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

[IBYCFOTA]

Quote: Originally Posted by onlybygrace

I'd be curious to see you play D...I don't have that problem at all. I'm not trying to be a dick either... what method do you use to defend???

Please. I'm a good versus player and have a ton of experience playing defense for top teams in the EASHL. I know when the problem is me and when the game is playing unfairly. How can you honestly not say that the tic tac toe passing in the offensive zone by the computer isn't absurdly unrealistic? If you haven't experienced this you either haven't played the demo enough or you're playing on pro. FWIW, it's not really an issue in BAP for whatever reason, but it definitely exists in BFTC.

As for what methods I use to defend - I've tried everything. Getting directly in passing lanes doesn't work. Poke checking the puck carrier doesn't work, and the pass block button is practically useless for defending the cycle by the computer.

I'd like to hear what brilliant way you have of defending against it though, since you appear to be amazing at the game.

[muzion]

Quote: Originally Posted by DarkFudge

People, maybe Im in the minority here but, I am a bit underwhelmed at the improvements made in NHL 10. I just got done playing the demo a few times now over and over and cant help but to think that certain additions were not implemented as well as I expected them to be: -The new puck physics are almost identical to last year....the puck doesnt flutter or flip or carom realistically especially when deflecting off of things. And when it does, it seems almost unnaturally forced to appear as if improvements were made. EA seen how NHL 2K9 set the bar for realistic puck physics, I dont know why they couldnt meet or exceed their efforts last year. - The new board play seems more like an addon module then a seamless infusion into the gameplay. And where is all the riding and checking up into the boards and roughhousing. I was expecting to see improved ragdoll effects of bodies colliding and interacting with each other on checks and hits into the boards. I just see 2 players suction into each other and free the puck up whenever this new board play is enacted. maybe thats the problem...it feels enacted rather than just part of the gameplay -The after the whistle scrummages are simplistic acts of robotic 3 stooges scenes with players artificially 'CLUNKing' and 'POWing' each other rather than having fluid shoves and pushes. They seemed added on and canned just for effect. It should flow more realistically. It looks a bit corny.....Most real life scrummages occur when a player gets too close to a Goalie after a whistle, then the team rallies around to protect him...I dont see this (yet?). -Face Off battles still are overly simplistic, lack a fight and struggle to gain possession and fall far short of the realism that NHL 2K9 implemented last year. Im sorry if this sounds negative but I really feel a bit let down that the gameplay feels almost identical to last year with the feeling of added gameplay modules rather than a more refined overall gameplay experience that built upon last years engine. The positive thing is that the gameplay last year was good....I just was hoping that NHL 10 would show me more....at this point the demo didnt deliver as much as I expected.

I took out some of your post but that's exactly how I feel about the demo, and I'm surprised after playing it more than 20 times hardly nobody seems to have picked up on its many faults.

lol at board play. Not once have I seen it occur more than once in a sequence... No sustained pressure. I played games with only the 3rd and 4th lines to see if things would change but they didn't. SMH at the CPU AI streaking down the wing, and my controlled player lining him up, but instead of checking him into the boards as I'd do last year, I press Y and the 2 players engage in a forced animation where there's a ''suction into each other''. So unrealistic. Oh and when you kick the puck with your skate it goes way too far, hence part of the reason why there's no sustained pressure.

Hardcore mode would have been great if you didn't have to load up your pass when attempting one. What a big mistake they made not making it pressure sensitive. Another issue I have is my AI teammates simply getting out of the way sometimes when I try to get it out the zone.

We're in 2010 and faceoffs in ball hockey are still more evolved... Ridiculous.

There is more randomness in terms of puck physics and when it deflects, but it doesn't feel natural. The puck always seems to go to a teammate or an opponent on hardcore mode. If the puck would, as in real life, deflect into the corners more often, there'd be more play along the boards, more battles, the physical aspect of the game would be better reflected, thus we'd have a more organic representation of hockey.

