NHL 12 Defensive Upgrades

[jtricoli]

I know NHL 12 is mostly in the can at this point, but I thought I'd take a minute to reiterate some of the vital requirements for the next installment. These suggestions are specific to the defensive gameplay and what needs to be done in order to bring balance back to the game.

1. Tie ups: The biggest defensive gameplay improvement is the ability to tie up an offensive player in the slot. I imagine it could be implemented in many different ways, but I would suggest expanding on the boarding ability to a lesser extent in front of the net. Similar to how board play can result in a penalty if held too long, the same logic could be used for those times jostling down low for position. I've heard FIFA has a similar feature where when two players are in close proximity they automatically tie each other up. While I haven't played FIFA enough to say definitively, it demonstrates EA's recognition of the need in other sports games they control. Whatever they decide, EA needs to realize, relying on the poke check, stick lift or real check in front of the net all the time is not realistic.

2. Goal crease force field: I know the force field around the goalie is a necessary evil, but the force field around the blue paint causes more defensive problems than solutions. Because of the lack of a tie up feature, a missed check down low often results in the d-man sliding around the blue paint and behind the net. If the forcefield wasn't there for d-men, a miss hit would only result in a slight misalignment and not a full fledged out of position d-man.

3. Face up ability: What I'm talking about here is something similar to the vision control feature but rather than facing the puck, you face the man closest to you. This would help solve many of the previously mentioned issues and would be a great addition to the gameplay features for NHL 12. How many times in hockey do you want to face the guy in your zone verses the guy with the puck. While knowing the location of the puck is important, sometimes you just need to focus on the guy right in front of you. This would help line up checks and that pesky guy in front of the net weaving in and out. This could be implemented using the same vision control trigger by pressing it multiple times to cycle through targets. Once for the puck carrier and twice for the guy nearest you. Similar to how you cycle through guys when playing with a friend on the same team.

Each of these gameplay enhancements by themselves would dramatically change the landscape of the NHL franchise and help bring balance back to the game. Taken together, these changes would go a long way towards making NHL 12 one of the best releases in the series.

Jtric

[doovid184]

How about a different kind of hitting in front of the net so you can fight for position without getting an interference penalty.

[jonapaloma]

For every defensive move there should be a move to counter with. For example sticklifts that you can counter. As it is now you cant.

[actionhank]

Tie ups would be amazing. I hate just having to sit and hope your goalie covers it, or you pick up the puck. I hate a play the other day that infuriated me. Halak blocked the shot, but it trickled under him. I wish they would add an animation where they close their legs to try and trap the puck and look around to cover it if it's loose. Anyhow, he started doing the flop on back move, and did it twice. The puck slowly slid slid left of Halak as i tried to maneuver Ian Cole to get the damn thing in the paint. Alas, i watched in pain as Polak skated into the back of the net, and Cole with me controlling him could only skate around and into Halak as Toews skated up and roofed the puck a foot out of the net.
Something to push the puck into the goalie's pads would be nice. Also being able to actually clear it would help too. Half the time when i try "clearing" my guy just weakly wrists it towards the blue line, only to have someone easily pick it up and shoot it on net.

[Vikes1]

I really like the idea of being able to "tie up" an opposing player in the crease area. As of now...for me anyway, I feel kinda helpless to properly defend against opposing players just standing in my crease.

[mazinkaiser]

I'd like to see guys getting tossed out of faceoffs like real life.