NHL 13 News Post

NHL 13 Season Ticket Impressions

01:52 PM - September 7, 2012 by Qb

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EA SPORTS Season Ticket allows people to play Madden NFL, NHL®, FIFA Soccer®, Tiger Woods PGA Tour®, and NCAA Football® titles before launch.

The $24.99 or 2000 Microsoft® Points / 12 months* subscription includes, access to over $100 worth of PDLC, three day early access to all participating franchises, and 20% off additional PDLC in all participating franchises.

Please post your NHL 13 impressions here. NHL 13 Q&A is here.

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

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Member Comments

# 241 mike24forever @ 09/10/12 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyoung


	Goh, you can fix the stuttering issues by making a custom camera that crops out the crowd from the image. When a lot of the crowd is on-screen, that's what causes the stutter. If you zoom the camera in tight enough, the crowd won't ever appear on-screen and the game will run smoothly.

He said he deleted the game. This was suggested to him before, however he only looks for the negative. Hopefully, he will not buy the game and save himself $60, and save us from his complaining.

# 242 bad_philanthropy @ 09/10/12 12:39 PM

I feel like picking up loose pucks could be tighter. I don't mean when the puck is rolling and my guy is being pressured. I mean when the puck is just sitting there and nobody is around me. I won't even be skating hard and my player just seems to ignore it at times. If you aren't going to give me control of my stick to corral loose pucks, then have the AI do it for me when it makes sense. It would be nice if the player could kick the puck to his stick in the proper context as well.

# 243 ChubbyBanana @ 09/10/12 01:09 PM

So I decided best way to see how my play was improving or not improving was to start a "playoff mode" and play a series.

This last game each team had a power play. Its like Penalties want to be there, but something in the code is preventing them, IMO.

# 244 duffman @ 09/10/12 02:29 PM

Couple more points from my second game:

-There is finally a 4vs4 set of lines, thank God! As long as this carries over into OT this will fix the random selection of which forwards get to play during OT. This has been bugging me for a while now

-Still no postgame three stars, minor but it just helps in overall presentation since its a tradition in hockey

-Gary and Bill are fine, but they need either a) new lines or b) someone needs to go clean up the old lines. I really shouldn't be hearing about how the Rangers are having trouble finding their way to a winning season anymore after last year, i think i'd rather just have some dead air instead of hearing outdated lines if thats the only option.

-Seeing some awesome, awesome puck deflections and goalie reactions. Plays where the goalie is going one way and makes that little adjustment to make the save off a skate or stick just like in real life. Some of these are just plain beautiful to watch.

-I'm able to score this year off of clean wristers, on superstar hardcore settings without having to alter shot power, goalie reaction or any of that which is great.

So far the game is what i expected, it's the newer, more enhanced version of the NHL series i've been playing for years. Not that its a bad thing, i was on the fence about buying before season ticket but now i'm leaning towards picking it up later this week barring any ridiculous franchise problems that may surface.

# 245 bukktown @ 09/10/12 06:18 PM

I'm an online 1v1 player and I've played 15 games so far. I've always been a good player who wins about 75% of the games. But this year against good opponents I have been completely dominated.

I have a lot to learn. It's mostly getting the hang of skating but also what's a good strategy to score.

I have learned that on a 2-0 breakaway you will not score with a cross crease pass and one timer because the lateral movement of the goalie is insane in this situation. If you pass it back to the original puck carrier the goal will be wide open but it is hard for me to do that right now. I often get stuck flat footed which is killing me right now on both offense and defense.

The poke check is real OP and I turn the pick over all of the time in both zones. The only place I play well is the neutral zone which isn't helping me very much right now!

Overall, I'm just frustrated and playing terrible.

# 246 Majingir @ 09/10/12 06:40 PM

Just a coincidence probably, but just had a real good game. 2 penalties per team(and 1 fight I FORCED to happen lol), and at the end when I won...the custom home win music played!

I doubt that anything special happened to trigger it, it was probably just a rare occurrence since it never usually works. Though I did notice that the music played but there was no horn that went off at the end of the game, so maybe the goal horn interferes with the home win music?

# 247 bwiggy33 @ 09/10/12 07:56 PM

Well I'm having a little bit more fun with the game now. The issues I've stated are still bothering me but maybe just maybe EA will fix it. It sounds like they are going to try and attempt to fix the penalty problem. Overall though I'm definitely enjoying it more. It still feels like NHL 12 with improved skating (which I'm liking a lot more). At times it's like your player is in quick sand but that's due to fatigue I'm pretty sure.

I hate to bring this topic up again but it truly is indescribable how terrible the goalies are in this game. I'm using Savoie's sliders with reaction on 2 and screen effect on 5. Let me tell you the sliders are in no way the issue. It is the fact that EA just has terrible goalies. Their new reading the play before it happens has completely taken out the ability to even score on a back door pass or one timer. Every time it gets stopped. Sure you can shoot shortside but what fun is doing that everytime. I've actually found you can score on that fairly regularly. Also the goalies are making saves look like gamebreaking saves every time. They flail their glove and end up on their *** after almost every shot. It's just really irritating and so over done. I'm really getting sick of hearing Thorne screaming "Oh what a save" every time because the animation the goalie does triggers the commentary. Overall I honestly can't say one good thing about the goalies at all. By far the weakest area of this series.

