NHL 10 Community Day: Hands-on impressions Q & A

[Flyermania]

Up to this point I have only been able to comment on seeing some of the new features in NHL 10 at the Community Day, but now I am able to give some hands-on impressions from actually playing the game and hopefully answer some of your questions. We were able to spend about 5 or so hours playing that day, but please keep in mind that it was back in May.

Here are the features I can give impressions and/or answer questions on at this point:

- Board Play
- First Person Fighting
- Intimidation Tactics
- Precision Passing
- Post Whistle Action
- Interactive Crowds
- Spectacular New ways to score
- Improved Goaltender Intelligence/New animations
- In-game facial animations
- Styles of Play

Fire away!

[shakeable]

Re: NHL 10 Community Day: Hands-on impressions Q & A

Give us the info on precision passing.

Q: How hard did you find it to be to get the puck to the correct teammate?

- The difficulty in banking a pass of the boards etc so that it reaches the teammate?
- Breakout passes?

Q: Is it possible to one-time a pass between two teammates with the new passing system (not a one timer shot, simply a one time pass to a teammate)?

Q: How has the saucer pass been implemented?

- Is it automatic with some of the better passers?
- Does it depend on the context of the play?
- Does it only apply to a maximum strength pass ?

[joker75]

Re: NHL 10 Community Day: Hands-on impressions Q & A

Hi.

1. tripping / pokechecking . Big problem in the nhl09 . Is there any improve by rule NHL 57.1 : If, in the opinion of the Referee, a player makes contact with the puck first and subsequently .., no penalty shall be assessed

2. new mid-air bat-in situations : Are there very often or not ?

3. new knee score : Are there very often or not ? Is there any situations when player can not control puck if he is still on the knee ?


4. Face off is the same ..I know you can use direct of the pass after face-off : can you use the big/low power from your (RT) pass for this?

5. Are there any new animations for wrist shot and slapshot ?

THX for your job FLY :wink:

[Flyermania]

Re: NHL 10 Community Day: Hands-on impressions Q & A

Give us the info on precision passing.

Q: How hard did you find it to be to get the puck to the correct teammate?

- The difficulty in banking a pass of the boards etc so that it reaches the teammate?
- Breakout passes?

The more time I spent with the precision passing, the better I got at it. It's definitely going to be something you need to practice to get better at it. I was able to bank passes off the boards, and also make breakout passes --- but the CPU AI is tougher, so I was never able to actually able to connect on a long breakout attempt.

Q: Is it possible to one-time a pass between two teammates with the new passing system (not a one timer shot, simply a one time pass to a teammate)?

I wasn't able to do this, but that doesn't mean it can't be done.

Q: How has the saucer pass been implemented?

- Is it automatic with some of the better passers?
- Does it depend on the context of the play?
- Does it only apply to a maximum strength pass ?

To be honest, I didn't notice all that much of a difference in the saucer pass from how it was in 09, outside of being able to control it a bit more with precision passing.

[Flyermania]

Re: NHL 10 Community Day: Hands-on impressions Q & A

1. tripping / pokechecking . Big problem in the nhl09 . Is there any improve by rule NHL 57.1 : If, in the opinion of the Referee, a player makes contact with the puck first and subsequently .., no penalty shall be assessed

I felt the penalties were called a lot more tighter in NHL 10 when I played it.

2. new mid-air bat-in situations : Are there very often or not ?

In my hands-on time with the game, I never scored on one. And I only saw the more talented players (Crosby, Richards, Carter) even get a stick on it to even try it.

3. new knee score : Are there very often or not ? Is there any situations when player can not control puck if he is still on the knee ?

I never saw one even attempted in my games.

4. Face off is the same ..I know you can use direct of the pass after face-off : can you use the big/low power from your (RT) pass for this?

As I recall yes, if you are able to time it right.

5. Are there any new animations for wrist shot and slapshot ?

I'm sure you've seen pics or videos of the leg lift on wristers, but overall I did notice a lot more animations.

[ohyeahbaby123]

Re: NHL 10 Community Day: Hands-on impressions Q & A

1. How does the Hardcore style of play differ from say the normal style of play?

2. How are the puck physics different this year?

[Lubey]

Re: NHL 10 Community Day: Hands-on impressions Q & A

In one of the other impression articles, someone mentioned how the post whistle scrums were small, often including only two players. Did you ever see a big scrum in front of the net or anything? If I was looking forward to those types of things will I be disappointed? (I guess it could still happen in EASHL).

