NHL 13 Video - Gameplay, New Broadcast View Included

[Fiddy]

let me say, i really liked what i saw in general. the way the players were moving, staying in position, playing to their strategy. the PK'ers staying in lanes and not just running around and being way to aggressive. everything just looks better..

buuuuut...

Quote: Originally Posted by Chad0034

The only thing I think that might end up being a problem is that backwards skating. I think a lot of people are going to take advantage of the AI with that, and it'll make for a lot of easy opportunities. Hopefully not, but just from that video, thats my prediction. Other than that I like what I see.

agree with the above..

it seems all the scoring comes from skating backwards for a second or so. that can be done this year as well. why are they acting like skating backwards like that is new? just bc of the animations? i see 2 or 3 of the same moves working on the goalie as usual. hope that is tuned so they dont go in as much.

but all in all, i liked what i have seen. much better than in years past for sure.

[adayinthelife]

Looks pretty decent gameplay wise, interested to get my hands on it.

I'm also confused about all the talk about skating backwards... Haven't we had this capability since 08 or 09, just labeled as "vision control"? I know I've been using it to cycle defensemen along the blue line and such for years in this series.

Here's hoping there are also some good presentation upgrades that we're just not seeing yet. I agree with the folks saying gameplay first, but I'm also getting a little tired of playing the same looking game 6 years in a row.

[Tomba]

haven't gotten NHL for years...This will be fun!

[Segagendude]

Quote: Originally Posted by gomito#10

the problem is that still not one player ever screws up receiving the pass or trapping the puck... always a perfect touch, same thing when any player is skating with the puck... that means to me almost every player will have a simliar feel bar speed, which really leaves out any type of individuality for the players and leaves the game feeling of no soul.... Seems to run amouck in all EA games

It's on default, which is probably meant to be easy for beginners..

Is it me, or does the broadcast cam look the same as it always did?

[Cycloniac]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tomba

haven't gotten NHL for years...This will be fun!

If you do indeed pick up NHL 13, will we be looking forward to any of your roster/slider edits? I've seen what you've bin doing with 2K and have since been interested in how you'd approach the NHL series.

[Cycloniac]

Quote: Originally Posted by Segagendude

It's on default, which is probably meant to be easy for beginners.. Is it me, or does the broadcast cam look the same as it always did?

Yes, because there are actually two broadcast cams now. You saw the old one, and they show the new one during maybe the last 10 secohds or so, right after the old one.

[Cycloniac]

Quote: Originally Posted by adayinthelife

Looks pretty decent gameplay wise, interested to get my hands on it. I'm also confused about all the talk about skating backwards... Haven't we had this capability since 08 or 09, just labeled as "vision control"? I know I've been using it to cycle defensemen along the blue line and such for years in this series. Here's hoping there are also some good presentation upgrades that we're just not seeing yet. I agree with the folks saying gameplay first, but I'm also getting a little tired of playing the same looking game 6 years in a row.

I hope and pray that they finally addressed presentation. What have they honestly done since NHL 09? Most of the intros are the same, they're missing arena licenses, goal celebrations have been dry and have worsened since NHL 10... BAGM lacks immersion...and yet NCAA, even Madden's presentation's improved.

EA needs to step up with presentation in this year's NHL game. The new broadcast camera is nice and I like the dynamic real-time presentation (no cutscenes) idea, but that won't be enough. Gameplay is first priority, but without presentation, what do you have?

Simply put: hockey, and all sports is half game, half pagentry. If you only have the gameplay, it's really an incomplete product.

[bwiggy33]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fiddy

let me say, i really liked what i saw in general. the way the players were moving, staying in position, playing to their strategy. the PK'ers staying in lanes and not just running around and being way to aggressive. everything just looks better.. buuuuut... agree with the above.. it seems all the scoring comes from skating backwards for a second or so. that can be done this year as well. why are they acting like skating backwards like that is new? just bc of the animations? i see 2 or 3 of the same moves working on the goalie as usual. hope that is tuned so they dont go in as much. but all in all, i liked what i have seen. much better than in years past for sure.

100% agreed. That final goal that was scored in the video where Sharp, Kane, or whoever scored by skating backwards into the slot and ripping one home with guys on top of him scares the absolute hell out of me. I'm pretty sure that will be glitch number one for online, but since I don't play online any more I shouldn't have to worry about it.

The game definitely looks different though, which is good because it needed serious change. The goalies also looked pretty good (they still move funny and warp but I won't get into that) with the different types of saves. Quick's save was actually extremely reminiscent of the playoffs. Overall it looks like it's a step in the right direction. Playing the demo will be the biggest indicator on what to think of the game though. It's nice to at least see some footage though.

BTW that PK was sweet. I don't think there will be anymore start from the corner, easily beat the defender and tee up a slapper from the slot everytime on the powerplay against the AI. That is huge for this game. If the strategies all work how they should, this change alone will make this game leaps better.