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

NHL 12 Videos

Member Comments

# 21 blinkfan77 @ 08/23/11 08:13 AM

Just saw a great new one-time animation where the receiving player releases the puck hard and low and it's perfectly timed and looks really good. Awesome.

# 22 tgalv21 @ 08/23/11 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerHowe


	When someone says something positive no one says anything. You say something bad about the demo, and you are too quick.

there's a difference between posting criticism and making statements about how online play is gonna be based on playing a few games of an offline demo.

# 23 FBeaule04 @ 08/23/11 09:16 AM

Just a quick question since I won't play the demo until late tonight.

Is the AI D still back until running into the goalie so the opposite team can shoot at ease?

Is the AI D still go pin themselves on board without pressure?

*Assuming you can play the demo locked as a forward*

# 24 Fiddy @ 08/23/11 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinkfan77


	Crushing, crushing disappointment- No face for Brad Marchand. Absolutely crushing. I'm so sick of the gigantic lack of real faces in this game. So pissed right now. For ****s sake, they still haven't changed Thomas's generic face either and he won the Vezine and he's STILL only rated an 89. Pathetic.

yeah, really stinks that the majority of the players in the game have generic faces. would be great one off season they can get a team to work on getting all players that have played a game in the league the past season face in the game. its 2011, no excuses IMO for this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by straka91


	Like the puck physics. I actually scored a 5 hole above the the circles. AI is still pathetic though lol. Just ran Raymond with Chara, Chara bounced off....

i scored a nice refreshing wrist shot goal, between the glove hand arm of Bobby Lou, looked solid..

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgalv21


	there's a difference between posting criticism and making statements about how online play is gonna be based on playing a few games of an offline demo.

i understand what your saying, but he is correct. the same deke and dangle moves work still. the d just freezes and zip right around them. sigh. hopefully a tuner or patch can fix this issue? IMO this is why the deking etc needs tweaked.. if it freezes a d man over and over (same move etc), then they have to realize something needs done.

# 25 Money99 @ 08/23/11 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FBeaule04


	Just a quick question since I won't play the demo until late tonight. Is the AI D still back until running into the goalie so the opposite team can shoot at ease? Is the AI D still go pin themselves on board without pressure? Assuming you can play the demo locked as a forward

Only 2 games so take it for what it's worth:

Q: Is the AI D still back until running into the goalie so the opposite team can shoot at ease?

Didn't appear like that to me. I had some difficulty breaking down the D in order to get a clean shot from in tight.

Q: Is the AI D still go pin themselves on board without pressure?

Didn't see it once.

# 26 Fiddy @ 08/23/11 09:28 AM

my thoughts.. initial impression when playing a play now game, was wow, i like the slowed down feel to the game. wasnt expecting that at all.

just some quick hits here..

pros
- skating, seems like they added some new animations etc, looks better no doubt, feels the same as past games though
- like mentioned already, shots seem to have some extra omph behind them
- presentation pop ups for goals, stats in general, very slick looking
- seen some solid goal variety so far, more so than in NHL 11 (wrist shots going in clean in different spots on the goalie etc)
- goalies movement while following the play looks better and they seem to react better on shots as well
- brush off saves, pucks glancing off the goalie look very solid (at times look weird as well)
- Tim Thomas seemed to play like himself, tried some sprawling side to side saves
- knocking Thomas over lol
- auto stick movement while backing in on d, very nice
- didnt see the d auto pin for no reason or even when pressured a bit
- passing feels a bit better, but still way to easy
- checking feels more loose and free
- player reactions on bench a nice small addition
- goalies on the bench, have their helmets off, again nice small addition

cons
- skating feels very much the same, even though it looks a bit different
- same dekes (i know its a demo) work just like in games past (same dangle and deke move works, same back hand to forehand goal works, backhand to forehand etc on all levels. seems toned down more though on superstar which is good. hopefully sliders can fix this.)
- player faces, the generic ones, just disappointed we dont have all these guys cybers in the game yet
- Canucks overall goaltending rating a 97? huh? Bobby Lu is a 90, Schneider is an 83!! (was like this for past games as well)
- default passing, to much tape to tape still, hoping sliders fix that
- strategy's are all the same
- the cpu AI on your team still get in your way, just bc they going where they programed to be, sigh
- checking, while feels better, something feels off, like it doesnt feel like you hit the guy when you do
- same old rebound goals, goalies cant cover it even though its right there, sliders or patch fix this?

