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

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Member Comments

# 441 Vikes1 @ 08/30/11 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwiggy33


	In fact I can take Chara from in his own end and rush the puck up untouched and enter the zone to take a shot. The AI defense forces me to do nothing differently each time I enter the zone.

This is what I'm seeing too, Bwiggy.

At times [many times] even with an AI player skating right along side of you, that should take you into the boards...the AI will simply let you skate right on by. That's pretty messed up. I'm truly hoping it's a symptom of it just being a demo. That the demo is geared to show off the offense. But I do have my doubts. I've been able to deal with this type of play from the AI for the last several releases now...and most likely will be able to again. But I was hoping to not have to...again. This is pretty frustrating, because the defensive AI once I do gain the zone [with ease] is quite good imo.

This issue does imo, hurt the what sure could be...a far less scripted feel to the game. With NHL still being a...up and down, back and forth playing hockey game...a HUGE part of the real life game is lost. That's a shame.

Like I said...I guess I can deal with this for another year vs the AI. I still enjoy the game a great deal. But what a drag that such an easy fix, is left undone for the more sim crowd. I mean, it just can't be that difficult to program the AI to be more aggressive towards the puck carriers headed up ice...without leaving the AI defense completely exposed behind them.

# 442 mkharsh33 @ 08/30/11 08:13 PM

meh, they want the track meet at EA. let's face it, this game is not made for the hard-core hockey fan. as stated here, hopefully slider tweaks can help us, but EA wants this to be Blades of Steel out of the box.

# 443 bwiggy33 @ 08/30/11 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vikes1


	This is what I'm seeing too, Bwiggy. At times [many times] even with an AI player skating right along side of you, that should take you into the boards...the AI will simply let you skate right on by. That's pretty messed up. I'm truly hoping it's a symptom of it just being a demo. That the demo is geared to show off the offense. But I do have my doubts. I've been able to deal with this type of play from the AI for the last several releases now...and most likely will be able to again. But I was hoping to not have to...again. This is pretty frustrating, because the defensive AI once I do gain the zone [with ease] is quite good imo. This issue does imo, hurt the what sure could be...a far less scripted feel to the game. With NHL still being a...up and down, back and forth playing hockey game...a HUGE part of the real life game is lost. That's a shame. Like I said...I guess I can deal with this for another year vs the AI. I still enjoy the game a great deal. But what a drag that such an easy fix, is left undone for the more sim crowd. I mean, it just can't be that difficult to program the AI to be more aggressive towards the puck carriers headed up ice...without leaving the AI defense completely exposed behind them.

See and I don't even think this fix would just be for the sim player. It takes away the challenge of the game. After a while who really wants to skate into the zone and take a wide open shot in the slot every time because the CPU d men collapse towards their net? I don't think anybody does sim or not. That's how a game becomes repetitive and stale. I just pray this can be fixed.

MKharsh I wish 2k would have released a game this year just to have two hockey options. I always hated 2k games because of how clunky they feel, but in all honesty it's the more sim one out of the two games IMO. I know many would disagree with me but that's how I feel. After a while you get used to the gameplay even though it's nowhere near as smooth as EA's. EA no question has the better game, 2k is just more sim. That's why if 2k and EA teamed up they would make an absolutely amazing hockey game!

# 444 bwiggy33 @ 08/30/11 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealmK


	See this is what I don't understand, 2k's AI can't even do a proper breakout, and 2k10's goalies are peewee at best no matter the slider settings. 2k10 if you have a Dman in your own zone with possession of the puck, all 4 other players race out of the zone, they don't set up a break out, the other dman doesn't make himself available on the other side of the net if you're being pressured, there's actually even LESS neutral zone pressure. 2k's arena's look great, the incidental contact is "okay" but in typical 2k style it's animation heavy to the point where I don't feel like I have control of my players. (long time issue with all of their sports titles imo) While 2k's arenas and some of their options are nice (NHL Today), they lack so much not only in AI but in just general features that make BeAGM mode so deep (Actual AHL, CHL etc) Not to mention the franchise freeze the game has had for decade. The dreadful unresponsive controls and unintuitive systems (line changes, two buttons for a slapshot etc) I'm all for competition, I really am, but honestly? NHL2k wasn't even competing, the series up to the time of it's demise wasn't doing much more than treading water.