As I said earlier I am really really impressed with the puck physics. For people playing on any size but Authentic I really want to tell you to switch. You don't realize how good the puck bounces and physics are until you switch to Authentic with shadow off. I saw a puck today roll on its side all the way down the ice. Really awesome to see. It also looks great when it comes off the glass. This area of the game EA did a phenomenal job. The puck is hard to see at times but it's definitely worth it.

Also a tip for anyone like me who was not seeing teammates go and forecheck after dumping the puck in. You have to set your forecheck to whichever one you want but then you have to crank up the NZ/FC slider to all the way on the Forecheck side. If you don't you dump the puck in and find that all of your teammates go straight to the neutral zone coverage and wait for the opposing team to break out of their zone with ease. So basically you are just handing the puck to the opposing team. How EA has this flaw in the game is beyond me. Your AI teammates should always go in on the forecheck but the slider should more determine how hard you forecheck while inside the zone. I mean seriously what team in the NHL dumps the puck in and doesn't send any forecheckers or their D men in the zone unless it's to switch lines? Nobody. That completely defeats the purpose of dumping the puck in. I still can't believe how EA missed this problem. At least it's fixable with changing the slider to forecheck instead of nz. I highly suggest you just leave the slider permanently cranked to forecheck every single game.

As I think of it right now I think one thing to make this game better with getting a full on CPU forecheck is by going into create your AI and cranking up the forecheck slider for every single team. Reason I say this is because when the CPU dumps the puck in their guys are also setting up in the NZ at times which means an extremely easy breakout for me and 0 pressure from the CPU.

Overall though I am having a much better time with the game since I dived into it yesterday. I'm not sure if it's the fact I have to accept the game for what it is, or I'm just desperate to play an NHL game, but overall it's playing better. Hopefully it will continue to be this way and I really hope EA fixes some of the AI and gameplay problems. If they can this game could be really really good.

# 248 jyoung @ 09/10/12 08:00 PM

The problem is that goalies didn't get the new skating physics this year like normal skaters. Goalies are still teleporting at warp speed across the crease without any sense of weight or momentum working against them. They can literally just teleport in any direction at any time.

That is why you still see so many ridiculous side-to-side saves.

# 249 bwiggy33 @ 09/10/12 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyoung


	The problem is that goalies didn't get the new skating physics this year like normal skaters. Goalies are still teleporting at warp speed across the crease without any sense of weight or momentum working against them. They can literally just teleport in any direction at any time. That is why you still see so many ridiculous side-to-side saves.

100%. I have brought this topic up about a thousand times on this forum and that is why some people probably hate me

. It seems most of the people playing this game don't see it (which is beyond me) but it's the number one reason why the goalies are so bad.

# 250 blinkfan77 @ 09/10/12 08:07 PM

Couldn't agree more. Goalies warping from side to side looks horrible. I usually just laugh it off in disgust. Badly needs deep improvement.

# 251 DrPhibes @ 09/10/12 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyoung


	The problem is that goalies didn't get the new skating physics this year like normal skaters. Goalies are still teleporting at warp speed across the crease without any sense of weight or momentum working against them. They can literally just teleport in any direction at any time. That is why you still see so many ridiculous side-to-side saves.

Sounds like side-to-side dekeing and cross creases are a memory.

How is just shooting? Like are you seeing a better variety of shots going in?

# 252 RoyalBoyle78 @ 09/10/12 08:17 PM

Short and sweet. I love the game and just paid it off, can't wait for tomorrow!!

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

# 253 jyoung @ 09/10/12 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhibes


	Sounds like side-to-side dekeing and cross creases are a memory. How is just shooting? Like are you seeing a better variety of shots going in?

"Just shooting" is really the best scoring tactic now.

If you try to go all NHL 12 and get fancy with dekes and one-timers you will turn the puck over incessantly and probably never score unless a puck goes off a body/skate and deflects in randomly.

# 254 orion523 @ 09/10/12 09:01 PM

Although I am disgusted about the penalty issue, I played the game a few more times and I can't help but like it. The decision now comes down to this: Do I buy the game and hope that penalties are fixed, or wait and see. Right now I'm still not sure.

# 255 savoie2006 @ 09/10/12 09:03 PM

So has anyone downloaded a new tuner that was supposedly put out today? I'm wondering if maybe they already addressed the penalty issue?

# 256 bukktown @ 09/10/12 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhibes


	Sounds like side-to-side dekeing and cross creases are a memory. How is just shooting? Like are you seeing a better variety of shots going in?

Yes shots from all angles go in. Some clean and some squeeze through the goalies arms and under pads and trickle in. What I am seeing from opponents online is a lot of bad angle shots sprinting into the zone and not being able to turn the corner so the whip it at the side of my goalie and about 5% of those ricochet in off the goalies side/back/skate.

