NHL 12 News Post

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

06:52 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

NHL 12 Videos

Member Comments

# 361 MizzouRah @ 08/26/11 10:01 AM

IF BeaGm is fixed or at least improved, I'm going to go into hiding and play this game for days, weeks, months...

# 362 Section_25 @ 08/26/11 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleacherCreature


	Seeing a lot of loose pucks, some appropriate kick saves by the goalies, as in if there's a crowd in front he will kick the puck to the corner away from everyone. Lots more blocked shots and passes too, but the passes that I felt should have connected in 11 but didn't do now. Passing lanes are actually passing lanes. Lots of little subtle things which I am really liking.

It's little things like this that will make me eventually get the game at a cheaper price somewhere. Might even go ahead and bite the bullet and trade in a few and get it at release. Still trying to decide what I want to do

# 363 canucksss @ 08/26/11 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vikes1


	Thanks for the congrats, RealmK! 3,000 posts...that's a lot of dribble on my behalf.

i guess you troll too much Vikes1 hahahahah.....

im beginning to like the demo...of course how i wish there's more to NHL12 like presentation or commentaries etc. as soon as i decided to get this on release date, i will try to sim it and see if what EA is saying is true. if not, it's easy to turn it back

# 364 Splitter77 @ 08/26/11 02:56 PM

i kinda like that new tune by Bush thats in the demo too

# 365 Josam27o7 @ 08/26/11 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tofubrain2


	i believe they added suspensions and retired numbers this year. whoopty doo

LOL. Exactly. Honestly, Be a Gm has stagnated so badly that I can't bring myself to a purchase unless I find out they improved it in ways that I am not currently aware of.

# 366 Vikes1 @ 08/26/11 05:12 PM

Gotta say again...the more I've played the demo, the more I'm appreciating the changes to the gameplay.

All-Star hardcore is certainly going to be all the challenge I'll need. I'm sure finding out the more garbage like goals are going both ways which is great. If you don't take care of the front of your net [like IRL] you'll be in trouble.

I think it was Qb that mentioned about how he thought the rebounds off the goalies pads were a bit over done. I'm starting to feel the same way. Last night I saw a number of shots that did seem to rebound pretty wildly off the goalies pads. I think we've all seen this type of thing IRL...but imo, I do think it might need a little adjusting.

But anyway...it's been a lot of fun knowing, throwing the puck down deep on goal, the puck is no longer just simply vacuumed up by the goalie all the time. Scoring on some loose pucks down deep has added nicely to the game.

# 367 meep316 @ 08/26/11 05:48 PM

Pretty sure I'm skipping out on this one. Not a fan of the game this year. Didn't really like last year's either. Too many unrealistic things going on. There are some subtle improvements, but I think the whole thing needs to be overhauled. I've played hockey all my life at a decently high level, and these games just do not feel like hockey. Can't even enjoy them from an arcade perspective, either. Just my opinion.

It's probably for the best. There are a couple of other games coming out that I know I'm buying (Arkham City, Uncharted 3). It'll be strange not having a sports game to play, because I always have the newest NHL, but I'm really not satisfied with the product this year to justify spending my hard earned money on it.

I had a feeling I'd be drastically underwhelmed when the first things that they announced were checking people through the glass (happens MAYBE once a season in real life) and goalie contact/goalie fights. Playing the game sealed the deal for me.

# 368 Vikes1 @ 08/26/11 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canucksss


	i guess you troll too much Vikes1 hahahahah..... im beginning to like the demo...of course how i wish there's more to NHL12 like presentation or commentaries etc. as soon as i decided to get this on release date, i will try to sim it and see if what EA is saying is true. if not, it's easy to turn it back

But Canucksss, only 2,500 of my 3,000 posts were trolling. That's not too bad!

It took a few periods for the demo to grow on me too. With the game speed at default [3]...it's a bit faster than I prefer. So the speed kinda threw me for a while. For me, the game just feels better with the game speed at 1. Of course I do have the reaction time of a South African tree sloth. Kinda suxs to go over 30..then 40...then 50. Damn!

