NHL 10 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360 & PS3)

[Vikes1]

Re: NHL 10 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360)

Again.. great job EA! My level last year was a mix of PRO and AS.. this year, AS seems perfect for me.

This was/is me too MizzouRah.

I was either bouncing back and forth from Pro to AS...or trying to find some sort of middle ground.

But this year with '10', I too think AS maybe the level I'll hopefully stick with. All-Star is actually a bit too difficult for me. But I prefer the gameplay on AS vs Pro. Thankfully EA brought back the human/cpu sliders for this year. So with just a few minor tweaks, I should be good to go.

[Eddie1967]

Re: NHL 10 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360)

Eddie...

If you are having trouble with the skill stick here are a few pointers.

1. Don't deke too much...it slows you down, but use a combination of regular striding with the puck and stuttered dekes. Be shifty and fast. That is what will beat defensemen and suprise goaltenders.

2. On breakaways or simple moves with speed are the way to go.

Simply...speed and illusion dude.

Thanks I will give that a try.

[Vince]

Re: NHL 10 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360)

Also, I know this has been said by others but I have to reiterate it; the decision to use 'Y' as the 'initiate fight' button as well as the 'board pin' button was poor. If you want to pin someone up against the boards but accidentally release Y too soon you start a fight/get a penalty, almost every time. Maybe instead 'initiate fight' could be mapped to the 'back' button.

Bah, I'll just turn off fighting...not a big deal for me..

[SportGamer24]

Re: NHL 10 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360)

looking like a day 1 purchase.

[taylor34]

Re: NHL 10 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360)

So does this version allow you to use an alternate configuration besides the shot stick? I wanted to get last years version but the config's not using the shot stick were missing buttons and features (lame). I know people will say that the shot stick is awesome, but I generally dislike any forced use of the right analog stick where it isn't really necessary (i.e. Halo I expect to use it, sports games I'd rather not). 16 years of playing hockey with the same buttons, I've gotten pretty used to them, lol.

Taylor34

[Percyswan]

NHL 10 DEMO AI

I think AI is probably the most important thing in a simulation hockey video game. What are your impressions of the NHL 10 AI based on the demos?


Here are some of mine:

Things I liked:
Players will play a dump and chase game at appropriate times (usually).
Players will bat pucks into the net, redirect them into the net or catch pucks out of the air.
In BE A PRO your linemates will get open, keep moving and can actually make some good plays on their own.
In BE A PRO opponanent AI is much tougher to play against, they won't let you take over the game and they will apply good pressure in the offensive zone.
Goaltenders are much smarter and can make some brillant saves but also allow more rebounds which is great.
AI players will more often be in the right position to get rebounds and will also clear away rebounds in the defensive zone.
Defencemen and goaltenders will block many cross-crease passes.

Things I disliked:
AI will slow down to recieve passes and usually turn the puck over because they have no speed.
Golatenders still seem to flop around a little too much.
Not enough screening plays and tip ins from the AI.
Picture perfect passes from the AI on the enemy team not enough turnovers or bad passes.
AI doesn't start scrums after the whistle (they should when they are behind, you hit them hard in the previous game or all game or series long, they are your rivals, you are in the playoffs, they are an enforcer or tough guy and sometimes for no reason at all.
Same goes for fighting AI players should fight each other sometimes.

[kerosene31]

Re: NHL 10 DEMO AI

Things I am super impressed with:

-Teammate AI on defense. This +++++. I finally feel comfortable playing my position and letting the CPU handle theirs. I've only ever seen that in one hockey game... and it wasn't an EA game.

Things I like:

-Teammate AI on offense. It is far from perfect, but I have no major complaints either.

Things that still worry me:

-CPU defensive aggressiveness. They seem to spend 100% of their time trying to block out all of your passing options... they just forget about the puck carrier! If you have a very skilled player with the puck, you can "hot-dog" it through the D pretty easily. I still never, ever feel the need to dump the puck. The blueline is easily obtained as long as you don't force it. At least in the demo with a Malkin or a Datsyuk you can slice through defenses pretty easily, seemingly too easily.

-The CPU is far too easy to lure into penalties with the new after the whistle scrums.

[MC Fatigue]

Re: NHL 10 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360)

Feels stale and boring. Feels like NHL 2009 with some little additions that don't really add very much to it. I was looking forward to it from the videos I'd seen, but I seriously was bored with the demo after 2-3 plays.

The only way I can see me buying it is for BAP mode - but last year it was horrible, and I certainly can't tell from the demo what it'll be like this year; especially since I prefer the goalie position.

[Lordofthething]

Re: NHL 10 DEMO AI

Anyone ever see a CPU player push the puck ahead with a speed burst?

[green94]

Re: NHL 10 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360)

Edit: Ok, I get the question now. I think hardcore/superstar will probably require most people to increase the period length to get realistic shot totals. It is likely that some slider fine tuning will be necessary to fit your skill and style if you want to get everything coming out just right, but I think that should definitely be possible now with the sliders that are available. I'm sure there will be plenty of (more objective) feedback on these forums on the matter when the full game is out.

This sounds great... I emailed you earlier this year and asked the same question. I'm one of the few (I think) that play 20min periods and I was getting 60+ shots a game. I was really hoping that would be toned down, sounds like Hardcore might be able to solve my problem .

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 10 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360)

Feels stale and boring. Feels like NHL 2009 with some little additions that don't really add very much to it. I was looking forward to it from the videos I'd seen, but I seriously was bored with the demo after 2-3 plays.

The only way I can see me buying it is for BAP mode - but last year it was horrible, and I certainly can't tell from the demo what it'll be like this year; especially since I prefer the goalie position.

Well gee theres a shocker Timmay doesn't like an EA game, who'da thunk it!

[Eddie1967]

Re: NHL 10 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360)

Feels stale and boring. Feels like NHL 2009 with some little additions that don't really add very much to it. I was looking forward to it from the videos I'd seen, but I seriously was bored with the demo after 2-3 plays.

The only way I can see me buying it is for BAP mode - but last year it was horrible, and I certainly can't tell from the demo what it'll be like this year; especially since I prefer the goalie position.

I would agree with the stale and boring comment as far as presentation goes. EA really needs to make major upgrades in that dept. I guess I'm spared from noticing if this is similar to last years in other areas since I didn't play 09 enough.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 10 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360)

I would agree with the stale and boring comment as far as presentation goes. EA really needs to make major upgrades in that dept. I guess I'm spared from noticing if this is similar to last years in other areas since I didn't play 09 enough.

See this is what I don't understand. Thorne and Clement are exciting to listen to, graphically the game is flat out sexy. Cutscenes with hats thrown on the ice for home team tricks, players getting ejected after a game misconduct, players being injuried being helped off the ice, player stat overlays during stoppages showing stats. What do you guys who hate the presentation need to actually like it? If they had flashy spot light intros would that make that much of a big difference? Presentation of the on ice action between the two games is pretty much identical, except Thorne and Clement's commentary is a whole hell of a lot better and more professional sounding. Not to mention theres a TON of new dialog this year vs the same 5-6 year old 2k pbp script. Enlighten me because I just don't get the whole stale presentation arguement.

[Mad 69]

Re: NHL 10 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360)

On superstar they do have a skating advantage. You can turn it off in NHL10, and it is much smaller to begin with.

So there is a cpu advantage, call it comeback logic or what you will, the cpu does get an advantage when the score is tied or their losing late in the game - how do people not notice this or believe its in the game?

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 10 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360)

So there is a cpu advantage, call it comeback logic or what you will, the cpu does get an advantage when the score is tied or their losing late in the game - how do people not notice this or believe its in the game?

Key word skating.