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

# 161 ComaFaction @ 08/17/10 06:16 PM

A few observations from my first hour with the demo:

- Came in one-on-one and tried the jump deke just to see what it looked like. My player jumped right into the defeseman who essentially body-slammed me to the ice. I burst out laughing at that one.

- Had the AI ring one off both posts and stay out (was pretty cool). All in all, the puck physics seem better.

- I tied my games twice in the final 10 seconds playing HUT. Almost seemed like the CPU was allowing me a second life.

- You can definitely snipe with snap shots now which is awesome. I had a beauty off-wing snapper with Malkin. Also scored on a bomb from the point with Chara. One cool thing during my game vs. the Spitfires, their goaltender allowed 3 goals blocker side. One of them he stabbed at with his blocker and missed. The other one, Chara zipped it right under. Don't know if it was coincedence, but it seemed like his achilles.

- The broken/dropped sticks are very organic and nicely done. Cool to see Hossa get leveled and quickly go get his stick and rejoin on the backcheck.

# 162 AlexOvechkin @ 08/17/10 06:19 PM

lol, it was available 5mins after my post. thanks guys

# 163 ComaFaction @ 08/17/10 06:20 PM

One other thing I loved, was the subtle reactions to penalties. I got called for a slash that barely impeded Sharp at all. Also had a trip where Chara fell and slid but recovered while still sliding. Looked awesome.

# 164 TreyIM2 @ 08/17/10 06:47 PM

Yea, it's definitely now avail for the PS3. Gotta love these long d-load times on the PS3....

# 165 Jgainsey @ 08/17/10 06:50 PM

Sweetness!

I'll be enjoying this bad boy is approximately...

600 minutes.

# 166 SinisterAlex @ 08/17/10 06:54 PM

Are there any contract cards the Ultimate Team demo? I had three guys who finished their contracts. I replaced two of them with scratched players, but I'm out of scratched players and I have no one to replace my second line d-man with. I can't find contract cards anywhere... all I can find are Training Cards.

# 167 FKJ22 @ 08/17/10 06:55 PM

I absolutely love the authentic puck size and shadow that makes this game awesome, its in the visual options...cant wait for sept...

# 168 BlueNGold @ 08/17/10 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtomicLegend


	Are there any contract cards the Ultimate Team demo?

Don't think so. Only training cards.

Speaking of UT, do we all get random cards or the same ones in the demo? Curious because I had a pretty beastly team with Tavares, Hall, Eberle, Myers, Subban, Hodgson, Braydon Schenn, Nik Lidstrom and Cory Schneider.

# 169 onlybygrace @ 08/17/10 07:00 PM

For those who are playing on Superstar...

I've watched some gameplay vids on the Youtubez and the CPU looks weak on Offense...now I'm assuming they are playing on lower difficulties.

How is the CPU attack on Superstar???

# 170 tyler289 @ 08/17/10 07:26 PM

Chris Pronger isn't ugly enough.

# 171 tyler289 @ 08/17/10 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlybygrace


	For those who are playing on Superstar... I've watched some gameplay vids on the Youtubez and the CPU looks weak on Offense...now I'm assuming they are playing on lower difficulties. How is the CPU attack on Superstar???

CPU scored 3 goals in 2 periods against me. Put up a lot of chances, too.

My first thoughts on the game:

-I can see why videos don't do the game justice, most of the changes are subtle.
-AI is definitely better, on both sides
-Faceoffs are AWESOME!
-Authentic puck/no shadow = freakin sweet
-Didn't see playoff beards. Didn't someone say this was in? I was kinda hoping it would be but not a big deal and maybe it was a demo.
-Thorne and Clement need to either be replaced or record a lot of new lines
-Goalies are better! Saw a lot of small new animations

# 172 MizzouBravesFan @ 08/17/10 07:36 PM

So having not played NHL 10, coming straight from NHL 09 this game feels completely different and I love it.

The way the players move and the fluidity of the on the ice action is flat out awesome...I might be in the minority but I like the weighed down slow feeling of the game.

Goalies seem much improved too...they'll make saves but I never once got the "robo goalie" feeling or that I couldn't score, hard to explain but it felt right.

Broken and dropped sticks really add a new element to the game and not in a cheesy way IMO...again another very well implemented feature.

All in all, I'm super impressed and cannot wait for the game now...it's a must buy IMO.

# 173 Gagnon39 @ 08/17/10 07:38 PM

Where are the final patches?

# 174 tyler289 @ 08/17/10 07:40 PM

I didn't see one broken stick in 2 periods + 2 OTs. Forgot they were even in there. Glad to see it! Didn't want it to be too frequent.

# 175 Gagnon39 @ 08/17/10 07:43 PM

Also, has anyone noticed how small the Stanley Cup is? What the crap? Not that big of deal because you'll hardly ever see it. But still. And while I'm at it... the Flyers have an 86 on their defensive rating the the Hawks have a 85!? Really!? WTF? Sorry, Philly, no way in hell. We lost one defenseman who played a limited role. Ridiculous.

# 176 Rattler17 @ 08/17/10 07:45 PM

OH EM GEE that's all i can say lol. The new face-off engine is amazing, body checking has never felt been so gratifying i mean you hit a guy who doesn't see it coming into the boards and he is just plain old done for. The celebration (even though that completely ruined the surprise of winning the cup) is solid and the announcers don't seem to get in the way as much as last year. My only real complaint is like most seasons and that's the fan animations in the stands, they seem to robotic in the fact that they all swing their towels in the exact same fashion but thats just a petty thing. The overall game absolutely destroys 2k's game this year once again.

# 177 theglory @ 08/17/10 07:59 PM

Another nice small thing I noticed, face off formations are not a hidden option anymore.

# 178 The Visualizer @ 08/17/10 08:02 PM

Just finished playing 3 games, liking what I am seeing

one cool thing I saw that hasn't been mentioned is that players jump up to avoid blocking screened shots, scoring on a nice screened slapper with Pronger, one of the Flyers who was parked in front of Niemi jumped up like you see sometimes in real life, nice touch

A.I. seems improved, 3 periods isn't enough to make a real judgment, but they still allowed me to walk the puck into their almost everytime and I haven't been impressed by the goalie A.I., they still have no idea what to do when you skate directly across the crease from behind the net or from the corner

# 179 kayto @ 08/17/10 08:07 PM

I play with overhead cam and is it just me or is the ice surface smaller....went back to nhl10 and there seems to be a big diff!?

# 180 Uncle Stumpy @ 08/17/10 08:18 PM

Meh. I'm sure no one will read this because I'm about the 500 th comment. I'm not overly impressed. 8/10 maybe. Compared to the nhl 10 demo I'm very unimpressed. Presentation needs a huge makeover. I'm tired of seeing a replay after every whistle. I'd rather see brief player bios as players get in scrums...something...ANYTHING but replays after every whistle.Good gameplay is nice, ubt presentation is very important in video games.

I'll buy it on the 7th, but I dunno...the hype is definitely not matching the game

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