NHL 11 News Post

NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

06:32 AM - August 17, 2010 by Lubey

EA Sports NHL 11 demo is now available on Xbox LIVE and the PLAYSTATION Network. Powered by a revolutionary real-time physics engine, the franchise that has won 22 sports game of the year awards over the past three years will showcase two game modes in the demo: Battle for the Cup and the all-new Hockey Ultimate Team.

Battle for the Cup:

In Battle for the Cup, players will experience all the emotion and drama of the third period of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup� Championship between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks. The mode features an all new faceoff system, new quick dekes and the ability to score amazing goals even while lying on the ice.

Hockey Ultimate Team:

The all-new Hockey Ultimate Team brings Online Dynasty play to the EA SPORTS NHL franchise for the first time ever. In the demo, players will be able to pick up a starter pack of cards to build their Ultimate Hockey Team. Take your new team to the ice and play against either the Canadian Hockey League�s Windsor Spitfires, or the NHL�s Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers. Play and win games in the demo with your Ultimate Team and earn up to two additional packs in the full version of NHL 11, when it is released on September 7, 2010.

The demo will also feature an interactive tutorial that will allow those new to the franchise to learn the controls, and allow long-time fans to practice some of the new controls in the game, including Faceoffs.

Game: NHL 11Reader Score: 7.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 36 - View All

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Member Comments

# 361 SinisterAlex @ 08/18/10 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyler289


	I like how frequently the goaltenders auto-freeze the puck. The animations look nice and it prevents me from making stupid passes.

The auto freeze feature is great. Resembles real life hockey a lot.

# 362 The Visualizer @ 08/18/10 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrgom81


	sorry cant search the thread on my phone, but is any one else's goalies giving up really soft goals? I was playing UT and Ryan Miller was my goalie and he let in one shot from center ice and another from the blue line that looked like a dump in..

Haven't had any that bad, but Leighton & Niemi let in all kinds of bad soft goals on any difficulty (I mostly have been playing on Superstar). I played EAUHL on Pro difficulty and all of the goalies were pretty rock solid...? My EAUHL goalie was Ryan Miller too.

Not sure if the problems I am seeing are ratings driven or just bad A.I. as I have been playing pretty good defense and a lot of the bad goals are unscreened, too early to tell, but it's really the only area of the demo I am disappointed in.

# 363 cepwin @ 08/18/10 06:39 PM

I played last night and liked it...I'm glad they added practice for faceoffs as I was awful at them in 10. Still need to work on them and defense...learning how to control the defensive dude. Ultimate team is a trip....I liked it in FIFA 09 and I'm glad they added it.

# 364 Manny_Shevitz @ 08/18/10 06:53 PM

Had to work late last night, so I only got to play a few games, but wow! What a difference this new physics engine is making. I know I'm not the first person to mention this, but the difference between '10 and '11 is really all about how it feels. If you were to watch someone playing this demo, you would probably start wondering what they changed from last year, aside from broken sticks and few more animations. But get that controller in your hands, and you instantly feel just how special this year's game is going to be. There's a flow and a weight to it that just can't be put into words. It's true that the NHL series has continued to improve over the past few years, but I was a little underwhelmed by '10. This new physics engine feels like it was that one big missing piece of the puzzle that the series needed to launch it to the next level of greatness. Also, even with this being just a demo, the game feels like it has a lot more polish all around than the past few years.

Time will tell how deep the new face-off system will be, but from what little I've played, I think it's a good start. Face-offs are something that have needed to be addressed for years.

That's all I've got for now.

# 365 idrisguitar @ 08/18/10 06:54 PM

so you hold trigger for power of pass then?

bit annoyed didn;t communicate this very well, i played the demo for ages today without knowing that, thought the passing was off

any other new controls i should know about, that aren't in the demo tutorials.

and why wouldn;t ea give us an instant replay option. they have a new realtime physics system in the demo and they dont want to allow replays?

# 366 plaidchuck @ 08/18/10 06:56 PM

Well I played a "Rookie/casual" game and put up 6 goals. Good to see considering the goalies were robo even on Rookie last year.. I always like to have a mode where I can just blow off some steam and destroy the game NHL94 style.

# 367 Vince @ 08/18/10 07:39 PM

how do you touch pass

# 368 plaidchuck @ 08/18/10 08:22 PM

Gaaah damn it!! I had a stacked team of Malkin, Getzlaff, Backstrom, Perry, Filppula, Kipper, Markov, and Lidstrom, and of course Kipper lets in a weak goal in OT.

