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

[06woz]

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

Qb, while you're here, mind telling me how to do the new toe drag?

[adayinthelife]

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

It can be a subtle effect, but I've clearly noticed when my guy is "hustling" most of the time. However, fatigue is a factor and I've also noticed guys tend to get rather tired with the short periods & default fatigue settings. Maybe this is why it doesn't seem to do much at times?

Another reason I think having something visual would really help this feature. Other than that I'm really liking it and I was pretty skeptical when I first heard of it.

I'm really liking the look of the ice surface this year and I think I can echo some of the comments regarding the size, it really does seem a little bit smaller than years past - this is a good thing. Of course I could be crazy (haven't touched 10 since March) or it could just be some optical trickery as a result of the fancier ice or something.

[CS10029]

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

Another reason I think having something visual would really help this feature. Other than that I'm really liking it and I was pretty skeptical when I first heard of it.

I'm really liking the look of the ice surface this year and I think I can echo some of the comments regarding the size, it really does seem a little bit smaller than years past - this is a good thing. Of course I could be crazy (haven't touched 10 since March) or it could just be some optical trickery as a result of the fancier ice or something.

The game does have something visual, the player will actually skate harder.

Next time you have a good 10-15 feet in front of you, click it three times and really watch his legs. Definitely pumps much harder and faster.

[adayinthelife]

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

The game does have something visual, the player will actually skate harder.

Next time you have a good 10-15 feet in front of you, click it three times and really watch his legs. Definitely pumps much harder and faster.

I'll definitely look again a little more closely, but I haven't really seen much difference to this point. I think there really needs to be a reasonable dramatic difference between normal skating and "hustling", just as there is in real life.

[mkharsh33]

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

I think we're going to have to really toy around with the fatigue slider this year. In previous years I always felt it best to max it out, but in the demo it just seems like guys are peeling off and you can get nothing going.

The good thing is that line changes look to be more crucial (which they should be), but the downside is a lack of offensive zone time.

Could this be THE YEAR that we actually have to play 20 minute periods to get the stats to play out right? If so, count me in...

[ChitownFan526]

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

The hitting is excellent with the new engine, really good variation in how different hits play out. The skating is different too, and that's a good thing, someone at the Community Day event said "heavier" and that's a great way to put it, more momentum-based perhaps...

I've found it very easy to score in HUT, but that's on Pro. Will say that I love the variation in goal scoring. Seems like getting the puck into the slot and shooting makes a difference. Let's hope that doesn't change when tuner sets start coming out during the year. I found scoring much more challenging on All-Star hardcore setting playing Battle for the Cup, but I only played one game, and I was killing penalties a lot (took 5 minor penalties, I believe).

I do have to admit a little concern over a possible exploit shot, but I found it difficult to pull off in BFTC, while very easy to do in HUT. Again, hopefully that's just the difference in difficulty level, since online play will likely have the most difficult settings. If a forum admin or Redshirt wants to know about it, please PM me and I will share what I've found.

Shooting is a bit too accurate in my opinion. I know it's adjustable in the final build, and was likely set to be this way since it's a demo...

[dorismary]

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

The more I play you can really see the skill level seperation between stars and checkers very impressive and how they added stick drops , chops and broken sticks is flawless .
The spot light on the scorer is also cool I mean I can go on and on EA has added so many little things while fine tuning gameplay perfectly .
I cant explain it but its almost real Hockey and as always the Announcing is blended perfectly like Bill and Gary are there .

[Burbruee]

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

Hm, any tips for scoring? (All-Star or above) It took me 10 games to even score one goal.
Also I tried Superstar and got scored on 5 times in a minute or two. It's much harder to play defense than in NHL 10.

[The Visualizer]

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

We have to break our bad defensive habits. I'm in the same boat in needing to pokecheck less and focus on keeping gap control & proper positioning/angles... because now the AI will actually make you pay for it! I wish we had better control of sticks defensively, as I'd love to be able to get my stick in the way while skating with an attacker. The manual pokecheck is still a little clunky -- maybe it's user error? -- and I often end up doing an accidental check when I stop.

I love how AI attackers will come down the wing towards the corner (assuming you take away the middle of the ice) but now if you don't make a play on the in the corner, they'll drive to the net along the goal line. In 10 you could lay off them and protect the slot, but now they keep you honest. Beautiful!

Yeah you are right about positioning and angles being more important, and yes the manual pokecheck has always been clunky for me too, I don't think it's user error, the stick just doesn't sweep very easily.

[frank70]

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

Here my short impressions:

The Good:

- Skating feels good. More weight to the players. More realistic imo.
- A.I. not quite there but well improved. Maybe even better with some slider changes A.I. Defenders could be even more aggressive in pressuring the puck handler. But again: Sliders may help.

The Bad:

It is in there vor over ten years now, but it struck me when playing the demo:

- Defenders should clear the puck alot more around the boards. In the game they turn on a dime when they gain possession of the puck while looking towards the goal. Instead they should use the goal as a shield and clear the puck going behind the net. Looks goofy and is really unrealistic and is a dangerous play. Don't know if EA can do something about this before release. Seems to be hardcoded as it is the same for many years

- Too many cross ice passes. In the neutral zone and in the attack zone. Again: More use of the boards and cycling behind the net would be more realistic

- Puck could even be more lively. It's better than in the years before but it is glued to the stick again. So, skill differential in technique and puckhandling ability isn't implemented well


All in all the game seems to play more realistic than NHL 10. But there are some movements of the players that aren't seen in a real hockey game or are boneheaded and would result in being benchend by the coach.

[Fiddy]

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

Hm, any tips for scoring? (All-Star or above) It took me 10 games to even score one goal.
Also I tried Superstar and got scored on 5 times in a minute or two. It's much harder to play defense than in NHL 10.

did you play NHL 10 at all? if so, you can score all the same ways in the NHL 11 Demo. im not being a jerk either, all the same crap from 10 is in the 11 demo.

[CS10029]

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

did you play NHL 10 at all? if so, you can score all the same ways in the NHL 11 Demo. im not being a jerk either, all the same crap from 10 is in the 11 demo.

I don't really agree with that. This game is much different. Cross crease passes are way harder to get through. Plus the CPU defense stays in position, making everything offensively more difficult.

[BigBlue10989]

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

did you play NHL 10 at all? if so, you can score all the same ways in the NHL 11 Demo. im not being a jerk either, all the same crap from 10 is in the 11 demo.

I disagree. I have tried many times to get a cross-crease pass to score a goal, and 99.5% of the time I've failed. It was either pokechecked by the goalie, deflected off of a skate or intercepted by the D-man.

[CS10029]

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

did you play NHL 10 at all? if so, you can score all the same ways in the NHL 11 Demo. im not being a jerk either, all the same crap from 10 is in the 11 demo.

How much did you play the demo?

[jrgom81]

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

sorry cant search the thread on my phone, but is any one else's goalies giving up really soft goals? I was playing UT and Ryan Miller was my goalie and he let in one shot from center ice and another from the blue line that looked like a dump in..