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

[Vikes1]

Quote: Originally Posted by AtomicLegend

If you haven't done this already, just quit 2 seconds before the game ends. I've been doing this the whole time to skip the celebration stuff.

Yep, I've been do this too.

Kind of odd that they didn't give us the option to skip it.

[Money99]

My biggest concern right now is which system to get it on.
If BaGM is online I might have to get the PS3 version. I have a lot more friends who'll buy this game for the PS3 (Realm being one of them) so the chances of getting into an online league with people I know and trust is greater.

However, the two biggest concerns I have for the PS3 version are this:
1. Framerate.
2. We use the PS3 primarily as a Bluray player. What if my wife wants to watch a movie in the bedroom and I want to play NHL11? That scenario doesn't present itself very often, but it would be nice to have the option of having both systems available for separate reasons.

Realm, you said that the PS3 demo had a noticeable difference in framerate to the 360?
Also, I'm so behind on the times. Do we now need to pay for online service with PSN?

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

My biggest concern right now is which system to get it on. If BaGM is online I might have to get the PS3 version. I have a lot more friends who'll buy this game for the PS3 (Realm being one of them) so the chances of getting into an online league with people I know and trust is greater. However, the two biggest concerns I have for the PS3 version are this: 1. Framerate. 2. We use the PS3 primarily as a Bluray player. What if my wife wants to watch a movie in the bedroom and I want to play NHL11? That scenario doesn't present itself very often, but it would be nice to have the option of having both systems available for separate reasons. Realm, you said that the PS3 demo had a noticeable difference in framerate to the 360? Also, I'm so behind on the times. Do we now need to pay for online service with PSN?

PSN is totally free. As for the framerate most of the time its smooth. Though at times when both teams are changing it does dip a little bit, its definitely plenty playable, just a tad annoying is all.

I'm not sure that BAGM is online, I thought I had read that in the splash screen when you finish a game but I was way over tired that first night and may have mistaken the mention of EASHL Dynasties for BAGM, so who knows. Hoping its that "big announcement" for GM mode that we've still yet to hear about though.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

PSN is totally free. As for the framerate most of the time its smooth. Though at times when both teams are changing it does dip a little bit, its definitely plenty playable, just a tad annoying is all. I'm not sure that BAGM is online, I thought I had read that in the splash screen when you finish a game but I was way over tired that first night and may have mistaken the mention of EASHL Dynasties for BAGM, so who knows. Hoping its that "big announcement" for GM mode that we've still yet to hear about though.

Same here. It's something I've wanted for years.

[ColdForged]

I've still experienced the best videogame hockey moments ever. I've gotten deked out of my skates on several occasions, seen the goalies absolutely humiliated with beautiful dekes by the AI, and even drew a delay of game by pressuring Niemi on a dump in when he tossed it over the glass. The penalties are believable, the movements of everyone are smooth and glorious.

The animations have been tightened up. For example, there's a goalie animation when he's trapped a puck in his pads and he looks left and right then stands up and tosses the puck down. Previously the transition between the looking and popping up was jarring. Now some transitions have been added that makes it just right.

They've even decreased the loading times to about 7 seconds from the time you get the game configured to the time you can hit the ice. That's a nice touch. Makes up somewhat for the unskippable Cup celebration. I, too, do the quit early thing which doesn't help when it goes to OT . Thankfully it does let you skip part of it once you've seen the whole thing once in a play session. Still, would be nice to skip the whole thing. I know it's special but after the 5th time it wears.

[idrisguitar]

Okay the facets that matter most to me about real time physics in a hockey game is the fact that it nearly obliterates the feeling of helplessness that just about every sports game has in spades, even the best ones.

In old NHL games, the goalkeepers worked in a different dimension to the everyone else, and it seemed down to the decisions the AI give you on whether a goal would go in or be saved.

This all resulted in massive frustration and to be honest even with the game-play being great, the overall feeling I got was that it was just randomness and its why I sold 09 and didn’t buy 10.

This demo however has me working hard and creating chances and finishing the ones you expect should be finished, whereas in 09/10 you had to do a few cheat moves and deke to make sure the robo goalie got confused and let it in, now you can just attack naturally and score realistic and (most importantly) rewarding goals.

[crobert0247]

Geno just broke a guys stick on a cross check and got whistled for it.

[Segagendude]

CPU is agressive....

After a whistle, their player will keep hitting my player in the back trying to instigate a fight. I don't know who's doing it (player's name), but it's pretty cool to see.