# 27 MiNiDiTkA @ 08/23/11 09:29 AM

Some crappy Gameplay I recorded

# 28 Tomba @ 08/23/11 09:31 AM

When they add a real broadcast cam I'll be all over their gameplay. right now as it stands it's looked the same for years from their broadcast angle. Bothers me too much to play .

# 29 Money99 @ 08/23/11 09:36 AM

Random observations:

In my first game, Mason Raymond got his lid knocked off when he was run by Lucic.
He kind of spun off the hit and landed on his knees on the ice while his helmet just laid there.
The hit looked very realistic as did the reaction.

Rich Peverley scored with 8.7 seconds left to beat me. I collapsed too far on my goalie, Rich took a beauty pass from Bergeron, walked into the mid-slot and fired one over the shoulder of a screen Luongo (I was screening him).

Can't wait to get home and play some more.

# 30 N1ghthors3 @ 08/23/11 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beantownbruins


	Wow as a main OTP/Club player here is what I was looking for and noticed... The computer D is still inept (even on superstar, which is one level higher than OTP). Which means kids that glitch goal and curl drag over and over and over again will still be able to do so. Hits are even bigger than in '11, how is that possible??? Mason Raymond came and knocked me over with no momentum when I was Johnny Boychuk, how does that work? Most realistic hockey game ever, FAIL. We can only play "be a pro" as a center???...Here is what that says to me, EA is still working on the "in front of the net presence" and will release yet another product unfinished. If you can't play D in the "be a pro mode" how are we supposed to know if the "in front of the net presence" works or doesn't work correctly? Yet another NHL demo has been released where we cannot play as a goalie. A HUGE disappointment since that contained one of their "new" features. Look guys, I really went into this with the highest of hopes but the lowest of expectations. I still came out disappointed. I will end up getting this game, but only because there is no other hockey option out there. I know there will be a lot of you that will knock me for this post, but it is just my opinion. I'm trying to think in terms of OTP/Club and I just don't see that area of NHL improving, or even being upgraded, through this demo.

How are you supposed to know if net presence works or not? Maybe try playing Play Now rather than BAP Center (which if you play Center, you can easily skate lower in the slot and mess around anyway) and switch to a defenseman when the other team has the puck - not rocket science here.

# 31 goosedennis @ 08/23/11 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiNiDiTkA


	Some crappy Gameplay I recorded

Thanks for recording this.

Anyways, that goal you scored with Horton right in the beginning doesn't have me too optimistic, because it's one of those "rebound stays right in front of the goalie who doesn't even bother covering it up, then lifts his leg long enough for you to get a 90 mph shot without any weight transfer into the net" goals.

I'm downloading right now, and I'm actually looking forward to it. After all, Fiddy said something positive about it so it has to be really good.

# 32 FBeaule04 @ 08/23/11 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiNiDiTkA


	Some crappy Gameplay I recorded

I know it's just the demo, but the first goal Luongo gave there makes sick to my stomach.

Luongo stopped the puck, than stay there without moving, and when he finally decide to get up, bang, a goal five hole!

I hope it's not a trend with the AI goalie, because one of the problem in NHL 11 was AI goalie trying to freeze the puck forward and getting out of position. If the counter for that is a non-moving goalie getting up instead, ouch!

# 33 Fiddy @ 08/23/11 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goosedennis


	I'm downloading right now, and I'm actually looking forward to it. After all, Fiddy said something positive about it so it has to be really good.

thing is over the years since NHL 07, i have praised the game a lot.. guys just tend to ignore that bc they disagree with my complaints etc.

demo overall feels better than NHL 11, so thats obviously a good thing.

# 34 DCSportsFanKyle @ 08/23/11 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiNiDiTkA


	Some crappy Gameplay I recorded

The second goal was a nice computer goal. In fact, it was semi-realistic.

