NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

[Vikes1]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

If this is just a demo, than I'm in for a real treat........

Played the NCAA demo and was like "Dam!!! Gotta get this game!!!!"

Ditto for this one. As many of you know, this will be my first-ever NHL game. I'm as excited for this release as I was for NCAA and The Show!!!

Glad to hear your digging the demo Sega.

Pretty cool when the demo puts a smile on your face isn't it? Yep, I believe we're in for another dang great year of EA Canada hockey.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

My overall take...

The good...

Checking is awesome. Broken sticks are done well. The house announcer is redone and actually sounds excited (which is awesome). CPU players will actually put on dekes to try and get around you, which is my favorite new thing.

The bad...

Superstar level results in the CPU having crazy attribute boosts that result in a completely unrealistic game. No way players are catching Kane from behind with the ease they do on superstar.

The ugly...

The ratings. Do they just randomly throw out numbers? The Blackhawks have an 89 in goaltending (with Huet in the equation)... really? And they have a weaker defense than the Flyers? Come on, EA, your rankings suck. This is why simulated games are so off.

You're aware they added a 3 layer speed burst back into the game via clicking the left analog right? Lets not get started on the whole CPU attribute boost bs before the game is even out.

[Scottdau]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

We have the best defensive pair in the NHL, not even close. Our 2nd defensive line (Hjalmarsson and Campbell) are great offensively. Our 3rd line (which will be Boynton and Hendry) is average, I'll give you that. But I doubt Philly is better than that. Campbell is arguably the best offensive defenseman in the NHL. Hjalmarsson, last year's best-kept secret was one of the most under-rated players in the league. Now the cat's out. He's good.

The ratings are just way off.

Chris Pronger and Carle was the best last year. Your boys are good too, but the Flyers still have a better defense.

[SinisterAlex]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Yea I think I'm going down to All-Star until we can edit the sliders for Superstar... I'm sick of these B.S AI poke checks... They don't even put their stick near the puck and you still lose it. But you can stick lift them twice and they still retain the puck... why can't we edit the sliders EA, why?

But other than that, this game is really awesome. Loving the Hustle button although it seemed to do nothing on Superstar, it seemed every player was faster than Kane...

Broken Sticks are awesome and annoying when it prevents a great scoring chance. I also tried out the Ultimate Team, I have to say it's fun but it'll be even more fun when everything's unlocked.

[savoie2006]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Ok, so after an hour or so with the demo, I would have to say I like most of what I'm seeing. Though it won't be until I can adjust some sliders that I'll see the true beauty of the game. Without a doubt the game is still a day one purchase.
All the little things that have been added have really made a difference. The one real negative I can think of right off, is the skating doesn't seem to have any weight to it. The hits and puck physics are better , though the latter isn't a major improvement yet. I love the faceoffs and the passing as well. Also glad to see they made the play stoppages shorter and minus the check fest for the most part.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Another thing I noticed, and I expected it anyway. PS3 version still has some framerate issues vs the 360 version. Not quite as bad as last year but its still there on occasion.

[yankeesgiants]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

This game is great. Had a goal overturned because the player used his hand to swat the puck in the net. Had a broken stick on a one timer. The glass moves on the PS3 and the overall sound is different. First day buy for me.

[Gagnon39]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

I refuse to turn it off of superstar until I score one goal. Just 1. Has anyone had an success on this difficulty setting? I can't seem to get any open ice to save my life. I played almost 2 seasons on NHL 10 on superstar (won the Cup and President's Trophy). I'm a little unsure what level I'll be playing on.

[BigBlue10989]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

We have the best defensive pair in the NHL, not even close. Our 2nd defensive line (Hjalmarsson and Campbell) are great offensively. Our 3rd line (which will be Boynton and Hendry) is average, I'll give you that. But I doubt Philly is better than that. Campbell is arguably the best offensive defenseman in the NHL. Hjalmarsson, last year's best-kept secret was one of the most under-rated players in the league. Now the cat's out. He's good.

The ratings are just way off.

Not close? Pronger, Timonen, Carle, and Meszaros is a sick Top-4. It might not be as good as CHI, but to say it isn't close is asinine.

[savoie2006]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

So Q, how much more improved is the demo compared to when you played the game at the community event? I can see why you had a hard time going back NHL 10. I know I won't.

[Qb]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Played a few more games with more to come in an hour or two. I suddenly remember why I begged for the option of turning off auto-backskate. Glad I won't have to worry about it after the demo. I'm having enough trouble trying to adapt to a CPU opponent that attacks the goal that I don't my player turning around when I don't want him to.

Anyways, messed around with HUT and I can see playing around with it some. I think I'll prefer GM mode for offline play and I'm not much for playing randoms online, but it could be cool enough to get some of my NHL time. I like how they tease us with some NHL stars in our demo team... something tells me it's going to be a lot harder to get those guys in the full version.

Scored a sweet goal with Ryan Ellis to win a tourney game in the last 10 seconds. Yet another screened slapper, which is encouraging. I thought screens weren't effective enough in '10, so seeing them early & often with the demo is encouraging. Also scored on a clean quick wrister (no drag) from the slot shortly after receiving a pass on a 2-on-1 (not a one-timer) then did the jump into boards celebration as my momentum took me into them... sweet.

Can't wait to be able to tinker with the sliders and get the game just how I like it.

So Q, how much more improved is the demo compared to when you played the game at the community event? I can see why you had a hard time going back NHL 10. I know I won't.

The overall feel is very similar to the build we played on the second day, but it's MUCH more polished. I'm glad you guys are mostly seeing/feeling what I did when playing the game. Good to know I'm not completely off my rocker.

[BlueNGold]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Chris Pronger and Carle was the best last year. Your boys are good too, but the Flyers still have a better defense.

No, he is right that Keith/Seabrook are the best D pair in the league, but I don't know why he's upset about the Flyers being rated 1 point higher than Chicago in defense aside from the fact he's a Blackhawks fan.

Anyways, it's pointless to argue over. It's just a stupid team rating thing and they're never that accurate anyways.

[LuGer33]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Not to mention it's a 1 attribute difference (I think you said 86 and 85). Sheesh...

[green94]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

I just sold NHL10 a week ago knowing this demo would be out to help hold me over for NHL11.

This demo is great... is it me or do wrist shots really get to the goalie in a hurry now? That was one of the biggest things I noticed off the bat. Checking is great... and did I see the AI dump the puck 3 times in A ROW. OMG! I've even seen a little bit of cycling by the computer as well.

My only gripe was the Hawks goal horn... it sounds a lot different than last year and I thought they had it right last year. Am I hearing things?

[Gagnon39]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Not close? Pronger, Timonen, Carle, and Meszaros is a sick Top-4. It might not be as good as CHI, but to say it isn't close is asinine.

No one is close to our top pair (2). Who the crap is Meszaros? Enough said.