well as Crosby? 3. Detroit is nearly 100% puck possession. They are loathe to give up the puck and even their 3rd and 4th lines have the skill to retain the puck. Pittsburgh also plays this to a degree, but their 3rd and 4th lines will dump and chase a lot more than the top 2 lines. Basically, can you tell a big difference between Pittsburgh's and Detroit's defensive/offensive strategies? 4. I know I've been harping on this for 2 years. But is there a more noticeable difference when the CPU handles the puck with Crosby or Malkin compared to Cooke and Kennedy? Will they complete more low-percentage passes? Are they harder to contain or knock off the puck? Will they try more finesse plays? 5. Lastly. Realm, how could you play more with the Pens? Shame on you! Thanks guys!

Hank, I'm very tempted at this point after putting an absolute metric asston of time into the demo today that NHL10 is EA's version of NHL2k3. IMO it's that damn good. As for your questions
1 With one timers you need to be spot on pretty much else you either fan on the shot or end up taking a weaker shot.

2. From my experience its only the more skilled CPU players who will do a one on one. I've only seen guys like Hossa and Sykora and the like do it when I'm lining them up. Better players seem to be better at doing it imo.

3. When playing against Detroit I notice that if I stand them up at the blue line well enough, they'll cut back towards center ice and regroup. Pittsburg on the other hand dumps alot more from what I've seen today. Thats not to say the Pens don't regroup as well, the Crosby line tends to do it more than the other lines though.

4. To a degree yes, the AI will try and play to the players attributes more and I've found it a tad harder to knock guys like Staal off the puck vs someone like Hal Gill for example. I do still think CPU passing is too tape to tape on the whole, mostly when the're already set up in your defensive zone but I'm figuring the sliders in the full version should help to tone that down a tad.
5. Eh I play with both, I was on a pens kick during those early impressions posts

[Bumble14]

Am I the only one who couldn't stand the demo? I am a big fan of the new pinning mechanics, scrums, and harcore mode, but I just can not stomach the same animations, presentation, awkward puck physics, robo goalies, and automatic cheese goals, any longer.

Seriously, EA needs to revamp the way the game looks because the overall package is starting to feel really stale. Would it hurt to throw in some new broadcast presentation with new stat overlays and cool pop ups ala 2K? Why are goalies still invincible? I can not even count the number of times both Osgood and Fleury made impossible saves on plays they were clearly beat. Also, anyone else notice you can still cut in front of the net pretty easily and score that easy cheese backhand upper corner goal?

I feel like EA had a chance this year to take an already amazing game to the next level by polishing up all the little issues we've been complaining about for the past two years. Instead I feel like they added some cool new gameplay mechanics on top of an already fading coat of paint.

I'm sure I'll still pick the game up because of how much I love the shot stick controls, I am just a little disappointed as I was expecting a lot more from this game.

[Vikes1]

I played the demo quite a bit today, and I'm very pleased with how things turned out gameplay wise. Very pleased.

At first I thought the gameplay speed was a bit too sluggish. But the longer I played, the more I enjoyed it. I'm really liking the passing on normal and hardcore. Man...I missed on a ton of passes. Seemed much more realistic actually having to accurately aim your passes. I can see myself having great fun with this years game.