NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

[LuGer33]

There's a lot to like about the demo. First and foremost is the nice graphical upgrade the game has gotten. Game seems much sharper / crisper than before. I don't plan on ever playing NHL 11 again but I feel like going back to it would make the game seem sort of fuzzy now.

Now as for elements that actually matter much more. The AI seems noticeably better. I can run pretty decent cycles and breakouts without wanting to slam my head into the wall. They have finally, after years, fixed the passive "let's never shoot the puck" AI mentality. It's very refreshing to see the AI ripping shots on 2-on-1's, shooting from the point more often, carrying it into the slot from down low and shooting, etc. Combined with the player traits, and general AI improvements, the Sim Engine, and Action Tracker, I feel like off-line play should be a blast this year.

Puck physics are better. I saw a puck roll on its edge (finally) in the corner after a flip dump -- that was an excellent touch. The skating engine feels pretty much the same but looks better (for the most part) with more varied and natural looking animations. Shot power is spot on this year -- it feels more like you're stepping into slapshots because the puck is loose and because the shots are much harder. Still possible to curl and drag wristers but it doesn't seem too overly effective in any situation... yet.

LOVE that dekeing is slower this year. No doubt the Skill Stick was a great innovation in NHL 07 and everyone has loved dangling like superstars w/ just everyone the past few years, but it seems like NHL 12 has finally made the GOOD decision to slow down dekeing and gimp non-superstars on breakaways (as it should be). I know this will be tuned before launch and I'm hoping beyond hope that it stays similar to what it is now.

Hitting is glitchy in the demo. Hip checks especially don't seem natural at all, and I'm noticing less interaction between bodies and the boards, which was one of my favorite aspects of NHL 11. Maybe this is because they toned down the big hits (which was needed) but a lot of times it just doesn't look right.

Goalie collisions look pretty good for the most part but interference is not being called properly when hitting them or any player without the puck. I'm certain this will be corrected by release.

I love the live benches now. They don't look 100% natural, but IMO they look just as good as The Show does bullpens and dugouts. Guys on the bench cheer goals, look up at the scoreboard after penalties, dodge bodies that land in the bench, and even will duck out of the way if you shoot a puck towards them. GREAT touch.

With all that said, the game doesn't feel tremendously different from last season, and that's to be expected. If you look at the critically acclaimed games like The Show, NBA 2K, FIFA, they really don't change much year to year. The Show added Analog Controls in 2011, and not a whole lot else. People expecting a complete overhaul year in and year out are always going to be disappointed.

To me this feels like a very finely tweaked and tuned NHL 11, with major improvements in AI, puck physics, and goaltending. The goalie V-H technique is very nice. Curbing the dekeing and hopefully preventing the figure skate / dangle-to-the-net lifestyle of so many EASHLers is pretty much enough for me to buy this game on its own.

[gopher_guy]

Quote: Originally Posted by BaylorBearBryant

I started out as a minimal hockey fan. I could name the top 5-10 players in the league. Always had fun watching the sport, but not near as much as with footbal. Don't necessarily live in a hockey "hotbed," but pulled for the Avs and the Stars.

Well at least the team in your city is affiliated with a hockey hotbed

[BaylorBearBryant]

Quote: Originally Posted by gopher_guy

Well at least the team in your city is affiliated with a hockey hotbed

True. And I am a big Aeros fan. The team gets more support than you would think.

I like the Wild; they remind me a lot of the Texans. Hope that doesn't come across as insulting. Just the whole idea of a franchise returning to a city where the previous franchise should never of left from a city that LIVES for the sport. The return happened about the same time too. If Matt Hackett somehow becomes a starting goaltender for the Wild, I'll pull for them even more.

P.S. This is taking forever to download. Only at 55%. Hope it's worth it.

[gsize19]

