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

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by FBeaule04

You know Realm, it's tough to give them some slack. My main grief is setting the priorities. Unless they are wrap in bubble film, inside a building without any access to the world and unable to read what people are saying, then I could understand. Sincerely, you get that Dev. Team in a War Room and what came out was goalies fight, helmet popping out and bumping goalies? No matter how you want people to understand what they are doing, you can't. Presentation of the game as been so ordinary for the last few years (even worse when you see what NBA 2K11 did and what Madden 12 is up to) that it's tough giving these guys a slack. You can't do miracle in 10 months, I agree. But there's nothing to defend when you come out with stupid features and aren't even able to update gameface and players profile pictures.

It's the nature of yearly cycles and having new "modes" to appeal to the casuals who as much as we here hate to admit it? Those guys make up most of the sales. Believe me, I'd kill for the presentation to get a major lift, and not even see modes like legends or HuT suck up precious development time. But that's the reality of the industry.

I'll say it right now as it came up in a conversation I was having with OBG on the phone yesterday and we both agreed, if NHL13 doesn't majority overhaul presentation and get it to the level we all think it should be at this point to go along with the gameplay, I'm sticking to 12 next year and voting with my wallet.

[Broncos86]

If I had to base my purchase solely on the demo, I'd say I'm not buying NHL12. The gameplay is tweaked, but not $60-tweaked.

[deagledan]

i haven't had the chance to play the demo yet, but judging from the comments, it's basically a rehash of last year's game with a few minor tweaks to make it feel "new."

i might end up getting the game because i am a panthers fan (yes, we do exist lol) and they changed their look, but like a previous poster mentioned, i'm sticking with 12 next year if it's the same deal.

[tyler289]

I guess I just get really peeved with the way they tout their new gameplay features like great AI, revamped goaltenders, "full contact physics"....and then I see pretty much all the exact same game as last year, with something every couple minutes that makes me say, "Wow, that seems pretty new."

I feel EA NHL has gone way downhill ever since the NHL2k series went away. When the two competed, they really improved every year. Now, I feel they're living off the reputation gained from 06-08...

EASHL was a game-changer, but for the most part they put a new "feature" in (BAGM, board play, etc) and then ignore it to focus on online gameplay. They toss in back-of-the-box features that appeal to sim games (deeper BAGM w/ CHL, e.g.), but don't do it 100% or don't address the problems.

I hate that I don't have options anymore. I loved this game up until NHL09, and now I just don't see real significant improvements, anywhere. And don't even get me started on presentation and commentary. What used to be a strong suit has also become the weakest part of the game. No new lines recorded in what, 2 years? In NHL11 I heard about how the Caps need to go from a rebuilding team to a contending team soon. Yawn.

[Armor and Sword]

Played the demo.

Sticking with NHL 11 for a few more years. More than good enough for me.

It feels just about the same. I don't see or feel that much difference. I am a casual hockey fan but I love video game hockey and NHL 11 will give me my fix for years to come.

I loved NHL 09 as it was my first next gen Hockey title. I thought NHL 11 was a nice upgrade and improvement from 09 in the way of physics, board play and face off's.

[HeroWorship]

Am I one of the only people who has enjoyed the demo?

I understand some of the criticism is valid when it comes to EA Sports, and I do agree that the presentation does need a serious revamp, but I have played four games so far, and it has been pretty good. I have my pet peeves when it comes to certain features, but the gameplay does feel better, and it's nice how they fixed the physics on the hitting.

Plus, soft, one-touch passes barley work. That's realistic. I like that part. Funny, because when I first played, the players motions reminded me of NHL 95 for a few moments (a bit clunky, but smooth the rest of the way). I always buy the NHL series every year, and this year will be no different.

I can only cross my fingers that the BeAGM is better. That has been a moot point for me for a few years. They made some strides in NHL 11, but it may have been a bit overkill. I am more an offline gamer, so my hope is their is some serious improvement.

[gopher_guy]

Quote: Originally Posted by HeroWorship

Am I one of the only people who has enjoyed the demo?

Definitely not

I am loving it. This whole thread was pretty positive in the beginning and then turned kinda negative!

I agree with what people are saying about the presentation though. I think we all need to start beating the drum immediately for a presentation/commentary overhaul next year.

If enough people ask for it, you'd think the devs would catch wind of it. Whether or not they will listen/care is a different conversation, but we have to try

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by HeroWorship

Am I one of the only people who has enjoyed the demo? I understand some of the criticism is valid when it comes to EA Sports, and I do agree that the presentation does need a serious revamp, but I have played four games so far, and it has been pretty good. I have my pet peeves when it comes to certain features, but the gameplay does feel better, and it's nice how they fixed the physics on the hitting. Plus, soft, one-touch passes barley work. That's realistic. I like that part. Funny, because when I first played, the players motions reminded me of NHL 95 for a few moments (a bit clunky, but smooth the rest of the way). I always buy the NHL series every year, and this year will be no different. I can only cross my fingers that the BeAGM is better. That has been a moot point for me for a few years. They made some strides in NHL 11, but it may have been a bit overkill. I am more an offline gamer, so my hope is their is some serious improvement.

I'm having fun with it too.
EA hockey is always going to feel the same. The game is still very similar to it's ancestor in NHL92 and especially NHL94. I don't think that's an accident.
And it's not a bad thing. I'm enjoying all the subtle changes they've made this year.
I don't expect perfection, but I think I'll enjoy this game for the season.

But as Gagnon said, I hope the sliders can fix a few things here or there and I expect them too.

Saying that, I'll repeat realmk's thoughts in that NHL13 better overhaul their presentation in a big way. Otherwise, I'll play NHL12 for 2 straight years.
It's 2011, there's no reason why the NHL series presentation has to languish behind so many other sports games the way it does. No excuse at all.