NHL 12 News Post

NHL 12 Updated Hands-On Preview

08:17 PM - July 11, 2011 by ChaseB

At E3, I got my first chance to play NHL 12. I came away relatively impressed by the gameplay additions, but at the same time, I was absolutely terrified by how the games themselves were playing out on the ice. The checks were out of hand, glass was breaking during every period, and essentially it was more like NHL Hitz 12 than NHL 12.

Thankfully, sanity has returned in a post-E3 environment. The developers have tuned the game to bring it more in line with what you might actually see in an NHL arena, and this has excited me all over again for EA's annual hockey franchise. In short, I'm finally getting to see what NHL 12 is all about on the ice.

Read More - NHL 12 Updated Hands-On Preview

Game: NHL 12Reader Score: 7.5/10 - Vote Now
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Member Comments

# 1 sroz39 @ 07/11/11 08:48 PM

Great write up, Chase. Appreciate the honesty. As it stands, it's still the one game I look forward to most every year. Interested to see how all these changes to the goalie play out in OTP/EASHL play, as that's where I play the majority of the time. The POTENTIAL is there for this to be the most organic online experience in this series yet. Can't wait to find out.

# 2 Money99 @ 07/11/11 09:30 PM

Great write-up Chase.
I loved hearing how you felt certain players had different strengths and the strategy that goes with those advantages.
Can you comment if you saw the CPU use it's players accordingly as well? Did you notice playing against a bruising defenseman compared to a more passive, slick dman (Chara vs Lidstrom)?
Or what about the different type of forwards? Did you see a difference between a sniping forward, a playmaker or a grinder?
Thanks!

# 3 BaylorBearBryant @ 07/11/11 10:22 PM

I love me some EA NHL. Can't wait!

# 4 Flamesfan102 @ 07/11/11 10:40 PM

Great write-up Chase! I appreciate you being through and detailed in your impressions.

# 5 Vikes1 @ 07/12/11 02:13 AM

Thanks Chase for the straight forward write up. Always refreshing to read reviews that cover the good...and the maybe not quite as good things.

What I'm kinda sensing is, that NHL'12' may not be a breakthrough release. But at least another good effort outta EA Canada. I'll be in line on 9/13.

# 6 DirtyJerz32 @ 07/12/11 02:18 AM

Nice write up Chase. Question you may be able to answer, is there a broadcast cam in this year? They really need to add this. I hope they did.

# 7 jaiman @ 07/12/11 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyJerz32


	Nice write up Chase. Question you may be able to answer, is there a broadcast cam in this year? They really need to add this. I hope they did.

Great question. I would like to know this too.

# 8 kai123 @ 07/12/11 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaiman


	Great question. I would like to know this too.

From the EA stage demo video it seems like they didn't add the correct broadcast camera angle.

# 9 Tatguy80 @ 07/12/11 07:49 AM

Sounds like the AI has somewhat improved. Hopefully this will make playing BAP funner.

# 10 FBeaule04 @ 07/12/11 10:42 AM

This game as to be dissect in two parts. Offline and Online. As for the online part, like always, it will come down to play something that ressemble to hockey, but with danglefest, glitchfest and stupidfest. I don't expect anything less than what we saw in 09-10-11 in OTP/EASHL.

For the offline part it's different. The game was so bad in 11 (I won't get start again on the AI, I sound like a broken record) for offliners that I'm expecting a better effort from EA. I have my doubt after seeing that the focus was on things like goalies fight, broken glass and goalies collision!

From what I read, It's seems the AI is improving, but like last year, it took us 2 weeks of playing (especially BaP goalie) to see that this game was a major fail. I guess we will have the answer around late september to see if EA did test that game for the AI play this time around and that "anticipation" AI is worth it.

# 11 johnprestonevans @ 07/12/11 11:20 AM

I fear that this is the year that NHL is no longer the defacto #1 sports game as it has been for nearly 5 years now. The big issue seems to be its TV-broadcast presentation - or lack thereof. I think the NHL team has played it safe these past few seasons since establishing arguably one of the best playing sports games of this generation. Marginal improvements to the AI and physics engine are most welcome, but I feel like NHL has looked the same as it did a few years ago. I know there have been new animations and minimal graphical upgrades since 09, but nothing drastic. The biggest problems now are with the out-of-date camera system, repetitive commentary and abscence of true telecast elements that many leading-edge sports games are incorporating into their product.