It is much harder to set up in zone with the flat footed cement skating and the 3x skater width poke check radius passes get deflected all the time. I think the end result will be MUCH more authentic NHL gameplay online once they tune a little bit and people normalize their play styles to the new gameplay dynamics.

But the big question that everybody wants to know online is how do I score? Once you see how it's done you gravitate towards that strategy over and over again. Right now the answer to that question is you try to get some space in the zone, close your eyes, and let one rip (that made me laugh when I reread it). There is no money goal currently.

# 257 Majingir @ 09/10/12 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orion523


	Although I am disgusted about the penalty issue, I played the game a few more times and I can't help but like it. The decision now comes down to this: Do I buy the game and hope that penalties are fixed, or wait and see. Right now I'm still not sure.

Penalties might have been fixed..and even if it isn't, if you're deciding between now, or waiting until price drops to get it, just get it now. Price won't drop(unless someone is selling it online or something)

# 258 mike24forever @ 09/10/12 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Majingir


	Penalties might have been fixed..and even if it isn't, if you're deciding between now, or waiting until price drops to get it, just get it now. Price won't drop(unless someone is selling it online or something)

I don't know if they fixed them or not, however the CPU has had 1 roughing and 1 interference penalty through 2 periods and I have had 1 high sticking and 1 interference penalty.

Edit: with less then a minute left in the 2nd, I got a boarding penalty.

Also, I'm playing 10 minute periods. At this point I am not buying into the idea that thre is an issue with the penalties in the years game.

# 259 adayinthelife @ 09/10/12 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savoie2006


	So has anyone downloaded a new tuner that was supposedly put out today? I'm wondering if maybe they already addressed the penalty issue?

I grabbed a tuner when I booted it up a little while ago, but didn't notice much of a difference in the penalty department. I've been getting penalties every game however. Not quite enough perhaps, but they're still there.

# 260 kerosene31 @ 09/11/12 02:10 AM

Well, I've never been to a midnight release before in all my years of gaming. I just happened to be off of work this week and I figured why not?

Just some very initial impressions. I only played one game so far.

All star diffficulty
10 minute periods
Sabres (me) vs Leafs

I didn't play the demo very much, so I was not used to the skating and out of practice quite a bit. I got outshot like 18-3 in the 1st. I took some dumb penalties and was just playing poorly. Miller held me in there (he is rated like a God in this game) and I was only down 1-0. By the 2nd I started to get going and eventually won the game 4-1 with an empty netter.

Now, for the good, the bad, and the ugly:

The good:

-Game is a lot more "sloppy". You can actually poke the puck away if you are in proper position without having to time it down to the nano-second.

-Passing was great (not laser beam accurate all the time) and I wasn't even playing on hardcore mode yet

-The physics overall are even better than previous games. Things like puck battles in the corner and poke checks used to feel scripted, now they feel natural.

-The skating engine is great and really adds to the realism. Momentum is huge now as it should be. Passing to a player standing still is completely different than hitting him on the fly.

The bad (and ugly):

-The teammate AI needs to get better. What's strange is that the teammate AI in some ways took a step backwards. One glaring example is with a simple behind the net D to D pass. I play left D in the EASHL and often in BAP and for years if I was under pressure, I would make the easy behind the net pass to my CPU d-man. Well, this year too often the D man will stand in the right spot but for some reason will watch the puck go by. What should usually be an easy clear ends up being a nightmare. This is only made worse by the skating engine. If your d-man doesn't have great mobility (lots don't) and your partner doesn't help you out, you end up in a lot of bad situations. It is hard to describe. It kind of punishes d-men who aren't the best skaters in the world a little too much?

-The home team still can't see the visiting team's line choice. This was only a minor annoyance in the past, but with the new skating engine I think line matching might be a lot more important. Most of the time in the past I would roll my lines, but now if I were playing the Pens, I would pay much more attention to when Sid is on the ice and which line matches up. However there's no way to do that even if you are at home.

-After about a period and a half, I pretty quickly figured out that after I gain the blueline that the old move of spinning towards the boards about the top of the faceoff circle seems to send the AI into a state of total confusion. Granted, I was playing a lower ranked team, but the Sabres aren't exactly rated high either (except goalie). By the 3rd period I was able to skate across the slot and get some really crazy scoring chances (maybe I finally need to "graduate" to superstar)

-While the physics are great overall, there are still a few "what the heck" moments. Not a huge deal but sometimes the puck just does strange things. For example I take a weak shot right in front of the net which hits the goalie and ends up getting "punted" out to center ice. I'm not talking a kick save on a 100 mile an hour slapper, but a quick wrist shot from in close that suddenly gains a ton of momentum that seems physically impossible. Again, far from a gamebreaker, but you can end up with a few comical moments in your game.

-I had zero penalties in the game except for dumb ones I took when controlling a player.

Overall:
As always my negatives seem to outweigh the positives but overall I think the game is another great one.

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