NHL 13 Video - Defensive Gameplay

[cptnclutch28]

Well as a primary goaltender is a reassuring to know the the defense in front of my whether is be CPU or human should be drastically improved. I've really liked everything that I've seen so far and hope that this game lives up to they hype that it has created

[Weapon X]

Quote: Originally Posted by cptnclutch28

Well as a primary goaltender is a reassuring to know the the defense in front of my whether is be CPU or human should be drastically improved. I've really liked everything that I've seen so far and hope that this game lives up to they hype that it has created

Completely agree. My yearly goalie BAP experience will hopefully be much improved with these upgrades to the defensive AI.

WX

[bukktown]

Looks like its gonna be a lot of banked and saucer passes this year. All the passes near a defender were magnet-deflected away. It looked a little silly. I'll take that over the previous passing through players especially through the neutral zone and the slot.

But seriously who skates backwards down low at even strength? I didn't notice if they were on the PP or not. I gotta watch it again.

Edit.... I watched again and it was the part around 2:55 that I was talking about. What was the Anaheim RW doing just standing there? Somebody help me out with hockey rules, if some d-bag is skating out from the corner backwards are you not allowed to hit him in the back lol!

I'm just trying to understand what happened there.

[JezFranco]

Quote: Originally Posted by gator3guy

I don't like the "push the puck" animation. It's like the puck is on a string.

This is what worries me a bit as well... and it looks like it's happening to fast as well.
The guy recieves the puck standing still, and immediately goes into push puck animation.
Maybe we need to learn to not push the stick at max when we wanna have better control instead of speed, but it seems a little to easy to go into "top end speed" mode by accident.




On a another note, notice in the end there where Rammer mentions the defender goes into a "controlled glide" which [then] "triggers the automatic shot block".
I wonder if that means something new on the old shot block buttons, or if they just kept the dive there.

[jake19ny]

Looks great and kind of what we were all asking for. The backwards skate did look silly and over the top, but as someone mentioned it was the user controlled player doing it, I didnt notice the CPU players going bonkers with it. Two things that worry me.
1) As good as the defense played in that video not once in that whole video did the CPU players tie up the opposition on the boards. This feature has been around a few years and the CPU never used it and did not in that video. I wanted to see more board battles with multiple players.
2) We all want more loose pucks and better D, but as a result the shots are going to go way down. I had enough trouble getting realistic shot totals and Save Pct for my goalies in past NHL games playing 10 min periods. May have to start playing 20 min periods.
Hope it does not sound like I'm complaining because I think the game is going to be leaps and bounds better than last year.

[Simple Mathematics]

Quote: Originally Posted by jake19ny

Looks great and kind of what we were all asking for. The backwards skate did look silly and over the top, but as someone mentioned it was the user controlled player doing it, I didnt notice the CPU players going bonkers with it. Two things that worry me. 1) As good as the defense played in that video not once in that whole video did the CPU players tie up the opposition on the boards. This feature has been around a few years and the CPU never used it and did not in that video. I wanted to see more board battles with multiple players. 2) We all want more loose pucks and better D, but as a result the shots are going to go way down. I had enough trouble getting realistic shot totals and Save Pct for my goalies in past NHL games playing 10 min periods. May have to start playing 20 min periods. Hope it does not sound like I'm complaining because I think the game is going to be leaps and bounds better than last year.

I'm glad that shot totals are going to be down. I played with pretty much everyone's sliders on here (TNK's were my favorite), and I was still getting around 50 shots per game. That is just ridiculous, so I'm really glad that the AI defense is going to be better.

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by jake19ny

Looks great and kind of what we were all asking for. The backwards skate did look silly and over the top, but as someone mentioned it was the user controlled player doing it, I didnt notice the CPU players going bonkers with it. Two things that worry me. 1) As good as the defense played in that video not once in that whole video did the CPU players tie up the opposition on the boards. This feature has been around a few years and the CPU never used it and did not in that video. I wanted to see more board battles with multiple players. 2) We all want more loose pucks and better D, but as a result the shots are going to go way down. I had enough trouble getting realistic shot totals and Save Pct for my goalies in past NHL games playing 10 min periods. May have to start playing 20 min periods. Hope it does not sound like I'm complaining because I think the game is going to be leaps and bounds better than last year.

That might depend on slider settings. I also play 10 minute periods on SS and most of the time shot totals are in the 20's-30's for both teams, unless one team is dominating. Granted this is in 12 without the AI and looser puck improvments.

[Qb]

First off, I'm also leery of the ease of backskating, both in the transition and the speed/agility of it. However, I hear it's fairly easy to knock the puck away from someone when they do it by poke or body contact. In fact, from what I was told, it's easier to knock the puck away in general. Still, I'm going to beg Redshirt to push for somewhat limiting backskating ability when in possession of the puck.

Another observation... I have a very hard time evaluating the video because of the puck shadow. I can't believe how weird it looks any time the puck is in motion.

Quote: Originally Posted by MitchStan

As a matter of fact I wish they would show a video of the things that happen when you try to do to much with the non-superstar players. True skating sounds great, but let see what happens Mike Rupp tries to make a cut like he was Ovechkin.

I hear good things about this, at least on hardcore settings. Another tasty morsel about hardcore (as of this moment)... it's nearly impossible to complete a close range bullet pass.

Quote: Originally Posted by JezFranco

On a another note, notice in the end there where Rammer mentions the defender goes into a "controlled glide" which [then] "triggers the automatic shot block". I wonder if that means something new on the old shot block buttons, or if they just kept the dive there.

I hear there is a new contextual auto shot block. Should help to cut down on shot totals, and as you know if you watch the NHL, shot blocking is a HUGE part of the defensive game now. Could be a great addition if implemented well.