I loved NHL these last few years, but its begining to show its age. None of the changes this year sound like they are improving enough to make me involunarily spend $60. Im tired of the same looking, and generally same playing game every year. Its a fun pick up and play sports game for sure, but I'm happy with playing the 3 year old version I own. The EA NHL team needs to blow out its TV style presentation - badly.

# 12 jaiman @ 07/12/11 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai123


	From the EA stage demo video it seems like they didn't add the correct broadcast camera angle.

I didn't get to see this stage demo. Did they actually show the game playing in broadcast mode?

Come on EA. Are we really asking for too much?

# 13 Vikes1 @ 07/12/11 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnprestonevans


	I fear that this is the year that NHL is no longer the defacto #1 sports game as it has been for nearly 5 years now. The big issue seems to be its TV-broadcast presentation - or lack thereof. I think the NHL team has played it safe these past few seasons since establishing arguably one of the best playing sports games of this generation. Marginal improvements to the AI and physics engine are most welcome, but I feel like NHL has looked the same as it did a few years ago. I know there have been new animations and minimal graphical upgrades since 09, but nothing drastic. The biggest problems now are with the out-of-date camera system, repetitive commentary and abscence of true telecast elements that many leading-edge sports games are incorporating into their product. I loved NHL these last few years, but its begining to show its age. None of the changes this year sound like they are improving enough to make me involunarily spend $60. Im tired of the same looking, and generally same playing game every year. Its a fun pick up and play sports game for sure, but I'm happy with playing the 3 year old version I own. The EA NHL team needs to blow out its TV style presentation - badly.

You know John...I found myself nodding my head more than once while reading your post.

At least the impression that I'm getting out of Chase's review is...[not to put words in Chase's mouth]...that nothing about the game really impressed him too much. And I'm personally thinking that just possibly, the NHL game maybe losing a bit of the momentum it's built up the last few years.

The NHL game the last few years has been mentioned by quite a few sport gamers, in the same breath as some of the best sport games out there. Ie...The Show, NBA2K, FIFA. I hate to think that the NHL game may possibly be allowed is slip out of such lofty company.

The NHL game is currently, the only sports game I play. So obviously I dig the heck out of it...and am looking forward to 9/13. But again...I guess I'm just hoping that EA Canada isn't getting a bit too comfortable with this imo, excellent sports game.

# 14 kerosene31 @ 07/12/11 05:11 PM

Time will tell (and a demo!). However the thing that made NHL 11 great was a bunch of little things all tied together.

# 15 kai123 @ 07/12/11 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaiman


	I didn't get to see this stage demo. Did they actually show the game playing in broadcast mode? Come on EA. Are we really asking for too much?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycd0v...layer_embedded

Check around the 3:00 mark. It looks to be the same old camera angle but I could be wrong

# 16 jaiman @ 07/12/11 07:04 PM

I must have missed that video. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that angle looks much improved! I could work with that one if that is not just a replay camera.

# 17 Vikes1 @ 07/12/11 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaiman


	I must have missed that video.

I also missed seeing this video.

The thing I was really watching for was how aggressive the cpu was defensively. And overall, I think it is better with what I saw in this video. The cpu players, defensemen and back checking forwards....at least seem to be more aggressive towards the human puck carrier. Kinda happy with what I saw.

# 18 SinisterAlex @ 07/12/11 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai123


	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycd0v...layer_embedded Check around the 3:00 mark. It looks to be the same old camera angle but I could be wrong

That clip to me looks like just a reply not an actual "camera". The camera stays in one spot and doesn't move at all.

# 19 plaidchuck @ 07/12/11 11:17 PM

My biggest problem is that meat and potato things like dump and chase and defense 101 still don't look right in the videos.. sometimes I think this should be the "KHL" series..

# 20 ChaseB @ 07/13/11 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pringles


	they really need to put a camera in the net for realism especially with all the contact that will happen with the new goalie physx and replays to decide if the goal stands or not. i mean with us being able to now make contact with the goalie and the net can come off its mournings this will make goal review a lot more interesting and the best replay view is the overhead or the one in the net.

I mean I don't think that would work from a gameplay standpoint, but it's just one of a billion things that could add to the presentation. I love those shots where the in-net camera shows the goalie being crashed into on replays.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money99


	Great write-up Chase. I loved hearing how you felt certain players had different strengths and the strategy that goes with those advantages. Can you comment if you saw the CPU use it's players accordingly as well? Did you notice playing against a bruising defenseman compared to a more passive, slick dman (Chara vs Lidstrom)? Or what about the different type of forwards? Did you see a difference between a sniping forward, a playmaker or a grinder? Thanks!