# 369 actionhank @ 08/18/10 08:23 PM

Noticed a neat little thing.
Hossa had i think a 5 point game.
And then after he scored his 3rd goal, he was skating around celebrating.
Then after the play stopped after the next faceoff, it flashed back to him skating around and showed "Marian Hossa's 100th Playoff Point".
Something that that effect.
Pretty nice to see that getting added.

# 370 Redshirt_EA @ 08/18/10 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 06woz


	Qb, while you're here, mind telling me how to do the new toe drag?

Not sure if anyone has responded to this yet, if so sorry for the duplication.

Hold the puck out on the forehand side using the right stick, press and hold LB(/L1) and roll the right stick around the bottom to the other side.

# 371 jb1 @ 08/18/10 08:56 PM

Spent the last few hours playing this and I have to say I really like it. NHL 09 and 10 were my favourite sports games of the last two years and it looks like NHL 11 will be my favourite again this year.

For me while it does look similar to NHL 10 it just feels much better to play, it's hard to describe but it just flows better. It's also nice that I can't just line up by the boards when the AI wingers attack and stop them easily, they have made me look silly on a number of occasions which I really liked.

I am also really liking the new physics coming into play, the hits look and feel great. It's nice that aswell as the monster hits you can just glance an opponent and they will stumble just enough to lose control. I also spent a game storming around with Chara to really test it out and that was fun!

The broken/dropped sticks work pretty well although I did give up a breakaway goal when Markov lost his stick and rather than still defending he just ran to the bench to give up a 2 on 1. To even that up I have also seen defensemen lose their sticks and stay in position to defend without a stick. The best complement I can probably pay the new broken/dropped sticks is that I don't really notice it that much, it's happening often enough but it's not a detriment to the flow of the game at all.

My very first goal was waved off before being overturned which while being great to see was a bit of a concern as I thought I may see it too often, however since then I have not seen another goal waved off in well over 20+ periods.

Nice to see the user celebrations although they clearly need some work to get upto the level of FIFA's user celebrations. Maybe it's just me but the players seem to move un-naturally when using most of the celebrations, either way thats only a minor gripe.

Had a good mess around with the Ultimate Team mode, when it was announced I wrote it off as not being for me but I have to say I enjoyed it. I have never bothered with FIFA's UT mode and while if the Be a GM mode is upto scratch I won't spend a huge amount of time on it i'll probably have a go at it every now and then and will enjoy doing so.

The only downside to playing the demo is realising I and other Europeans will have to wait an extra 10 days to get this game as you know this is a first day purchase for the third straight year.

# 372 CS10029 @ 08/18/10 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb1


	Spent the last few hours playing this and I have to say I really like it. NHL 09 and 10 were my favourite sports games of the last two years and it looks like NHL 11 will be my favourite again this year. For me while it does look similar to NHL 10 it just feels much better to play, it's hard to describe but it just flows better. It's also nice that I can't just line up by the boards when the AI wingers attack and stop them easily, they have made me look silly on a number of occasions which I really liked. I am also really liking the new physics coming into play, the hits look and feel great. It's nice that aswell as the monster hits you can just glance an opponent and they will stumble just enough to lose control. I also spent a game storming around with Chara to really test it out and that was fun! The broken/dropped sticks work pretty well although I did give up a breakaway goal when Markov lost his stick and rather than still defending he just ran to the bench to give up a 2 on 1. To even that up I have also seen defensemen lose their sticks and stay in position to defend without a stick. The best complement I can probably pay the new broken/dropped sticks is that I don't really notice it that much, it's happening often enough but it's not a detriment to the flow of the game at all. My very first goal was waved off before being overturned which while being great to see was a bit of a concern as I thought I may see it too often, however since then I have not seen another goal waved off in well over 20+ periods. Nice to see the user celebrations although they clearly need some work to get upto the level of FIFA's user celebrations. Maybe it's just me but the players seem to move un-naturally when using most of the celebrations, either way thats only a minor gripe. Had a good mess around with the Ultimate Team mode, when it was announced I wrote it off as not being for me but I have to say I enjoyed it. I have never bothered with FIFA's UT mode and while if the Be a GM mode is upto scratch I won't spend a huge amount of time on it i'll probably have a go at it every now and then and will enjoy doing so. The only downside to playing the demo is realising I and other Europeans will have to wait an extra 10 days to get this game as you know this is a first day purchase for the third straight year.

Really nice post, summed up pretty much how I feel also.

