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

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by Vikes1

Yep Mikey, I've scored at least a few 5-hole goals so far. What I've seen with the demo, they've added more goalie animations that make the goalies more human like. And because of this...it seems like all possible shots are at least a bit more likely to light the lamp. Seems like the at times, frustration of the robo goalies of the '10' game, have been eased up nicely. And boy on All-Star/Superstar, the cpu can really hit the top shelf now.

The other huge improvement along the lines of CPU AI, is they're not afraid to shoot and shoot alot when scoring chances present themselves. I routinely would out shoot the AI in 10, often they out shoot me in the demo, granted one period isn't a great indication of how a full game would go on SS but still. I actually get a challenge now and have to be far more active defensively now that the CPU utilizes walk around dekes and is just genuinely better at moving the puck around.

[Mikey88]

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

I actually just did something similar like you describe in BFTC in overtime, turned over a puck at the blue line with Sharp, feathered it up to Hossa, and got it over the offensive blue line, fired it back to Sharp now streaking down the center lane, ripped it, 5 hole, game over.

Good to hear! this really should be in the game considering how often it happens in real life.

[Mikey88]

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

The other huge improvement along the lines of CPU AI, is they're not afraid to shoot and shoot alot when scoring chances present themselves. I routinely would out shoot the AI in 10, often they out shoot me in the demo, granted one period isn't a great indication of how a full game would go on SS but still. I actually get a challenge now and have to be far more active defensively now that the CPU utilizes walk around dekes and is just genuinely better at moving the puck around.

And don't forget, i think the CPU Difficulty slider is turned all the way down in the demo.. so imagine when you crank it up a few notches! Hopefully it translates into more difficult, but realistic game play. This game can't come out soon enough!

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mikey88

And don't forget, i think the CPU Difficulty slider is turned all the way down in the demo.. so imagine when you crank it up a few notches! Hopefully it translates into more difficult, but realistic game play. This game can't come out soon enough!

hehe hopefully I won't have to touch that slider this year, as I believe I had it at 3 towards the end of my time with 10 and still wasn't getting much of a challenge. I don't even think I'm going to need major tweaks this year to get the game to play well to be honest.

[meep316]

Oh man. Playing with Authentic puck size and authentic shadow, and auto back skate off, awesome, awesome stuff. Just looks so much realer when you fire off a shot, the default puck size is wayyyy too big.

Plus I've now mastered the between the legs deke.

Hopefully in online unranked you can change the puck size and shadow.

[ColdForged]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mikey88

Wow nice goal but the play was offside!

You guys have better eyes than me. Looks pretty clean from my perspective .

[Super Glock]

I am greatly improving in this game with practice but can someone give me some tips on being a more accurate passer. The computer passes so much better than me.

[DJ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Super Glock

I am greatly improving in this game with practice but can someone give me some tips on being a more accurate passer. The computer passes so much better than me.

Make sure you are aiming the L-stick where you want the pass to go, and be aware of the amount of pressure you are putting on the R-trigger. The longer you hold it down, the harder the pass will be.

I am an old-school player in the sense that I don't try a lot of flashy stuff; I won't force passes into tight spots and am content moving the puck back and forth between my defensemen for a bit until something opens up. If you try and pass into a crowd, more often than not, that pass is either going to be deflected or intercepted.

It takes time, but once you get the hang of it, you will begin to really enjoy Manual passing; I changed early this year in NHL 10 to manual passing and now I can't go back to Assisted.