# 369 tgalv21 @ 08/26/11 10:54 PM

i really hope they have the puck control jacked up in the demo or i'll be disappointed. feels like i'm just playing nhl hitz without the puck. the pokecheck is ineffective and unsatisfying. usually the puck just stays right with the guy causing you to spam it 4 more times to maybe finally connect. the sticklift might as well be useless. maybe you can take the puck off a seadogs 4th liner on pro difficulty with a sticklift, but any nhl player you might as well just retreat and clog the passing and shooting lanes and hope they give you the puck back on a turnover. or just charge at the guy like a goober with drool falling out of your mouth. if that doesn't change online play is going to be really tedious and frustrating when people realize they can do whatever they want as long as they avoid getting lined up from far enough to knock them down.

some stuff I do like:
-players breaking to the net on odd-man rushes. really satisfying to hit a streaking winger for a 1-timer. the passing is a little easier and quicker too which is probably better for encouraging people to pass.

-the new skating animations are pretty cool and so are some of the shooting ones.

-nice that shots have been tuned up a notch. makes the game more exciting and satisfying when you can actually score further than 2 feet away.

# 370 KomicJ @ 08/26/11 11:06 PM

Spent a few more hours playing the demo, and while I can enjoy the new puck physics, and the improved AI...I still can't bring myself to like that game. For the exact same reason I didn't like NHL11.

Because, as much as I like the challenge, I constantly feel cheated by the CPU, who seems to be able to do a whole lot more than I can do. Things such as one touch tape-to-tape cannon passes that goes through my defenders no matter what. Spot on poke-checks. Taking control of a bouncing puck with such an ease, I think my players don't even control the puck that well when it's flat on the ice.

Has no problem whatsoever to lift my stick, and take control of the puck, but everytime I do it, the CPU either keeps the puck, or I get called for slashing.

While I'm a fan of getting rid of the turbo button, the balance between speed with/without the puck needs to be reviewed. I don't care if he has the puck on his stick or not, Henrik Zetterberg shouldn't not be slower than Andrew Alberts...NEVER !

The default positioning, especially in the offensive zone, is just plain aweful ! No matter what strategy I'm using, defensemen aren't playing the blueline as well as they should. The CPU is overly aggressive in the offensive zone, leading to way too many 3-2, even when playing the PK leading by a goal.

And while the goaltending AI seems to be better than what it was in previous games, their play outside the net got worse. Played HUT a my team had Carey Price as a starter...couldn't even stop the puck behind his net.

Been playing the game since '93, never skipped a year, although I did return NHL11 a couple of weeks after buying it last year. Often getting it on both consoles and CPU (back when Thunderpuck was active). Not wasting my money on the game this year...hoping 2K will eventually come back and blow us away like they did with NBA2K, which is by far the best sports game around these days.

# 371 gopher_guy @ 08/26/11 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KomicJ


	Spent a few more hours playing the demo, and while I can enjoy the new puck physics, and the improved AI...I still can't bring myself to like that game. For the exact same reason I didn't like NHL11. Because, as much as I like the challenge, I constantly feel cheated by the CPU, who seems to be able to do a whole lot more than I can do. Things such as one touch tape-to-tape cannon passes that goes through my defenders no matter what. Spot on poke-checks. Taking control of a bouncing puck with such an ease, I think my players don't even control the puck that well when it's flat on the ice.

Turn the difficulty down??

# 372 KomicJ @ 08/26/11 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gopher_guy


	Turn the difficulty down??

Sadly, it doesn't do it. At least, not with the different set of sliders made by EA, which you can't change in the demo.

The thing is, if you turn the difficulty down (used to play on Superstar on NHL10) you get dumber AI, which isn't better.

The AI at All-Star is actually quite good in general, with the exception of the CPU being overly aggressive. So the only way to fix this is by sliders ajustments, which didn't solve any of the remaining issues I had with the game last year. Passes were still going through my defendemen, while mine were either intercepted with ease, or wide...couldn't get control of a bouncing puck in the corners, and had the same problem with pokechecks and sticklifts, no matter how I adjusted the sliders.

Gameplay-wise, I thought NHL 10 was almost perfect. I wish they would've just improved the AI, and keep everything else.

# 373 KomicJ @ 08/26/11 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealmK


	How bout you wait to see if the new Sim engine actually improves franchise play before writing the game off completely? Because really, aside from having things like injured reserves and a proper cpu roster management/sim system being accurate, I'm not sure what else they could really add to GM (aside from major presentation improvements for that particular mode) that would make that much of a difference and I am a GM guy first and foremost. I know alot of guys want online franchises but eh. That's another new mode/feature I'd never touch to be honest. Blow out the presentation, make sure the CPU isn't ******** on signing guys in the offseason and have the sim stats realistically reflect real life and I'd be content.