Quote: Originally Posted by LuGer33

There's a lot to like about the demo. First and foremost is the nice graphical upgrade the game has gotten. Game seems much sharper / crisper than before. I don't plan on ever playing NHL 11 again but I feel like going back to it would make the game seem sort of fuzzy now. Now as for elements that actually matter much more. The AI seems noticeably better. I can run pretty decent cycles and breakouts without wanting to slam my head into the wall. They have finally, after years, fixed the passive "let's never shoot the puck" AI mentality. It's very refreshing to see the AI ripping shots on 2-on-1's, shooting from the point more often, carrying it into the slot from down low and shooting, etc. Combined with the player traits, and general AI improvements, the Sim Engine, and Action Tracker, I feel like off-line play should be a blast this year. Puck physics are better. I saw a puck roll on its edge (finally) in the corner after a flip dump -- that was an excellent touch. The skating engine feels pretty much the same but looks better (for the most part) with more varied and natural looking animations. Shot power is spot on this year -- it feels more like you're stepping into slapshots because the puck is loose and because the shots are much harder. Still possible to curl and drag wristers but it doesn't seem too overly effective in any situation... yet. LOVE that dekeing is slower this year. No doubt the Skill Stick was a great innovation in NHL 07 and everyone has loved dangling like superstars w/ just everyone the past few years, but it seems like NHL 12 has finally made the GOOD decision to slow down dekeing and gimp non-superstars on breakaways (as it should be). I know this will be tuned before launch and I'm hoping beyond hope that it stays similar to what it is now. Hitting is glitchy in the demo. Hip checks especially don't seem natural at all, and I'm noticing less interaction between bodies and the boards, which was one of my favorite aspects of NHL 11. Maybe this is because they toned down the big hits (which was needed) but a lot of times it just doesn't look right. Goalie collisions look pretty good for the most part but interference is not being called properly when hitting them or any player without the puck. I'm certain this will be corrected by release. I love the live benches now. They don't look 100% natural, but IMO they look just as good as The Show does bullpens and dugouts. Guys on the bench cheer goals, look up at the scoreboard after penalties, dodge bodies that land in the bench, and even will duck out of the way if you shoot a puck towards them. GREAT touch. With all that said, the game doesn't feel tremendously different from last season, and that's to be expected. If you look at the critically acclaimed games like The Show, NBA 2K, FIFA, they really don't change much year to year. The Show added Analog Controls in 2011, and not a whole lot else. People expecting a complete overhaul year in and year out are always going to be disappointed. To me this feels like a very finely tweaked and tuned NHL 11, with major improvements in AI, puck physics, and goaltending. The goalie V-H technique is very nice. Curbing the dekeing and hopefully preventing the figure skate / dangle-to-the-net lifestyle of so many EASHLers is pretty much enough for me to buy this game on its own.

Can't stand this Luger guy from my days on the EA forums, and mods thinking their poopy don't stink, but I agree with everything he said here... Spot on to what I think and love the improvements I am seeing!!!

[goh]

Quote: Originally Posted by toadiev

I pay good money for XBL Gold and I am glad that they have the decency to give us paying members access to demos and other things prior to people who choose not to pay. It helps reduce the download time because there are fewer people downloading and the truth is I just flat out deserve a bonus for paying. I hope MS never changes that. However if you paid for season pass be mad EA doesn't have a demo download available its not the problem of MS to deal with that. Irks me that people who chose not to pay are mad because those of us who chose to pay get something for our money. If you want the demo on day 1 then fork out the money for the yearly on XBL if you don't care enough to shell out a few bucks don't whine.

You sir do not understand the point of a demo.
You also don't seem to understand no other company does this.
You don't need PSN+ to download on it on PS3 and if it was on PC you wouldn't have to pay there either.
You're not getting a bonus for paying it was something taken away from those that don't.
You get online play for your money is what you get. Something I don't use for free on PC and didn't use on PS3 so am not paying $60 a year for.

I was pointing out it should've been included in the EA season ticket deal when applicable and I know it's not EA's fault. I'm sure further discussion of the such would be frowned upon so I won't say anything else about it.

Also change your sig,it's against the rules.

[gopher_guy]

As far as the issue of a penalty not being called after hitting the goalie. I was looking in the settings and "Post whistle penalties" or whatever it is called is set to relaxed [and can't be changed]. I'm sure if that is set to strict, that would be a penalty.

Although I hope it's set to strict for online play. Going to be super annoying to have cheesers laying out my goalie after every whistle if it isn't -_-

[toadiev]

Quote: Originally Posted by goh

You sir do not understand the point of a demo. You also don't seem to understand no other company does this. You don't need PSN+ to download on it on PS3 and if it was on PC you wouldn't have to pay there either. You're not getting a bonus for paying it was something taken away from those that don't. You get online play for your money is what you get. Something I don't use for free on PC and didn't use on PS3 so am not paying $60 a year for. I was pointing out it should've been included in the EA season ticket deal when applicable and I know it's not EA's fault. I'm sure further discussion of the such would be frowned upon so I won't say anything else about it. Also change your sig,it's against the rules.

The benefits of XBL are whatever they decide it to be and EA decided that they would release it early to XBL Gold members. If you aren't happy get off your wallet a spend a few bucks. Don't whine and moan here that you can't get it because you are a tight wad. If you aren't happy go to PS3 and have your demo early.

I hope in the future they slowly make XBL Silver memberships more restricted so my purchased access to XBL gold is more value for my money.

[The Amaizen Blue]

Am I the only one experiencing terrible framerate on the PS3? Takes away the fun of the game when the sound keeps spazzing out and players are skipping around.