My bad, I didn't specify. I was actually talking about 2k8. I have played 2k10 as well but that IMO isn't as good as 2k8. The main point is I just feel that the AI isn't as predictable in the 2k games. It's probably because I haven't played 2k hockey nearly as much as the EA games, but I picked up on the NHL AI in the demo immediately because I was able to do the same things I could do in NHL 11. The 2k games have more dynamic AI. It isn't scripted. I almost feel as if EA's AI is scripted. NHL beats 2k in every category but AI IMO. Sadly that is a huge deal to me since I love to play BeAGM. Only time will tell though. As I said before I shouldn't be so negative when I haven't played the final release. I just have that sketchy feeling that the demo is going to play like the final version.

On another note I'm more focused on the CPU not so much the AI on my team. I just think the CPU is scripted at what they do. I have very few gripes on what my AI does. I just want the CPU to be dynamic and smart. I want to get the feeling that I deserved to win. When I play NHL 11 I don't get amped up anymore because it feels like more of the same thing every time I play because of the lack of variety in gameplay by the CPU.

# 445 bwiggy33 @ 08/30/11 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Segagendude


	This is just my personal opinion...... It's the same deal with most other sports games----trying to strike that balance between "hardcore sim" and "slightly arcade". As a newbie myself, I like the "pick up and play" style. If EA made a true-to-life sim, most gamers who aren't sim players would be turned off by it, let's be honest. How many threads would start with "I can't even get into the zone!! This game is too hard"? I look at The Show, as an example----how many beginners got frustrated cause they couldn't even pitch a good game? Alot, even on rookie mode. Or, "Dang, I can't hit a hr to save my life, and I'm using the Yankees!!!" Because it's skill level is pretty high. Now, OTOH, I myself wouldn't want an NHL game where I could score at will using scrub teams vs. championship-caliber teams. That gets boring, and is partly the reason why I stopped playing Madden. Winning games by double digits constantly just isn't fun. Now, for me personally, NHL gives me a nice challenge. Sure, I can skate right past the blueline into the zone, but from there, I can't just fire a slapshot and score, esp. in this current demo. In fact, I moved the game down to rookie just to score a goal or two to see what it's like, lol. Default Pro, I constantly lose the puck, miss shots, skate right past the rebounded puck, etc. Again, though, that's just me. The challenge is there for me, which is why earlier in this thread, I posted about getting over-excited when I actually DO score a goal, esp. one that wasn't "cheap". This demo makes me work for it... I've used sliders I found for NHL 10 that gave me low-scoring games, tough defenses to play against, and the like. I'm quite positive this will be the case this year; there are some awesome slider makers here. But I can certainly understand what hardcore sim players are yearning for. Happens in every game thread, every year-----"It's not sim enough!!" And as I always suggest, EA (Or whomever) should just make a two disc set: One similar to what we have now, the other hardcore sim. Yes, the price would skyrocket, but if they could satisfy BOTH types of players, I'm sure a majority of fans would spend the $$$$.

That is very well stated. The reason why The show is my favorite game is because of how sim and challenging it is. To me frustration=Success in the video game world. If I get frustrated because the CPU plays a fair game, but I make a critical mistake, it feels awesome. Sure it pisses me off, but it makes me come back for more.

As for why they can't have total sim in this game, I really don't understand it. They've already split up the game into different game styles. There's casual, normal, and hardcore. I don't understand why they can't make casual complete arcade then make normal an arcade/sim combination (what NHL 11 is right now), and then make hardcore a complete sim. That doesn't make much sense. This game has the different game styles depending on what each person is looking for, yet hardcore isn't how a sim hockey game should feel. By doing that they cater to every single person, making this game that much better.

# 446 Vikes1 @ 08/30/11 11:47 PM

Played some more tonight, and dang man...I'm still enjoying and seeing new things within the gameplay each time I play.

Also the more I've played, I'm really seeing the improved User teammate AI. Got a sweet goal on a 2 on 1 break. Felt great! I sure don't recall getting very many pure odd man rushes with '11'.

As I've said before...I'm really looking forward to the retail game. And spending some fun time dialing in the sliders best suited for myself. Although I do have that one complaint about the gameplay...but overall, I'm really enjoying the updated gameplay as a whole. Imo, a very nice step forward from last year. Nice job, EA Canada!

