NHL 13 News Post

NHL 13: Demo Impressions Roundtable

04:14 PM - August 24, 2012 by RaychelSnr

Our three Hockey experts go in-depth with NHL 13's demo and come away largely impressed by the new skating physics and other additions to the game. It's not perfect, but NHL 13 might have the inside track on being an extremely quality title this year.

Read More - NHL 13: Demo Roundtable Impressions

Game: NHL 13Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 23 - View All

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# 1 savoie2006 @ 08/24/12 04:41 PM

Agreed on ALL accounts.

# 2 addybojangles @ 08/24/12 04:58 PM

Incredibly impressed with this demo. Then again, I've liked every version since it's current console iterations, so take that for what it's worth...

I think the true performance skating fundamentally changes the game more than anything since the shot stick.

# 3 Retropyro @ 08/24/12 05:00 PM

I'd like to know what settings each person used for the round table.

# 4 jsquigg @ 08/24/12 05:11 PM

I agree with most of the impressions, but faceoffs weren't untouched. The controls are the same, but there is much more variety in where the puck ends up.

# 5 geisterhome @ 08/24/12 07:02 PM

agree on most..

# 6 TreyIM2 @ 08/24/12 07:17 PM

I think I'm sold on this game, FINALLY, after playing the demo. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the new skating engine, being able to skate in reverse, the challenge of scoring. This will be my first NHL since PS1 days. Sheesh.

# 7 jyoung @ 08/24/12 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retropyro


	I'd like to know what settings each person used for the round table.

I can't speak for Kelvin or Glenn, but so far I've tried all of these settings combinations:

Allstar -- default, normal, hardcore
Superstar -- default, normal, hardcore

I like Allstar hardcore the best out of everything I've tried.

# 8 Retropyro @ 08/24/12 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyoung


	I can't speak for Kelvin or Glenn, but so far I've tried all of these settings combinations: Allstar -- default, normal, hardcore Superstar -- default, normal, hardcore I like Allstar hardcore the best out of everything I've tried.

Yep, so far I think Allstar hardcore gives the best game.

# 9 13whitebread @ 08/25/12 12:53 AM

The play by play needs someone else to immerse you in the experience not this year but hopefully next year.

# 10 Vikes1 @ 08/25/12 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retropyro


	Yep, so far I think Allstar hardcore gives the best game.

I'm pretty sure All-Star hardcore is where I'll be playing too.

AS/HC is giving me all the challenge I can handle.

# 11 BobSacamano @ 08/25/12 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by balcobomber25


	The new skating system is amazing but at the end of the day this is still the same game with the same problems. The character models are still a mess, the commentary offers nothing new, the fighting system not only is not realistic in any way, it is not fun. I just can't justify spending $60 for the same guy with a new skating system.

Would you have spent $60 on a game with the same skating engine but with new character models, commentary, and fighting engine? I sure as hell wouldn't have.

Those things do not affect gameplay in the slightest (unless you like to fight, I guess), but the skating engine and improved AI most definitely does. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

# 12 THE YAMA @ 08/25/12 12:43 PM

I was ultimately pleased with the demo. Actually may sell me on getting the game this year. The only problem is, FIFA comes out just 2 weeks after.

# 13 woody2goody @ 08/25/12 01:05 PM

If anything, the skating system is THE reason to buy a new hockey game, after all it is the main gameplay feature effectively in any hockey game.

It would be like introducing a new running mechanic in Pro Evo or FIFA, it would change the game completely.

# 14 gosensgo101 @ 08/26/12 01:02 AM

I miss my vision control. Rimming the puck around the boards from behind the net is now damn near impossible.

# 15 jonapaloma @ 08/26/12 11:17 AM

I thought it was a good feature to. I cant understand why they removed it. It gonna be harder to setup in the offensive zone :S And also put your back against the goal when you defend. I dont see how. Any ideas?

# 16 Eski33 @ 08/26/12 12:28 PM

NHL is a top tier franchise that continues to innovate. This year's game is no different. Loving it.

# 17 jwilphl @ 08/26/12 09:49 PM

I like the new skating engine; this is something EA football games need badly (how about True Performance Running). It felt tremendously different from NHL '12. The game looks a ton different too, which I think is welcome since the game has looked exactly the same since '08.

Something did feel off to me graphically, but I don't know how to explain it. I imagine it could be demo compression. The details ought to look better in the final version. Also the goalie play looked better in some instances and a little too overpowered in others (see one save where Brodeur had god-like reflexes).

The presentation definitely needs more work. They made a few nice changes from '12 in that I didn't see any repeat cutscenes and some of the weird freeze transition issues appeared to be gone. There isn't much of a TV-style going on, though, which is a recurring problem in all EA titles. It's been that way forever so I don't know why I keep expecting changes.

Clement and Thorne are fine, but I think they've probably worn out their welcome. Time to move in two new commentators entirely or just add another team; to me the latter is the better option.

Can't comment on much else but I do like what I've seen. Still not sold on buying, though; will probably wait until the system is a bit more refined and still hoping they make presentation upgrades.

# 18 Bleak5170 @ 08/27/12 08:19 AM

Agree with pretty much everything. The backwards skating, while a really cool addition, is going to be abused like crazy online. And I know a lot of people don't care about human vs. CPU play. but the A.I. deficiencies are definitely a concern.

# 19 Qb @ 08/27/12 12:01 PM

For the most part, I think the writers' impressions are right on. However, one nitpick is boardplay is not "untouched" (at least not completely). I'm guessing Jayson was referring to the mechanics of the boardplay system, which I agree could use an update.

But it is much harder to dig the puck out with a pokecheck, making it somewhat more effective to grind it out behind the net. In NHL12, it was almost automatic that the first poke would retrieve the puck, especially from the AI. I saw what looked like some new animations, such as the pinned player shrugging off the defender as he went for the poke. And perhaps I'm crazy, but I swear I saw a few small bumps into the boards when I went to pin on a race to puck, as opposed to the suction pin of the past. It also seems like player ratings (and maybe size) are more important, as the Kings are tough down low with Brown, Penner, Richards, King, Nolan, etc.

Overall, I feel they took some steps to balance the current boardplay system. There are still some issues that likely won't improve without a total revamp, but it appears it might be more useful against the CPU. As with everything taken from the demo, we'll see how it plays out in the jungle of OTP.

# 20 mothman0 @ 08/28/12 01:28 AM

How do you do the 2-handed chop? I've tried and tried and all I can do with the poke check is the basic poke check, or sweep.

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