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

[MizzouRah]

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

Yeah great points Blue and Vikes. I'm seeing the same thing, alot more glancing blows from smaller players like a Hossa or Kane, vs say a Pronger or Richards who's a flat out beast in this game. I'm also noticing that even though the attribute effect slider is only half way, theres a far more noticeable difference abilities wise between stars and 3rd and 4th liners. Which I know is a big thing alot were asking for, Hank especially. One of the things that I'm noticing more and more the more I play, is I honestly don't see myself having to tinker alot with sliders this year if the retail build is roughly the same as the demo build. Aside from dropping hitting power and maybe tweaking fatigue rates the demo imo at least, plays a pretty solid game right out of the gate. Definitely a promising sign.

Need a full game to fully agree.. but yes I feel the same way, which really has me pumped!

I could see myself thinking alot more in Be a GM when the trade deadline gets close. Seems like default AS could be my setting this year and when the stars are on the ice, it's definitely noticeable.

[norml]

I've only played a couple periods in the demo and I am still trying to switch from 2K8's control scheme but compared to NHL 10 this game looks promising. My biggest problems with 10 were the goalies and playing defense. I play solid positional defense and try to cut off passing and shooting lanes. In 10 I would constantly watch the puck go right by or even right through my perfectly positioned player. In my short time with the demo I'm intercepting passes and blocking shots without issue. The puck physics and collision detection are exponentially better which by itself would be enough for me to buy this years game. My other problem was scoring on the robo-goalies. I could score but it was the same couple of goals and only when the cpu decided they would let one in. Not anymore. It just feels great to go in on a breakaway and blow a straight wrist shot by the goalie. Ive been playing 2K8 exclusively for the last couple of years because even with its horrible AI, it played the most like hockey. But as of today its been retired and traded in towards my pre-ordered copy of NHL 11. Great work EA.

[Steven547]

Quote: Originally Posted by nddurst

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned in this thread or not, but here is my one issue after playing the demo for a bit: When on the rush, AI defensemen let the puck handler get WAY too deep into the zone, practically between the circles, without engaging him. Also, the goalies seem a bit confused at times. Other than that, love the demo. 11 feels much more organic than 10. Can't wait until 9/7!

It might be due to the aggression slider. If it's low on the default DEMO setting, the CPU will play back more. I haven't checked it yet, but that could be the cause. I know in NHL 10 with the aggression slider low, the CPU defense would hang back more.

[crobert0247]

Quote: Originally Posted by norml

I've only played a couple periods in the demo and I am still trying to switch from 2K8's control scheme

I went through the same transition on Tuesday. I put NHL 10 away in June and switched to 2k8 for the summer. I was lost the first couple of periods and then it all came back.

[Kaanyr Vhok]

Is there a setting to lock the poke check on the right stick like NHL 2k? That should be standard.

[crobert0247]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kaanyr Vhok

Is there a setting to lock the poke check on the right stick like NHL 2k? That should be standard.

Yes. It can be locked in the demo and surely in the full game. Go to Settings/ Controller Settings and set the "Preset" to "Custom". The poke check is mapped (by default) to the Right Stick. Play around with it and see if ya like it.

[puckhead73]

Blue, I totally know what you mean about missing Tkachuk! I was going through the very same thought process about how it would actually make a difference this year's game to have someone like him in front of the net... It just had to be the year he retired.
On the bright side tho, we still have oshie, backes, and perron. Now if they would do something about brewer and jackman. I know i will in my beagm.

On topic tho...

I played for probably almost 2 hours straight with a buddy of mine playing as opposing teams. How many of you all have done this? It really really i think shows off just how the ai actually has improved. I know we are all talking about how its better but let me rave a little more i haven't noticed in any of the games anything along the lines of the ai making any stupid defensive mistakes, i.e.; diving in the completely wrong situation to dive in, or go all the way from one side of the rink, completely abandoning their man, to help me guard someone on the opposite side of the night. The fact that during our match i tried all the glitch goals and only found one that actually worked, (if there is someone i should tell about it, let me know, i am new here) really made me excited about playing multiplayer online, it seems like the game is almost exactly where it should be. Great job ea!

[Kaanyr Vhok]

Thanks^^ good to try