# 35 seasprite @ 08/23/11 09:51 AM

Played a few games this morning of the Play Now:

Pros:
1)Love the fluid movements of the skaters, just seems a little more realistic imo than 11
2)PUCK PHYSICS!!! Absolutely love it. Was passing from LD to RD for a one-timer and the pass made the puck flip and when I hit the one-timer, the pucks tragectory put it in the seats because I didnt get contact with the puck because it was on it's side

3)The hits seem better imo, collisions are a little more realistic and you can hit someone and not necessarily put them on their back every single time.

Cons:
1) I really dont like the fact that I can check the goalie.....maybe just in demo that it isnt a penalty, but I checked Luongo a couple of times and didnt get called for anything. If it isnt fixed, this will really ruin OTP imo.

Yeah, one con is all I got......I really like the demo

# 36 Money99 @ 08/23/11 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCSportsFanKyle


	The second goal was a nice computer goal. In fact, it was semi-realistic.

Except that Henrik Sedin scored it. BURRRN!
Just jokes people. Just jokes!

# 37 TheTodd84 @ 08/23/11 09:56 AM

That demo video has me really worried. Just like I have commented on in the Madden and NCAA forums, what this game needs is physics. There is no momentum or weight transfer on the shots and how they fixed the goalie issue from last year was not with physics, but by changing the animation to where Luongo just stops and let's the puck go out for a rebound. SMH. This is 2011, fifa is adding physics, why are none of the other EA games?

I played NHL 11 for about a week and took it back. Didn't buy it, just rented it. Looks like it may be similar this year.

# 38 adayinthelife @ 08/23/11 10:00 AM

I hate to say it, as I've been a staunch defender of this series in previous years when others say it, but after a few demo games this feels a little NHL 11.5ish to me.

Granted, this is only a demo and for the past 2 years I've been playing on ps3 not xbox, but nothing really jumps out at me I'm sad to say. Also to keep in mind all of this is being experienced with default sliders.

- Skating feels different, though I don't know if it's better.

- Puck physics are definitely improved, but there is still room for improvement, and maybe some slider adjusting will help.

- Full contact physics engine... Can someone explain this? To me so far the hitting feels the exact same as last year. Exact same. Sure there are "net battles" bit that essentially appears to just be canned animations of two dudes leaning into one another.

- Where are the player traits/player separation? Apparently Kaberle can still skate faster backwards than Mason Ramond can forwards. Once again it doesn't feel like it matters if I have my first line or my third line out there because the playing field feels pretty level for every single player in the game.

- Goal variety is nice. Last year was a huge improvement and this year it seems better again, happy to see this.

Overall for me it just feels like a lot of the same old, same old. Yes, it feels improved from last year in my short time with the demo, but not by much at all.

# 39 Mikey88 @ 08/23/11 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adayinthelife


	I hate to say it, as I've been a staunch defender of this series in previous years when others say it, but after a few demo games this feels a little NHL 11.5ish to me. Granted, this is only a demo and for the past 2 years I've been playing on ps3 not xbox, but nothing really jumps out at me I'm sad to say. Also to keep in mind all of this is being experienced with default sliders. - Skating feels different, though I don't know if it's better. - Puck physics are definitely improved, but there is still room for improvement, and maybe some slider adjusting will help. - Full contact physics engine... Can someone explain this? To me so far the hitting feels the exact same as last year. Exact same. Sure there are "net battles" bit that essentially appears to just be canned animations of two dudes leaning into one another. - Where are the player traits/player separation? Apparently Kaberle can still skate faster backwards than Mason Ramond can forwards. Once again it doesn't feel like it matters if I have my first line or my third line out there because the playing field feels pretty level for every single player in the game. - Goal variety is nice. Last year was a huge improvement and this year it seems better again, happy to see this. Overall for me it just feels like a lot of the same old, same old. Yes, it feels improved from last year in my short time with the demo, but not by much at all.

Well, we can't change any of the sliders so im pretty sure when you increase "attribute effects" slider things will be way better

# 40 goosedennis @ 08/23/11 10:15 AM

I got to the shootout in my first demo "game."

A few things:

Pros:
-Checking isn't bone-crushing checks 10 times a game
-Skating seems more fluid

Cons:
-I won on an Andrew Ference shootout goal

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