NHL 11 Demo Review Roundtable

[Scottdau]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Review Roundtable

I really like the way the ice looks this year and the player models are sweet looking too. The game is slower too, so I am happy about that. I can't wait to get that one guys music project uploaded and I can't wait to try some sliders from the OS gurus. I still like the puck physics in 2K better. It just feels more heavier, but the game's controls are so huge for me right now. I love that about this game.

[CS10029]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Review Roundtable

I can;t stop playing either. HUT has me coming back over and over.

[CS10029]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Review Roundtable

I really like the way the ice looks this year and the player models are sweet looking too. The game is slower too, so I am happy about that. I can't wait to get that one guys music project uploaded and I can't wait to try some sliders from the OS gurus. I still like the puck physics in 2K better. It just feels more heavier, but the game's controls are so huge for me right now. I love that about this game.

What I really like is, like you said the game is naturally slower, at default. Which makes the transition game, with the hustle button, seem much faster. Really gives you the stop and go feel you get from hockey.

[Scottdau]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Review Roundtable

HUT will be a game I play a lot. I like it and I love having those cards to buy. But I think I will just play a lot of exhitbition games this year. I have more fun being other teams than I do my own team now. So I might not start a franchise.

[cheechoo98]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Review Roundtable

trolllllllllllllllllllll alert

I'm not a troll... I play both hockey games.

It's just that, the statement by Jayson Young kind of bewildered me. He has never before seen the A.I move to open spaces in a hockey game?

I was commenting about the Demo, in that when I set my Breakout to: Aggressive or Full, I still find 3 of my forwards standing still at my blueline. Try it, take your D-Man behind the net to start a breakout, and look where your Forwards are. In hockey, your forwards are always moving, if there is no option, they are circling back looking to receive a pass as they circle forward...

Conversely, in 2K, when I set my breakout to 'aggressive/all out' and 'free-flowing' my forwards are criss-crossing, doing anything to try and get into a nice passing lane for a real 'breakout'. With aggressive strategy in 2K, you can make one guy hang out at the opposing blueline looking for that super-long breakout pass up the middle. I just wish EA's would do the same thing...

Another example of A.I.: There is a strategy in 2K, where if you cycle the puck down low enough, the diagonally opposite D-Man, if he sees an opening, will swoop down low, backdoor, looking for a pass for a tip in/ or one-timer, I've never seen that in EA's game, yet.

I will give the Demo credit, in that the forwards don't just stand off to the side away from the net anymore. They actually go to the front of the net... I scored a couple with Hossa in front screening...

I'm not the 1st person on these boards to complain of the static A.I. in the NHL series. But for the people who have played 2K, they know how good the A.I. is/was.

peace.

[TreyIM2]

I haven't been into the NHL franchise since my last purchase circa PS2's early days but I have played the demos on my PS3 since getting a PS3 in late 07.

One thing that still bothers me is how the players turn around. Seems like they need more animation frames. Very unrealistic and arcadish. One of the "roundtablers" mentioned that and it is something I have noticed for a while since the NHL 08 demo. I've gotten over it with the 09 demo and already have my pre-order for my first NHL game in a very long time, but still, it needs to get worked on, for real, for next year.

Also they need animations for when a player just happens to go directly into the board on his own. At least have the player stick out his arm to brace himself against the wall and have his body turn appropriately. No way that should be still going on in this current gen. Reminds me of that hockey game for the NES. Lol.

Other than that, I still think the game lacks some oomph. I just read about how to use the hustle feature correctly than what I originally knew so I will try that to see if I get more oomph, in a moment, but otherwise, the game feels too slow, overall....yet I like it and want this game.

[swil]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Review Roundtable

Hats off to the Dev team!

This is the unpolished demo and it still freakin rocks!!! HUT mode is going to keep me busy for a long time.

Love the new hits - I cant get enough of smashing players on the boards. I took Kane and tried to check Pronger and got blasted into next week- gotta love that. Also really glad that skaters do cross-overs when they are protecting the puck and trying to wheel around a defender. 100% more realistic there!

The biggest improvement that has me grinning is the AI, however. The Def is rock solid - pushes puckcarriers to the outside and clogs the hell out of the slot lanes. Almost NONE of my old tactics work on these guys. LOVE IT.

The offense, well, actually looks like a real hockey offense! Pong passing is gone! Praise the lord!

[cheechoo98]

I'm going to take back what I said earlier about the breakout strategies. I do see lots of aggressive breakouts with my forwards.. I'm loving the demo, especially, now that I've gotten into the Ultimate Team more.

EA has keyed on the collecting mentality that we all had as kids. I also like the return of user celebrations (I think 2002) was the last time it was in... Hey! That was also the last time there was card collecting too!
Although, I wish the celebrations lasted maybe, a couple of seconds longer.

It's gonna be a great game this year!

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Review Roundtable

I'm going to take back what I said earlier about the breakout strategies. I do see lots of aggressive breakouts with my forwards.. I'm loving the demo, especially, now that I've gotten into the Ultimate Team more.

EA has keyed on the collecting mentality that we all had as kids. I also like the return of user celebrations (I think 2002) was the last time it was in... Hey! That was also the last time there was card collecting too!
Although, I wish the celebrations lasted maybe, a couple of seconds longer.

It's gonna be a great game this year!

Yeah I was almost guessing you were playing a different 2k10, as there's esentially no breakout strategy employed by the AI in that game. If you have the puck in one corner with a dmen, the other dman rather than sag back on the other end for a regroup pass is gone already in the neutral zone along with the forwards who break for the neutral zone the second you have the puck in your own end. The AI flat out doesn't support the player at all.

