NHL 12 News Post

NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

05:52 AM - August 23, 2011 by Steve_OS

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NHL 12 demo is available now, please play a few games and post your impressions here. The demo weighs in at 1.34 GB. Available now for 360, later this afternoon for PS3.

UPDATE: PS3 demo is available now.

What's included in the demo? Check out the NHL 12 demo announcement blog.

Game: NHL 12Reader Score: 7.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 26 - View All

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Member Comments

# 181 Vikes1 @ 08/23/11 09:47 PM

Kinda neat that most of us are enjoying what we're seeing with the demo.

I'm going to get a bit more practicing in, before my son and I go on a..."Demo playing till our eyes blur"...gaming night!

Like some others have said, and I agree...that it's the collection of the "little things", that seem to be making a very nice difference so far with the demo. Really looking forward to the retail version!

# 182 jyoung @ 08/23/11 10:02 PM

Which players are you guys using to check people through the glass?

I was playing all day but haven't seen it happen yet.

# 183 Gagnon39 @ 08/23/11 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wEEman33


	Which players are you guys using to check people through the glass? I was playing all day but haven't seen it happen yet.

Hopefully this never happens but if the demo is any indication, you can use just about anyone. In the games I've played Zdeno Chara is getting leveled by the Sedin twins. This game needs some serious slider work.

# 184 HHHBigFan @ 08/23/11 10:24 PM

I haven't read through this whole thread

but is anybody else having ALOT of goals scored on slap shots?

I've had 3 in 10 mins of gametime

# 185 MiNiDiTkA @ 08/23/11 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wEEman33


	Which players are you guys using to check people through the glass? I was playing all day but haven't seen it happen yet.

Same here. I've used both teams and have hit everyone in sight and still nothing

# 186 gopher_guy @ 08/23/11 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gagnon39


	Hopefully this never happens but if the demo is any indication, you can use just about anyone. In the games I've played Zdeno Chara is getting leveled by the Sedin twins. This game needs some serious slider work.

Is anybody else experiencing this?

Every game I've played (5, all playing as Boston), Chara has been a dominating force. He clobbers anyone in sight, I don't think I've seen him get checked to the ground yet.

# 187 LM1213 @ 08/23/11 10:56 PM

I never really played NHL game. I'm more of basketball 2k man. however, with picking it up and giving it a try I gotta say it was a lot more fun that I expected. I don't know squat about hockey so I wouldn't be able to notice what was not right. I had to look at the controls a little to learn how to switch players, do a shuffle pass (whatever it's called with the RB button), do a normal pass and put the puck out a little. after passing it around and taking some good shots, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It didn't feel cheap or cheated. I feel like I did what I meant to do and got a realistic response.

Again, I am not a pro at hockey, but as a first time pick up and player, I gotta say it was very interesting. I like it. not sure I would pay 60 bucks..but if it was 40 I would grab it in a heartbeat. To me, NBA just felt more polished, but again, I don't play hockey

# 188 gopher_guy @ 08/23/11 11:05 PM

Just played as Vancouver, chased Chara into a corner and threw a check with Daniel Sedin, Chara brushed him off like a mosquito. DS looked like a fool, and fell in a heap against the boards.

I've been trying to set up a scenario that would make a player toe the line. Has anybody seen this happen? I've always thought it should be in the game. I suppose the best way to do it would be to lock on as a player and do it while your team is carrying across the line.

# 189 Stormyhog @ 08/23/11 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealmK


	Eh not really, though on SS it seems a bit harder to knock the cpu down unless you really drill him perfectly, I chalk it up to the sliders being lock. At any rate, the more I play on SS, the easier it's getting to set up in the zone.

I usually play All-Star with slider tweaks. I always find with the highest difficulties in sports games that everyone plays like a superstar and goalies are like brick walls. I guess it depends on my skill as well as I may not be as good as others that play on higher difficulties but it usually is just too frustrating and low scoring for me.

# 190 jyoung @ 08/23/11 11:09 PM

Yeah I think the extremity of the hitting depends on what difficulty and slider setting you play the demo on.

I played all day on All-Star with default sliders, and nobody could touch Chara.

Everyone who tried to hit him slid off his 6'9" 255 pound frame and fell to the ice in a heap.

But still, I never did see any broken glass. Maybe tomorrow.

# 191 jwilphl @ 08/23/11 11:16 PM

I haven't extensively played the NHL series since '09, so I'm a tad out of date with improvements. That said, the game feels quite a bit different from '09. That is the good news. The bad news: the game looks and sounds quite a bit similar to that three-year-old game. To me, that is not entirely acceptable.

