NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

[ComaFaction]

Couple of other things I've noticed: players can retain the puck after having their stick lifted (nice!). I scored on a breakaway with Malkin where I simply snapped it low stick-side. The computer is very effective if you give them space and are downright lethal on breakaways.

I think the skill stick has been further refined as well. I've had some beautiful deke goals and toe drags into the slot that feel much more fluid and less clumsy than '10. Hitting does seems a little over-the-top, but I am running at guys a lot too

[Splitter77]

the only thing so far i would like in tuner version 1

-slow down the speed and predictability of where the rebounds go. When i take a shot low far side and short side, the puck always has that scripted look as it rockets into the same corner.

Only played about 4 games, but so far Im loving this game!
Great job EA

[dorismary]

Well I finally DL this baby and if the final game plays like this out of the box I'll be very happy
To me this is by far the best sports game series overall , just amazing , Players looked even better if thats even possible and though gameplay changes are subtle it actually feels like their skating this year !
Faceoffs are dead on and after a few games I had little goalie issues some have reported and IMO the goalies even pass better , crisper .

For those who mentioned about presentation being old I think I read they added alot/ a ton of new stuff but just like the new goalie mask designs its probably not in the demo version yet ?
Though they did have Leightons Rbk revokes with exact colors and even his real face
Way to go Jason aka RS and Tell the boys at EA Canada WOW no other Sports game give so much replay value .

[RoyalBoyle78]

WOW, Oh My WOW, that's all I have to say, I played the Demo last night and I will tell you that in my so many years of sports gaming this game seems to have the tightest game play ever, yes EVER.

It played so life like I was shocked, all toughen little things that bothered me no longer seem to existed, again, I was so in aww on how the game played. Just from the drop of the puck until the end of the demo, I loved everything about this game.

I can't wait, NHL 11 is number 1 on my list of game I want bad, even more then NBA 2k11.


Great JOB EA!!!

[ch46647]

Quote: Originally Posted by FootballForever

WOW, Oh My WOW, that's all I have to say, I played the Demo last night and I will tell you that in my so many years of sports gaming this game seems to have the tightest game play ever, yes EVER. It played so life like I was shocked, all toughen little things that bothered me no longer seem to existed, again, I was so in aww on how the game played. Just from the drop of the puck until the end of the demo, I loved everything about this game. I can't wait, NHL 11 is number 1 on my list of game I want bad, even more then NBA 2k11. Great JOB EA!!!

This! Good to see you over here in the NHL forums! They are a little frendlier then the Madden forums.... with good reason

[XFactah416]

I really enjoy the Ultimate Team. When I booted it up, I think I had Getzlaf, Kipper, Chara, Erik Karlsson, and Corey Perry (as well as a few other guys). I beat Windsor 2-0, beat Philly in a shootout, beat Chicago 1-0, and lost to Team Canada in a shootout. This will probably get a good amount of playing time as it feels pretty interesting.

I must be awful at the game though, because I can't score goals at all on Pro. How do you guys do it? Last year in the demo, I found a good amount of success shooting from the point, but this year, the goalie seems to be much better at stopping point shots. I mean, I have scored, but most of it seems lucky (like tying up the center at the face off then just throwing the puck at the net with Hossa).

It also feels like the AI offense is improved, even on Pro. Maybe it's just the teams this time, but the offense feels really, really explosive. Simon Gagne destroyed me with an awesome move (something that the computer barely ever tried last year on the demo) and then scored top shelf right on Niemi with ease, and I don't ever remember that happening to me in the demo last year. Despite my offensive failures though, this demo was really enjoyable.

So, for all of those that are playing on levels above Pro, what's the "recipe" for success? And, one minor question as well: the "hustle" button. Is it activated by pushing down on the LS?

[patsfan188]

Quote: Originally Posted by XFactah416

I really enjoy the Ultimate Team. When I booted it up, I think I had Getzlaf, Kipper, Chara, Erik Karlsson, and Corey Perry (as well as a few other guys). I beat Windsor 2-0, beat Philly in a shootout, beat Chicago 1-0, and lost to Team Canada in a shootout. This will probably get a good amount of playing time as it feels pretty interesting. I must be awful at the game though, because I can't score goals at all on Pro. How do you guys do it? Last year in the demo, I found a good amount of success shooting from the point, but this year, the goalie seems to be much better at stopping point shots. I mean, I have scored, but most of it seems lucky (like tying up the center at the face off then just throwing the puck at the net with Hossa). It also feels like the AI offense is improved, even on Pro. Maybe it's just the teams this time, but the offense feels really, really explosive. Simon Gagne destroyed me with an awesome move (something that the computer barely ever tried last year on the demo) and then scored top shelf right on Niemi with ease, and I don't ever remember that happening to me in the demo last year. Despite my offensive failures though, this demo was really enjoyable. So, for all of those that are playing on levels above Pro, what's the "recipe" for success? And, one minor question as well: the "hustle" button. Is it activated by pushing down on the LS?

I really don't like the new passing thing. I liked it the way it used to be. Anyways on my Ultimate Team I had Taylor Hall, Fillpula, Enstrom, Keith, Subban, Luongo and Rask. I beat Windsor 3-0, then I beat Philadelphia 4-1, then I beat Chicago in O.T 2-1 then I beat Canada 4-1. I don't know what your doing wrong I try to make it realistic though and I do the umbrella thing when Im in the offensive zone. I'll usually just pass until I have a guy open where he can take a shot. Or I'll keep firing from the point and get rebounds. Also the hustle button you click LS. I don't think it makes a big difference though.

[Money99]

Got a few games in last night and I have to admit I really dug the HUT feature. I got Malkin, Getzlaf, Tavares, Keith, Daughty and Markov to start with. Not too shabby!

The puck physics are great. I saw a lot of weird bounces and a variety of goals because of them.
And I love how we can continue skating while protecting the puck. Looks very realistic and is a great feature.
Goalies also don't seem to be impossible to beat either. I scored quite a few goals from the point (PK Subban rocketed one that bounced off the crossbar and in. The way the puck reacted was awesome and looked very authentic).
And Jordan Eberle sniped a top-shelf goal that was a thing of beauty.

The CPU AI is also much smarter. It makes better decisions (dump and chase actually works!), will try to deke with the right guys and is solid in it's own end.

About the only thing that bothers me is the new sensitive passing. Maybe I stink (most likely) but on a few occassions, when I only had a split second to dish the puck, I laid out a soft one that was easily intercepted because I didn't have enough time to fire off a hard pass.
NHL players can pass harder than most of us can shoot and do it in a split-second. It should be the same in NHL11.
But maybe I just need more work with it.

Anyway, I feel a flu coming on that's due to hit September 7th. I hope NHL11 can help me recover.