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

[kerosene31]

Quote: Originally Posted by onlybygrace

I see very little comeback code... honestly, knowing most people DONT play very realistic hockey, I'm sure you guys would have a lot easier time holding onto leads if you went into a defensive state of mind in the last 5 minutes of the third period, regardless of the lead you hold.

Uhhh... no.

It has nothing to do with the last 5 minutes of the game or what attack style the CPU uses. If you go up 3-0 in the 1st period, the CPU shots are going to start miraculously finding the net.

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by onlybygrace

I see very little comeback code... honestly, knowing most people DONT play very realistic hockey, I'm sure you guys would have a lot easier time holding onto leads if you went into a defensive state of mind in the last 5 minutes of the third period, regardless of the lead you hold. Gain the redline, dump the puck...only attack on good chances.

Exactly which is what I pretty much do. If you play realistically as a real NHL team would with a lead late in a game, the're not trying to make breakout passes when the other team is forechecking in force. Chalking it up to "comeback logic" for bad play is flat out ********.

[Ovie]

There is no comeback code. There is no comeback code. There is no comeback code.

How many times does this have to be said? There is in fact ZERO comeback code. The only sort of comeback code is computer AI changing its forecheck, breakout, defensive pressure and offense/defense strategies.

If you're collapsing and protecting the net they take perimeter shots. If you're playing tight point they'll try and find their way into the slot. If you're a player who plays one single strategy the whole game they'll most likely start scoring in the third once they ramp up their pressure and counter your strategies. I have no problem if I pay attention to their adjustments. If you blindly collapse and protect the net all game their going to continually take easy shots from the perimeter and score on screens/deflections.

It's called smart hockey, not comeback code. You think EA tell us CPU has a flat out skating ADVANTAGE in Superstar but lie to us about a comeback code?

[Vikes1]

[quote=Ovie;2040066792]There is no comeback code. /quote]

I'm fairly new to the NHL series. But I tend to agree with you Ovie.

In my experience...I really haven't noticed an obvious comeback mode in NHL. I use the word "obvious", because thats what I believe for years I've seen in Madden/NCAA.

When I've had late leads, say in the last 5 minutes or so, most times I've been able to hang on for the win. I'd honesty say...I can't really remember a time I felt cheated in the late going. Which for me, has lead to a very satisfying gaming experience with the NHL game.

[Ridgeberg]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

Ridgeberg, RealmK, thanks for answering some of my questions. I'm dying to play this game myself. Only 4 more days. So after a few more hours with this badboy are you still stoked? It sounds like the game is far more organic. And I love hearing how the CPU can't do the same things with lesser players as it can with it's stars. I hated watching Sean O'Donnell turn into Bobby Orr.

It's funny. I was so stoked for the demo (and luckily had yesterday off) and played it a ton. I got so frustrated with All-Star/Hardcore mode because I couldn't connect with passes and I couldn't make that red line to blue line pass to exit the zone, like you could so easily do in 09. I messed around with playing Pro/Hardcore and All-Star/Normal but it felt cheap after trying to pass on Hardcore, I just wasn't feeling it. I kind of went to bed last night with conflicted feelings, like hockey is my favorite sport and NHL has been my go-to game the past couple of years, but maybe I won't be as into it this year.

I was able to get some more time in with it today, went back to Hardcore/All-Star and tried to keep it simple. If I had a guy like Gonchar, Lidstrom, Letang or Rafalski, I could skate it out of the defensive zone if the pass wasn't there. With guys like Orpik, Lilja, Scuderi, I started looking for the short pass, maybe a pass back in order to make a pass forward. It seemed to work better.

I am still having difficulty maintaining possession in the offensive zone and I want to try to get better at cycling, but I was able to put some goals on the board, they did not feel cheap, in fact they felt EARNED. I think I scored a goal with like :30 sec remaining in the 3rd to tie up the game and I actually stood up and did a fist pump, it was that rewarding.

Ultimately, it is this organicity (variability) that I think will keep me coming back for more. In fact, I read a blog post by Bill Abner speaking about how Madden 10 and MLB the Show have gameplay that is unpredictable, which is what makes them great. I think NHL has it this year too. Brushing up on NHL strategies and break out plays will help I think. I also think it is important to play within each player and not to expect to score a goal every time you get the puck, which didn't necessarily happen in NHL 09, but I think those expectations were not unreasonable.

Another thing many people have been harping about is the slow pass speed or "charge" to pass. At first this was bothering me too, because sometimes when the CPU gains the zone, they zip it around. For example Red Wings on the PP. But then again, THE RED WINGS ARE HARD TO STOP ON THE POWERPLAY, that is what makes them so hard to beat. I will concede that it seems the CPU has an advantage because they do not have the restraints a human player has. I do not think the CPU's passes travel faster, but they are able to pass more accurately, quicker. I am hopeful that this can be resolved with the CPU pass accuracy slider. After some games today, I actually started to like the pass speed.

Well, that was a mouthful. I look forward to your impressions.

[Vikes1]

I don't know if anyones mentioned this...or maybe I was just seeing things...

While playing the BAP game, one of the players scored a Hat trick...and I would swear I saw hats being thrown on the ice. But during the Battle for the Cup game, Crosby got a Hat trick...and nothing. Has anyone seen this? Or am I seeing things?

[imdahman]

Quote: Originally Posted by Vikes1

I don't know if anyones mentioned this...or maybe I was just seeing things... While playing the BAP game, one of the players scored a Hat trick...and I would swear I saw hats being thrown on the ice. But during the Battle for the Cup game, Crosby got a Hat trick...and nothing. Has anyone seen this? Or am I seeing things?

I've been playing Battle for the Cup a lot and I've seen 'hat cutscenes' several times. When a player got their hat trick goal, I immediately got the hats on ice cutscene. It's happend at least 3-4 times now.

You're not seeing anything, don't worry, haha.

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by Vikes1

I don't know if anyones mentioned this...or maybe I was just seeing things... While playing the BAP game, one of the players scored a Hat trick...and I would swear I saw hats being thrown on the ice. But during the Battle for the Cup game, Crosby got a Hat trick...and nothing. Has anyone seen this? Or am I seeing things?

I've seen it once, I've also had the same thing happen where they don't get thrown after a trick. May be just an early build issue.