Based on just the demo, the game needs a lot of updates visually in the presentation department. I think the graphics are fine, but I'm not sure if generic venues and faces have yet been fixed? Also, it seems as though cut scenes have hardly changed. I see some more shots of the crowd, but they seem awkwardly executed. The TV-style, broadcast presentation is essentially non-existent, and I feel like it has not changed since '09.

The audio is also very similar, although I imagine this has a lot to do with NHL still using Thorne and Clement and less about added dialogue. I cannot comment on how much dialogue has been added, nor can I tell if the audio has received other lifts. There was not a ton of commentary in the demo.

Now I've noticed that quite a bit has been done to gameplay, which I definitely can appreciate. The game felt slower and perhaps more precise in shooting/passing. I also noticed improvements in momentum, and the interactive goalies are a big plus. However, I also felt when checking guys, your own player falls down on top of them too easily.

After plays, if I would tap the goalie in any way, the opposing defense would assault me. I got slashed in the back of the knees and checked face-first into the boards, but never was a penalty called for roughing or anything else. The only penalty I saw called was when I tripped a guy attempting to poke check. Not sure if this is a demo issue or not, but it is concerning.

# 192 gopher_guy @ 08/23/11 11:16 PM

I'm finding it really satisfying to play as a defenseman and clear out the crease for my goalie. I usually do my BAP as a D Man anyways, so added bonus there

# 193 stew514 @ 08/23/11 11:19 PM

Something that's been annoying me is the AI comes behind the net to play a dump in, and I've seen now 3 occaisions where they take a delay of game penalty because they grab the puck on the edge of the trapezoid.

# 194 Steven547 @ 08/23/11 11:55 PM

After playing the DEMO a few times, I'm not sure if I'm playing NHL 11 or 12. I guess EA's idea of "presentation" is adding more text to the screen saying "Replay" or "Highlights".

The cut scenes are the exact same as last year.

The players go into a bee hive affect again, after the whistle. You check someone and everyone starts hitting everyone. C'mon EA, that is NOT realistic.

Graphics...take em or leave em.

I'm still not seeing this "improved AI". Maybe I need to play 50 more times???

Where's the presentation DURING the game?

The overall menu system is the same. Come on EA, be creative!

Now, I understand it's ONLY a DEMO and that is why there is no pre-game. But just from this DEMO, it feels like NHL 11 with the patch they should have created. Maybe we will see the improvements in the FULL retail version, but if you are going to release a DEMO, shouldn't you release it with a sampling of features you marketed? Otherwise, this DEMO is not making me run out to the store like a kid leaving school for the summer. Right now, it's like, "Wait, didn't I buy this game last year??"

# 195 SinisterAlex @ 08/24/11 12:01 AM

One thing that's annoying me is the stick lift. I literally stick lift a player three times when I am right beside him, only for him to still have control of the puck, but yet the CPU can stick lift me with ease...

I know sliders can fix this but it's very annoying.

# 196 bubba4 @ 08/24/11 12:29 AM

I haven't really paid attention to hockey games for years, but I decided to check out this demo. With most EVERY sports game these days giving us an authentic broadcast camera angle, I am REALLY surprised how sad NHL 12's is. I play sports games because of how well they can depict what I see on tv. This one doesn't draw me in at all.

I'm at the point now in my game playing that if a sports game doesn't have a nice broadcast view, I don't even bother with it... unless it is exceptional of course. From this demo, this one doesn't feel exceptional.

# 197 mrclutch @ 08/24/11 12:33 AM

First off not a hockey guy at all. I played 10 which was my first Hockey game this Gen. Enjoyed it as a very casual hockey fan. Didn't Play 11. I don't even think I even played the demo. All that said....

As a casual guy it looks and feels a whole lot like 10 to me. Not a bad thing altogether because I thought 10 was a fun game but I really thought by skipping a year the advances would kind of jump off th screen at me.

I'm sure the hockey folks around here are loving the "little things" which I'm sure are cool but if your not a hardcore hockey fan or gamer I don't see much here. I'll probally take a pass myself pass.

Last thought is EA does a kick tail job with demos. Whether it's multiple teams, game modes, unlockables within the game. Props where they are due for putting deeper than average demod out the last couple years.