# 447 IrishNDFan @ 08/30/11 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Segagendude


	I'm still playing the demo, and I've seen different things each time, with different outcomes. I stink, lol......two goals in like 5 games thus far. But the fun factor hasn't waned a bit. I'm digging it, and I'm not much of an NHL fan. I watch, but not religiously. I just might bypass Madden and get this instead. (Can't afford both)

This is me as well. I was going to buy Madden today, but held off because NHL12 will be a better buy for me.

# 448 gopher_guy @ 08/31/11 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Segagendude


	I finally saw the "Check the guy over the bench"! I zeroed in, made the hit, and he up-ended himself over the boards into his bench, lol! Cool part was watching his teammates. They didn't just sit there while he morphed thru them; they actually reacted, like "get the hell outta the way!"...... I wish I could've somehow saved the replay. I must've watched it from various angles about 20 times! Forgot to add, the loud cheer from Vancouver fans. Is the release date the 13th?? I can't wait!

Wait.... How do you watch a replay in the demo???

# 449 gopher_guy @ 08/31/11 01:36 AM

It's cool I was just wondering if there was some way to watch replays that I wasn't aware of. There's been SO many times that I've wanted to watch a play on replay

# 450 MizzouRah @ 08/31/11 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ceteris Paribus


	You should give HUT a solid chance. I loved it last year to a point. But they have really improved it with the ability to play friends and giving you shots at other HUT teams. While it is not a realistic GM mode, obviously, it can be insanely fun to strategically build and tweak your roster. You really get to know and love players you would have never spent any time playing with. With the ability to play friends, it will be more fun to share your creation. Last year you could only play offline and randoms, and it just didn't do anything for me. But if a group of friends all build from scratch and spend no cash, or even keep it at a gentlemen' agreement of a set amount, it will be way more interesting to compare squads. HUT is so much deeper than the demo even comes close to revealing. I'm Fifa's is pretty hood, too. Madden's doesn't work because of the several limit of players. With real players rom all of the European and Minor leagues, there is a huge range of talent that you have to build from. I'll be playing a Blues franchise, too. But I'm really hoping HUT is something that catches on more this year.

Thanks, I just might do that. I plan on playing every single game this year and it should be another challenge playing as the Blues, good luck!

# 451 Vikes1 @ 08/31/11 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Segagendude


	I finally saw the "Check the guy over the bench"! I zeroed in, made the hit, and he up-ended himself over the boards into his bench, lol!

I haven't seen this yet. But looking forward to it though. I'd love to check Burrows into the bench, and up into the third row!

Lord forgive me...but man, I can't freaking stand that devil looking #%^$#!

# 452 Al_Tito13 @ 08/31/11 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealmK


	I'm still trying to figure out how there's no neutral zone pressure. Just played a handful of periods on SS/Hardcore and I'll be damned if I didn't spend most of them in my own zone, just due to having a hard time keeping it in the offensive end to either set up, or even getting it there due to a well timed cpu hit coming out of my own zone or a poke check preventing me from cleanly entering the zone. I was actually forced to dump and retrieve more than once. Either my skills from 11 got worse, or the AI got better.

Completely agree with you. Anyone who says that the AI didn't get better must have left the game on Pro/Default settings, because on All-Star and Superstar difficulties, the AI did improve a lot. Saying the opposite looks either wrong or simply malicious criticism. On the Hardcore game style, I find this game almost perfect out of the box, there will not be many changes to sliders on my part, at least not at the beginning. I'll certainly lower puck control to 0 and make some other minor tweaks, but nothing major. Good job EA, I think NHL 12 will be a blast if you don't over-tune it like you did last year.

# 453 nddurst @ 08/31/11 01:05 PM

My impressions so far:

Overall, the game does play better. The AI plays more aggressive and smarter in most situations than it did in '11.
At times, the CPU seems a little shot-happy. It might just be me, but there have been instances in the demo where I was scratching my head, wondering why the CPU didn't show some more patience to let a play develop.
As a defender on the rush, I simply feel like I've been neutered. They have not given a defender any way of upending a rushing forward other than simply getting in their way, or using the poke-check (which rarely produces good results). It's far too easy for the puck-handler to maneuver around a defender to get a shot on goal in the slot.
The commentary MUST be upgraded in '13. I mute it--it is just so completely stale and boring.
The CPU's line change logic needs work. In the demo, I've played well past the 13:00 mark of the period as Vancouver, and Chara has been on the ice the entire time. Perhaps messing with some sliders can affect this.