I'm an offline player as well, and BeAGM is the mode I'm playing 90% of the time. But in order to enjoy that mode, I have to enjoy playing the game itself. Otherwise, I might as well re-install EHM.

# 374 KomicJ @ 08/27/11 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealmK


	Eh to each their own I guess. I like having to chip the puck out due to the CPU forecheck being better, I like that my AI teammates move in the offensive zone and drive the net rather than stand around like idiots. The more I play the demo, the more I like the game play. That I can dump the puck in and due to the puck being more live, have a chance to get in on the forecheck and setup is great. Obviously YMMV but I'm content with where the gameplay itself has been heading the last few years. Now if EA can get the lagging presentation where it needs to be. That's the area the series is most lacking in imo.

And I like that as well. I'm not complaining about the game being more realistic and difficult, or AI being smarter (altough I don't know many coaches who would ask for a 2-men forecheck on the PK, when leading by 1 goal with less than 5 minutes to play in the third.)

But I just don't get the feeling that me and the CPU are playing on an even playing field when his players are playing like true NHLers, and mine aren't even able to do the simplest things like a decent pokecheck. I feel like I have to make a choice between poor AI for my opponents, or poor CPU teammates. Sometimes feels like, in order to make the game more challenging and competitive, they dumbed down the ability of my players instead of just making the CPU better.

# 375 Vikes1 @ 08/27/11 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealmK


	The more I play the demo, the more I like the game play.

Me too, RealmK. And I'm thinking this is a very good sign. Vs the opposite, of disappointment starting to creep in.

With what sure looks like to me, the improved AI for User/cpu, much more variety in scoring chances, and far less predictable play...I think it's going to be another good year of NHL gaming for me.

# 376 DJ @ 08/27/11 01:21 AM

Yes, I have to admit that I am starting to enjoy the demo the more I play it, although I wish we had a 3-period game so we could get more into a flow. With just one period, things just start getting good and I run out of time.

Anyway, it looks like I will riding the NHL 12 train this year, as I've decided to pass on Madden in favor of this game. NCAA provides me all I need with football and although I've harped on EA for the commentary and presentation, I do have more fun with NHL than Madden at this point.

Like RelamK and others have said, this is the last year I get the game without seeing upgrades to Be A GM, commentary and presentation.

# 377 gopher_guy @ 08/27/11 02:44 AM

"He just earned his paycheck for the week with that ONE save!!!"

*cringes*

Another cool goal I saw: I had just gone on the PK, face off in my zone, right off the face off win one of the D men for Vancouver BLASTED a slap shot that somehow got through like 5 bodies and beat Tim Thomas over the shoulder.

Very cool and life-like goal

# 378 Josam27o7 @ 08/27/11 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealmK


	How bout you wait to see if the new Sim engine actually improves franchise play before writing the game off completely? Because really, aside from having things like injured reserves and a proper cpu roster management/sim system being accurate, I'm not sure what else they could really add to GM (aside from major presentation improvements for that particular mode) that would make that much of a difference and I am a GM guy first and foremost. I know alot of guys want online franchises but eh. That's another new mode/feature I'd never touch to be honest. Blow out the presentation, make sure the CPU isn't ******** on signing guys in the offseason and have the sim stats realistically reflect real life and I'd be content.

Realm, Here is one example, look at what Fifa is doing with Manager mode this year. They are adding management of players through their attitudes (not playing enough, not on a contender, not happy with wages...). It adds life to the players you are managing, rather than just playing one game after the next.

NHL Be a GM, just feels lifeless, they need some sort of message system like Fifa has...

And Realm, why haven't we heard a peep from the Be a GM developers about what they are doing? Fifa has indepthly gone through their manager mode for the fans talking about the changes... I just can't respect how NHL is treating Be a GM this year

# 379 Vikes1 @ 08/27/11 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ


	Anyway, it looks like I will riding the NHL 12 train this year,

Glad your still on board, Dan!

I had at least a feeling you couldn't pass up another go around with NHL. I'm kinda thinking the less predictable gameplay alone, may at least to a point, make up for some of the disappointment of the GM mode not really getting a whole lot of new upgrades.

And if what is/has been there, is truly cleanup...sim engine, trade logic, roster management, etc...the BEAGM maybe more fun than we may expect.

# 380 BlueNGold @ 08/27/11 04:53 AM

Just curious since I haven't been able to play this demo, is the R trigger/R2 player switching still the same as every other year?

I hate trying to switch to one of my enforcers on the ice post-whistle, but instead it just keeps cycling back and forth between the same 2 players.

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