# 198 DJ @ 08/24/11 12:37 AM

My overall feeling is that the game, at least on default settings, isn't a whole lot different than what we have played the last 2 years. This is largely due to the beyond stale commentary and lack of true presentation upgrades (the highlight clip addition is nice but not nearly enough).

I did like that my AI teammates were more active on both ends of the ice. The CPU dumped the puck a bunch, which was refreshing. Goalies clearing pucks to the boards is a welcomed addition.

However, it is still way to easy to gain the blue line; you can go coast-to-coast with my most guys. The CPU intercepts anything close and the passing on both sides is still far too clean.

With no changes to Be A GM, outside of the sim engine, I have a feeling this game could get stale quickly for the offline crowd, as it won't feel much different than NHL 08-11 in terms of immersion into a career mode. Teams still play similar styles, and the above-stated issues with commentary and presentation really are starting to hurt this game, IMO.

I have the game pre-ordered and with my credit, I won't be paying for the game. The question is, how long will it stay in my rotation?

# 199 Gagnon39 @ 08/24/11 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealmK


	I might actually try all star to see the difference with the hitting, though I fear it'll be way to easy for me.

This is what I'm thinking. All Star was way to easy for me on 11. I would dominate time of possession every game and outshoot my opponent by 15-20 shots. Superstar was the only way I was challenged and lost.

I hope that sliders fix some of the issues I'm seeing on the NHL 12 demo.

# 200 sroz39 @ 08/24/11 01:26 AM

Ok, 3 Play Now games and 1 BAP game later, here's my take:

Things I REALLY liked:

- puck physics are night and day from last year. Many have gone into this topic, with specific examples. No need for me to repeat them. Just awesome.

- skating is definitely and noticeably improved.

- deking has been toned down. Nice.

- locked on goalie for a game (I play net in the EASHL) and it was noticeably better feeling. I saw they added some more options, like an auto cover on/off, which is gonna be a god-send in the retail copy (locked in the demo). It was also alot of fun to play against the A.I. as the goalie because...

-...the A.I. is MUCH better this year. No more passing from Dman to winger, winger back to Dman so on and so forth. They take sharp angle shots, setup one-timers for their Dmen and players that should shoot off the rush, do.

Things I kinda liked:

- the replays/presentation. There's aspects of this that I really hate, which I'll get into later, but there's no denying it's better than last year.

- the goalie being live. I will reserve full judgement until retail, but if done right, this is a good thing.

- alot more "small" collisions when you try to check with the wrong guy. Also if you almost beat a Dman but he still gets a piece of you, it can be enough to nudge you off the puck.

- the Action Tracker. Cool. Not a game-changer for me but a nice addition nonetheless.

- intrigued by the "Fixed" camera option for BAP. Couldn't tell a HUGE difference but didn't play that much either.

Things that sort of bugged me:

- some of the goalie play by the A.I. It's also been mentioned by others on here with specific examples, and I understand it's probably one of the toughest things to program of any sports game. But the goalies still leave a bit to be desired.

- the stick lift. Still not great and the A.I., even on All-Star is godly with it.

- wasn't a huge fan of the "hold it down longer for power" passing to begin with and it's largely untouched. I feel it should be how far down you push the trigger instead. Miss a ton of opportunities for breakout passes because of this mechanic.

Things that REALLY bug me:

- the presentation is still so far behind other games. When you're getting passed by Madden of all games, you know you're near the bottom of this list. Needs a fresh take altogether, IMO.

- year two of the Real-Time Physics engine is very under-whelming. I understand why there's a hit stick but it doesn't mean that every collision needs to be triggered by an input of any kind. Example, I was chasing one of the Sedins with Chara in my end. He went behind the net, I took a shortcut and cut in front of Timmy. I met Sedin head on but I had a bit of a brain fart and didn't actually hit anything on my controller. No poke check, no hit stick, nothing. The result was a very awkward "bounce" between the two players, like nothing happened. Sedin kept the puck in the slot, I got morphed back a couple of feet and he scored. It looked awful. Maybe I'm hoping for too much and it'll be in year three of the RTP implementation, but SOME sort of incidental contact would have been perfect there.

- finally, this is the first time since I played 06 on the Xbox where this series has made me go "meh". It's not that it's a bad game. Far from it. It's still outstanding and I will be there day one to get it. But it seems alot of the improvements are going to take awhile to notice and admire and after playing this game as much as I have since 09, I was also hoping for something to be done to spruce up EASHL play. Maybe all these "little" gameplay improvements will add up to a vastly different online experience, but after 3 games, my excitement level went down from an 11 to a 9.

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