[onlybygrace]

Re: NHL 10 Community Day: Hands-on impressions Q & A

Thanks for doing this man...we're like little kids at Christmas around here...well...little kids waiting for Christmas.

So with the crowds...during normal play and stoppages...does the crowd sort of just chill (like it should) only to sort of jump around after big hits, fights and the like with the biggest reaction (going nuts) being reserved for goals?

Tell us what you can about the post whistle stuff, please.

And finally, maybe the most important to me...

Do your CPU teammates actually move around in the offensive zone this season looking for openings instead of just sitting there watching in one place? This is the reason I quickly tired of NHL 09...it seemed like the only way my teams forwards would do anything in the offensive zone would be if I created a play that made them do something.

What is the difference between intimidation tactics and post-whistle play???

[Money99]

Re: NHL 10 Community Day: Hands-on impressions Q & A

Thanks Flyermania! This is some great info:

1. How are the puck physics? Are they more robust or organic? In 09 it still felt like it was on rails and predetermined.
2. Was the CPU still able to make tape-to-tape passes regardless of who was dishing or receiving them?
3. Is there more of a neutral zone presence? Or is it still easy to gain the blue line?
4. Did you notice different styles of play between teams?
5. Was there a more noticeable difference between playing as a scorer compared to a checker?

Thanks again!

[Flyermania]

Re: NHL 10 Community Day: Hands-on impressions Q & A

1. How does the Hardcore style of play differ from say the normal style of play?

It definitely has more of a sim-style feel to it. It probably plays the most true-to-life version of hockey that I have played. Is it perfect? No. But it's on the right track.

2. How are the puck physics different this year?

I thought they were more lively and felt more organic than 09.

[Flyermania]

Re: NHL 10 Community Day: Hands-on impressions Q & A

In one of the other impression articles, someone mentioned how the post whistle scrums were small, often including only two players. Did you ever see a big scrum in front of the net or anything? If I was looking forward to those types of things will I be disappointed? (I guess it could still happen in EASHL).

If you keep hitting the button to initiate some post-whistle contact, you can see all 5 players per team going after each other. But it's on an individual basis and never one big scrum. To be honest I was pretty happy to see post-whistle stuff at first, but after a while it got old -- it needed some more work IMO.

[tyler289]

Re: NHL 10 Community Day: Hands-on impressions Q & A

How is the crowd? Is the "color-outs" really legit, or just so-so? Do they all stand up after/during big plays, like right after a goal?

I guess you can't comment on AI stuff, like if your teammates still just stand around in the offensive zone...

[Bolts_26]

Re: NHL 10 Community Day: Hands-on impressions Q & A

When you say the post whistle action got old, what do you mean by it?

[Flyermania]

Re: NHL 10 Community Day: Hands-on impressions Q & A

So with the crowds...during normal play and stoppages...does the crowd sort of just chill (like it should) only to sort of jump around after big hits, fights and the like with the biggest reaction (going nuts) being reserved for goals?

The crowd is interective during the appropriate time from what I recall. You will see them stand & pound the glass if someone is pinned on the boards.

Tell us what you can about the post whistle stuff, please.

See my earlier description...it was cool at first, but for me it got old quick. It's nice to see it in the game, but IMO it still needs some work.

And finally, maybe the most important to me...

Do your CPU teammates actually move around in the offensive zone this season looking for openings instead of just sitting there watching in one place? This is the reason I quickly tired of NHL 09...it seemed like the only way my teams forwards would do anything in the offensive zone would be if I created a play that made them do something.

I did feel the teammate AI was improved from 09. That said, it's not perfect but it is improved.

What is the difference between intimidation tactics and post-whistle play???

Post-whistle scrums are obviously stuff that is initiated and happens after the whistle. 3rd and 4th lines play more of a role this year as physical play, but hits, etc can affect how the opposition plays. If you are checking the crap out of the CPU, they may make a pass early to avoid a hit...a pass that is then off-target or intercepted. Your style of play can impact how the other team reacts.

[Flyermania]

Re: NHL 10 Community Day: Hands-on impressions Q & A

How is the crowd? Is the "color-outs" really legit, or just so-so? Do they all stand up after/during big plays, like right after a goal?

I guess you can't comment on AI stuff, like if your teammates still just stand around in the offensive zone...

See some of my earlier comments...crowd is definitely improved & more interactive at the appropriate times. Playoffs do bring about "color-outs", towel waving, etc.

Teammate AI is better than it was in 09, but still not where I would like it to be.