All this being said, I still really enjoy the game and am looking forward to the new sim engine in action during Be-a-GM. I'm in!

# 454 Vikes1 @ 08/31/11 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogie Vachon


	The cpu isn`t playing too bad on SS/hardcore........some fine tuning/tweaking should make the game pretty intense. It`s definitely a better game than NHL11 from what I can see from the demo.

Agreed.

I'll be playing on AS myself. Superstar is just beyond my skill level. But yeah, I agree about hardcore. Having a good game experience on AS hardcore, and don't foresee too drastic of slider changes.

And no question in my mind either...that '12' is a very nice step forward from '11'. NHL '12' will get LOTS on spin time this year.

# 455 canucksss @ 08/31/11 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vikes1


	Agreed. I'll be playing on AS myself. Superstar is just beyond my skill level. But yeah, I agree about hardcore. Having a good game experience on AS hardcore, and don't foresee too drastic of slider changes. And no question in my mind either...that '12' is a very nice step forward from '11'. NHL '12' will get LOTS on spin time this year.

same like you Vikes... SS is beyond me, i guess if i was 20 years younger then sure

but AS and hardcore is a challenge for me, in fact my average SOG is 4. i still have to figure out this passing in the DEMO (i know i can change it in the actual game). Im still wishing that the SIM engine will be great for the BaGM this year because Im pretty sold out in buying this game after playing so many games thru the demo.

# 456 Vikes1 @ 08/31/11 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canucksss


	same like you Vikes... SS is beyond me, i guess if i was 20 years younger then sure but AS and hardcore is a challenge for me, in fact my average SOG is 4. i still have to figure out this passing in the DEMO (i know i can change it in the actual game). Im still wishing that the SIM engine will be great for the BaGM this year because Im pretty sold out in buying this game after playing so many games thru the demo.

Yeah Canucksss, taking 20 years or so off myself as well, couldn't hurt.

I've got a few miles of rough road behind me too.

But anyway...yep, I took a look last night at the SOG for the period, and I got out shot 24 to 3!!

So oh yeah...AS hardcore will be all the challenge I'll need. I really got waxed in that one!

# 457 JumpierPegasus @ 08/31/11 05:47 PM

As I said over at the EA forums I am really enjoying the demo. Shooting is great and I hope they don't over do it with tuners.

They only really need to tune the hitting. NHL 11 looked really good with it's physics engine and NHL 12 is jsut trying to do to many things at once. It has it's puck physics, new skating engine and the hitting just became neglected.

One tuner done right should do it. I'm really hoping they get that right.

Excited for the game after the demo though as BaP looks playable

# 458 bwiggy33 @ 08/31/11 08:12 PM

Man the more I think about this, it is really hard to judge the game off of one period of play. I just can't get a feel for the game yet. I tell ya what, they're doing a hell of a job forcing me to get the game in order to find out how this game will truly play out. I just wish they would allow us to play one full 5 minute game on all star or superstar. I just don't know what to think yet. All of the judgements I've made could be totally incorrect by the final release.

# 459 BlueNGold @ 08/31/11 09:25 PM

One thing that needs to go is the on-ice sounds playing during replays. Not sure why they suddenly started doing that this year.

# 460 Vikes1 @ 08/31/11 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwiggy33


	Man the more I think about this, it is really hard to judge the game off of one period of play. I just can't get a feel for the game yet. I tell ya what, they're doing a hell of a job forcing me to get the game in order to find out how this game will truly play out. I just wish they would allow us to play one full 5 minute game on all star or superstar. I just don't know what to think yet. All of the judgements I've made could be totally incorrect by the final release.

Yeah Bwiggy, I agree...it is pretty difficult to really judge for sure, what the retail game will bring, as compared to the demo. With the final tuning that was done, who knows...maybe the issues we've discussed, will prove to have been tweak for the better. Or possibly the sliders in the retail game will be VERY effective.

One really nice thing for sure though...we don't have long to wait to find out.

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