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by IBYCFOTA

Please. I'm a good versus player and have a ton of experience playing defense for top teams in the EASHL. I know when the problem is me and when the game is playing unfairly. How can you honestly not say that the tic tac toe passing in the offensive zone by the computer isn't absurdly unrealistic? If you haven't experienced this you either haven't played the demo enough or you're playing on pro. FWIW, it's not really an issue in BAP for whatever reason, but it definitely exists in BFTC. As for what methods I use to defend - I've tried everything. Getting directly in passing lanes doesn't work. Poke checking the puck carrier doesn't work, and the pass block button is practically useless for defending the cycle by the computer. I'd like to hear what brilliant way you have of defending against it though, since you appear to be amazing at the game.

Or maybe he, like myself don't let the cpu do tic tac passing all day long by being solid positionally. Take the passing lanes away it forces the cpu to stick to the outside where its generally easy to take a forward and use whatever defensive tool is most suited to the situation, be it a stick lift, poke, board play, or even the good ol trusty check into the glass.

The only time I notice the CPU going nuts with passing in my offensive end is when I chase, which is bad defense in the first place.

[IBYCFOTA]

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

Or maybe he, like myself don't let the cpu do tic tac passing all day long by being solid positionally. Take the passing lanes away it forces the cpu to stick to the outside where its generally easy to take a forward and use whatever defensive tool is most suited to the situation, be it a stick lift, poke, board play, or even the good ol trusty check into the glass. The only time I notice the CPU going nuts with passing in my offensive end is when I chase, which is bad defense in the first place.

How many times do I have mention that I position myself DIRECTLY in the passing lane and they still manage to get passes through?

Or again, you two could just be amazing at playing against the computer and have mastered the counter-strategies necessary to stop the computer from their flawless cycle game. In which case, congratulations!

[MizzouRah]

Quote: Originally Posted by Qb

I'm still deciding on midnight release. I have to get up at 6am, so it's really pushing it, not to mention if I do get it, I'll want to stay up even later to play it. I can't take Tuesday off, but I am taking Wednesday, so that will have to do...

Well, my gamestop said as far as they know, no midnight release.

I'll be there at 10am though and ready to spend my day playing... maybe I'll read some thoughts from you at 12:30am?

[onlybygrace]

Welp...Realm.

Apparently we're amazing.

I'll take that. Thanks IBYCFOTA!!!

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by onlybygrace

Welp...Realm. Apparently we're amazing. I'll take that. Thanks IBYCFOTA!!!

Sure thing, don't really consider myself amazing, just use a bit of defensive positioning 101 and it works go fig but hey, I'll take it!

[SA1NT401]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fierce Robot

The problem with scrolling occurs, I think, because it tries to give you control of players that are closest to the puck. The problem that broke out for me was that the cpu had the puck high above the right face off dot and was wheeling around to face the net. I could see what it was going to do because I could see its team mate waiting right on the side of my own net. I tried to scroll to the defender guarding the net (right next to the cpu forward) but when I scrolled it flipped between 3 of my guys who were closest to the puck carrier, when he decided to wire the pass it moved so fast that I just couldn't make the adjustments and in the speed of a one timer it was all said and done. It was kind of like my defender was drafted from a gentleman's league where his gentle disposition equipped him with fine manners. I could imagine my defender saying 'hello old man, lovely day for some sandwhiches isn't it? Oh, you want to take it to my goalie, good show. I do say the blades on your skates are most fetching', and the guy he was defending was that big black bearded thug from the movie Youngblood (the one who gives Patrick Swayze a severe concussion) and after he scores he turns to my gentleman defender and blows a kiss through smahed teeth and then spits on my guys jersey. After this happened I deliberately took control of my forwards on defense and kept handing the puck back to the cpu to see how often my ai defense would allow the cpu to have the crease. My ai defenders sometimes hit and shoved the cpu and other times they just stayed back. It seemed kind of random when they defended and helped the goalie and when they sat back. I don't think it has anything to do with the player tendencies of the particular defender...say Kronwall as opposed to Lidstrom...I dunno it just seemed a bit random when a defender aggressively and pro actively engaged the opposition or whether they were oblivious to the cpu presence. Also, there was no effort from my ai defender to try and block the pass comming in for the one timer, but the cpu defense does this well.

Did you try holding the RT? That will always give you control of the last man back.....Just a thought.