In EA's game on the other hand the dman makes himself available for a behind the net pass should you need to change the flow due to a forecheck and the forwards support at the blue line to help move the puck out. Which is the proper way to do it.

It was actually my biggest frustration with 2k10 right up there with the goal tender AI. I don't even want to get into what the problem is there, the list would be too long.

[cheechoo98]

No, RealmK. 2K still has fantastic Breakout plays. I was commenting on how in NHL11 Demo, my forwards are stuck stationary at our own blueline w/ FULL ATTACK breakout on. But now I see that it varies depending on the situation. Sometimes, I see a guy waaay up there in the neutral zone, and sometimes they hang back.
No more 2K talk here, ok? I'll agree to disagree. cheers.

I'm getting addicted to the carding of Ultimate Hockey League...

[gosensgo101]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Review Roundtable

I'm not a troll... I play both hockey games.

It's just that, the statement by Jayson Young kind of bewildered me. He has never before seen the A.I move to open spaces in a hockey game?

I was commenting about the Demo, in that when I set my Breakout to: Aggressive or Full, I still find 3 of my forwards standing still at my blueline. Try it, take your D-Man behind the net to start a breakout, and look where your Forwards are. In hockey, your forwards are always moving, if there is no option, they are circling back looking to receive a pass as they circle forward...

Conversely, in 2K, when I set my breakout to 'aggressive/all out' and 'free-flowing' my forwards are criss-crossing, doing anything to try and get into a nice passing lane for a real 'breakout'. With aggressive strategy in 2K, you can make one guy hang out at the opposing blueline looking for that super-long breakout pass up the middle. I just wish EA's would do the same thing...

Another example of A.I.: There is a strategy in 2K, where if you cycle the puck down low enough, the diagonally opposite D-Man, if he sees an opening, will swoop down low, backdoor, looking for a pass for a tip in/ or one-timer, I've never seen that in EA's game, yet.

I will give the Demo credit, in that the forwards don't just stand off to the side away from the net anymore. They actually go to the front of the net... I scored a couple with Hossa in front screening...

I'm not the 1st person on these boards to complain of the static A.I. in the NHL series. But for the people who have played 2K, they know how good the A.I. is/was.

peace.

There's a simple solution to this: create a play.

[dorismary]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Review Roundtable

I really like the way the ice looks this year and the player models are sweet looking too. The game is slower too, so I am happy about that. I can't wait to get that one guys music project uploaded and I can't wait to try some sliders from the OS gurus. I still like the puck physics in 2K better. It just feels more heavier, but the game's controls are so huge for me right now. I love that about this game.

The Add on music is amazing and not like other games its really seemless just like it came with the game ! Those guys did a great job youll really enjoy it as it added so much more authenticity to the game .

[XFactor2481]

NHL is definitely my favorite game out there, NHL 10 was amazing - NHL 11 demo was solid but gameplay was a lot slower, too slow, but hopefully you can adjust that in the real game.

Not sure if I am entirely sold on the new checking - too many big hits and players going down, you rarely see open ice hits like that in a NHL game

New faceoff mode is cool

[Keirik]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Review Roundtable

I'm not a troll... I play both hockey games.

It's just that, the statement by Jayson Young kind of bewildered me. He has never before seen the A.I move to open spaces in a hockey game?

I was commenting about the Demo, in that when I set my Breakout to: Aggressive or Full, I still find 3 of my forwards standing still at my blueline. Try it, take your D-Man behind the net to start a breakout, and look where your Forwards are. In hockey, your forwards are always moving, if there is no option, they are circling back looking to receive a pass as they circle forward...

Conversely, in 2K, when I set my breakout to 'aggressive/all out' and 'free-flowing' my forwards are criss-crossing, doing anything to try and get into a nice passing lane for a real 'breakout'. With aggressive strategy in 2K, you can make one guy hang out at the opposing blueline looking for that super-long breakout pass up the middle. I just wish EA's would do the same thing...

Another example of A.I.: There is a strategy in 2K, where if you cycle the puck down low enough, the diagonally opposite D-Man, if he sees an opening, will swoop down low, backdoor, looking for a pass for a tip in/ or one-timer, I've never seen that in EA's game, yet.

I will give the Demo credit, in that the forwards don't just stand off to the side away from the net anymore. They actually go to the front of the net... I scored a couple with Hossa in front screening...

I'm not the 1st person on these boards to complain of the static A.I. in the NHL series. But for the people who have played 2K, they know how good the A.I. is/was.

peace.

nah bro, you unnecessarily bring up EA goggles. LEave that crap at home and just get on with your point about disagreeing. You were'nt JUST commenting on the demo, you were commenting on those who like EA's game. Just not needed.

[Vikes1]

Re: NHL 11 Demo Review Roundtable

Hope I'm not repeating myself too much here but...man, the more I play the demo, the even more convinced I am of the absolute necessity of playing fundamentally sound. Which of course is the way it should be.

I'm finding if you breakdown defensively, and allow a player in alone on your goalie this year, your screwed. Nearly expect the lamp to light up. No more robot goalies to bail you out. Playing sound defense imo, will be a priority this year. The ole cross crease pass seems well defended for '11'. So the need to truly be more creative in the offensive zone looks like another necessity.

I'm learning these things the hard way so far. I've been giving up goals and failing to score due to now...outdated tactics. The last few times I've played I've improved at least some. Due to the improved AI, it's forcing me to play well...smarter. I actually bothered to cycle the puck back to the point hoping the goalie may be screened. It worked beautifully. I sniped one in from the high slot...it felt fantastic!

Can't wait to get my Wild BEAGM going.