I've probably played 50 periods at this point. I can't wait for this to come out. This is demo actually has some nice replay value to it too, your team ends up being different every time
you start Ultimate Team. I've only gotten Malkin once or twice.

EDIT- I just realized I hate when people, quote really big posts, to make really small posts. I just did that... Ha.

# 373 ryhuz99 @ 08/18/10 09:10 PM

did they get rid of slashing? in nhl 10 u hold left trigger and Y and u could slash people!! i miss it!

# 374 kerosene31 @ 08/18/10 09:26 PM

Finally got a good number of periods in. Allstar difficulty playing for the Cup.

Honestly I wasn't expecting a big difference from NHL10, but this year feels...better. I just don't quite know how to describe it. In a few ways it reminds me of the skating in a different hockey game way back when.

-The new hitting rocks. As a d-man in BAP, all my replays are going to be big hits. (save the hot dog goals for all you cherry pickers).

-The new skating rocks. Sometimes a small change has a big impact.

-Faceoffs... WOW. Not much else to say. I might have to make a center BAP just to take draws, as I will miss out on them on the blueline.

-AI - tough to judge early on, but definitely some improvements. My CPU teammates moved around more on offense without having to draw up a play. I'm a little torn on the defense. They hold their position better, but seemingly sometimes too passively. Instead of going after a loose puck, they circle back to stay home. Overall this predictability will probably play a little better, but sometimes it can look goofy.

The CPU does not give up the middle of the ice easily which makes the game more challenging.

-Skating boost - this really worried me when I heard it, however in the demo I think things are pretty well done. You can use an extra stride or two to get away from a check, but it isn't over the top. I think I'll like it (assuming we don't see 5'8" guys going 300 mph in the EASHL)

-Passing - not crazy about it, but still getting used to it.

-Puck physics seem improved.

Now, things I don't like:

-The line change menu is SOOOOO SLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWW. Hopefully this is just a demo glitch or something with auto changes? Changes on the fly are going to be extremely tough if not.

-The CPU still has a bit of a puck magnet. Sometimes a good poke check will barely bother them as the puck stays with them in stride. Sometimes they can seemingly stickhandle right through the skates of your d-man (even great ones).

-Hopefully there is a way to not skate backwards. With the speed burst, the D seem to be easy to catch backpedaling and most can't possibly keep up going the wrong way. They do a pretty good job of pushing the player wide, but you can still make a big S-turn in front of them and shoot.

# 375 SinisterAlex @ 08/18/10 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerosene31


	-Passing - not crazy about it, but still getting used to it.

The passing in this game is set to the Manual Passing, and it can't be turned off in the demo. However, it can be turned off in the full game so you can go back to the NHL 10 style passing.

I used to hate Manual Passing, but after using it in this demo, I can't go back.

# 376 kerosene31 @ 08/18/10 09:33 PM

Ahhh thanks. I usually end up playing in "normal" mode as that is what the EASHL uses.

# 377 actionhank @ 08/18/10 09:57 PM

I like that the puck coming off of players sticks is a lot less predictable.
You don't exactly know when a hit or check will knock the puck loose.
Also, i love that the push puck trigger is no longer essentially a "give other team the puck" button.
I've actually had break aways where using the push puck, and the sprinting i've been able to squeak through defenders and get a shot on net.
All these little changes have breathed some fresh breath into the game.
It was getting a bit stale for me in NHL10.

# 378 CS10029 @ 08/18/10 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerosene31


	Ahhh thanks. I usually end up playing in "normal" mode as that is what the EASHL uses.

Also, you can take back skate off, it's under controller settings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealmK


	I swear, I think QB and I were like the only two people that actually liked manual passing last year. Seriously like you said once you get really used to it, theres no going back.

I liked it last year, but felt it needed a little more work. Safe to say, I'll be using it this year.

# 379 bukktown @ 08/18/10 10:21 PM

How do they find the time to add so much into the game?

# 380 SinisterAlex @ 08/18/10 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealmK


	I swear, I think QB and I were like the only two people that actually liked manual passing last year. Seriously like you said once you get really used to it, theres no going back.

Haha I agree. I don't think I liked it last year because the passing was just too random if that makes any sort of sense. In other words, I didn't want to control the speed of my pass and the direction it went, I just wanted to hit the pass trigger and get the puck to my other player.

But now I'm loving the Manual Pass. It really helps in certain situations especially getting the puck through skates and sticks. Holding that trigger down long enough and letting go gets that puck through sticks and skates really well with the puck going hard to the next stick. Hopefully they'll have some EASHL/OTP lobby for manual passing in NHL 11!

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