I still mostly played human versus human games. I also didn't really play against any "iconic" defensemen that would really stick out besides Doughty -- but, again, I was the Kings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyJerz32


	Nice write up Chase. Question you may be able to answer, is there a broadcast cam in this year? They really need to add this. I hope they did.

I should have written this one down since I think people asked about this at E3 as well, but I just forgot. So the answer is, not sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnprestonevans


	I fear that this is the year that NHL is no longer the defacto #1 sports game as it has been for nearly 5 years now. The big issue seems to be its TV-broadcast presentation - or lack thereof. I think the NHL team has played it safe these past few seasons since establishing arguably one of the best playing sports games of this generation. Marginal improvements to the AI and physics engine are most welcome, but I feel like NHL has looked the same as it did a few years ago. I know there have been new animations and minimal graphical upgrades since 09, but nothing drastic. The biggest problems now are with the out-of-date camera system, repetitive commentary and abscence of true telecast elements that many leading-edge sports games are incorporating into their product. I loved NHL these last few years, but its begining to show its age. None of the changes this year sound like they are improving enough to make me involunarily spend $60. Im tired of the same looking, and generally same playing game every year. Its a fun pick up and play sports game for sure, but I'm happy with playing the 3 year old version I own. The EA NHL team needs to blow out its TV style presentation - badly.

I continually make a general point with sports games, so I should probably just reiterate it here. What the NHL team is doing is smart from my perspective. They have a clear idea about where they want to go with gameplay, and they clearly put lots of their resources there for the tech and general development of the on-ice action.

From there, they seem to look at modes and other things dealing with longevity of the product. After that, then it seems like presentation comes into play.

Again, I love presentation, and I absolutely believe they should be doing more (WAY more), but it still has to be a secondary objective when compared to some of those other things above. And, then as for the folks who talk about a lack of evolution, I feel like you get the base and you build on that base. NBA 2K, NHL, The Show -- I probably would even throw FIFA in there as well now -- are titles that have thrived and become beloved for sticking to their core concepts and building on them on a yearly basis rather than going for these "massive" headline changes on a yearly basis. Sometimes it means you get less press and so forth -- or more misunderstanding in the general public -- because there's not as much to tout on the gameplay front, but it doesn't mean there are not sizable differences at work that are certainly changing gameplay for the better.

That being said, I'm not saying you can't just enjoy an old NHL title from this generation. They are way different at this point to me, but I certainly still have some fun with an older NHL title -- the series does age relatively well for a sports game.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vikes1


	At least the impression that I'm getting out of Chase's review is...[not to put words in Chase's mouth]...that nothing about the game really impressed him too much. And I'm personally thinking that just possibly, the NHL game maybe losing a bit of the momentum it's built up the last few years. The NHL game is currently, the only sports game I play. So obviously I dig the heck out of it...and am looking forward to 9/13. But again...I guess I'm just hoping that EA Canada isn't getting a bit too comfortable with this imo, excellent sports game.

I don't mind if you put the words in as long as I can spit them out.

I think another thing at work here is that NBA 2K and The Show, specifically, clearly believe in the TV-style presentation and focus on it a lot. I would argue that neither title really can stand up to what NHL does in the online space both in terms of bringing folks back on a daily basis and in-game performance -- and that's even without a long-term online Be a GM mode, which makes it more impressive in my book -- so it could be a matter of priorities at work here once again.

The NHL guys have never struck me as folks who are just taking it easy. My writing style for previews is just to be relatively down the middle and timid. I write this way because of the general lack of extended hands-on time, so I don't want to lead readers on or anything because it's still sort of a guessing game when writing a preview. I'll write about what I see rather than what I'm told, and, for the most part, I'll try to avoid "projecting" how the end product will look. However, I don't want it to seem like the changes in this year's game couldn't be absolutely huge. Traits/Anticipation could change things in a big way for AI; the physicality around the net could add a whole new layer to the game in OTP while adding new ways to play, score and interact down low; the physics changes could increase "wow" moments while decreasing checking and adding so much more nuance to the title.

BUT

Without extensive playtime, and seeing how it affects AI games, human vs. human and OTP, it's hard to really get too excited or too down before the game actually is released.

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