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

[DJ]

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

Anyone else feel like the odd-man rushes are a lot better than previous years? I've had a couple of nice 3-on-1 and 2-on-1 breaks that either resulted in goals or solid shot attempts that were stopped by the goalie. The CPU also looks to take advantage of the numbers as well.

[Vikes1]

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

Anyone else feel like the odd-man rushes are a lot better than previous years? I've had a couple of nice 3-on-1 and 2-on-1 breaks that either resulted in goals or solid shot attempts that were stopped by the goalie. The CPU also looks to take advantage of the numbers as well.

Yep DJ, I'd say even overall the..."Where the hell is everybody?", feeling that I had at times with '10', isn't nearly as prevalent.

I've seen a few very nice odd man rushes develop for me. But man...has the ease of the cross crease pass, been taken care of nicely this year. The cpu seems to do a much better job of protecting the middle area of the slot. And really liking what they've done to humanize the goalies for '11'.

[RealmK]

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

Yep DJ, I'd say even overall the..."Where the hell is everybody?", feeling that I had at times with '10', isn't nearly as prevalent.

I've seen a few very nice odd man rushes develop for me. But man...has the ease of the cross crease pass, been taken care of nicely this year. The cpu seems to do a much better job of protecting the middle area of the slot. And really liking what they've done to humanize the goalies for '11'.

They're plenty human this year even on superstar. I just had Leighton hand me the puck for a short handed goal. And I mean hand me, the player he tried to pass to over skated it, and my forward just happened to be right there. Was funny as hell seing the goalie get that Oh **** panic mode trying to get back to the crease.

I simply can't state enough just how much better the gameplay on the whole feels this year. Between the much improved hitting and the awesome puck physics and just the smoothness of the new animations, presentation elements and everything in between. I think this is truly going to have sports game of the year written all over it for alot of people.

[BR0NXB0MBERS87]

To confirm that they do call goals at first, with the players n goal light going on as if it was a goal, I was playing the demo and it was the coolest thing. Cpu took a shot (don't remember the certain player, my goalie saved it with the blocker, puck went into the air and on way down, crosby whacked it into the net for a goal. But I swear as soon as I saw it, my immediate reaction was no goal cuz his stick was above the crossbar. It really was crazy that it looked so legit but I could actually tell it shouldn't of been a goal. Sure enough the ref came in, and it went to review. Replays were perfect, best view coming from the side where u can clearly see the stick above the crossbar. No goal and I was just like wow that was cool so yes there will be goals that happen but get reviewed and don't count.

[18 eighty 5]

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

Anyone else feel like the odd-man rushes are a lot better than previous years? I've had a couple of nice 3-on-1 and 2-on-1 breaks that either resulted in goals or solid shot attempts that were stopped by the goalie. The CPU also looks to take advantage of the numbers as well.

Good call! Totally agree. Had an awesome 3 on one goal the other night and it made me think 'crikey, that was different'. But all it was was a straight forward 3 on 1 goal you see in the NHl all the time.

[JezFranco]

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

Good call! Totally agree. Had an awesome 3 on one goal the other night and it made me think 'crikey, that was different'. But all it was was a straight forward 3 on 1 goal you see in the NHl all the time.

I've also come to love another nice little addition.
On NHL 10 many was the times I had the puck behind the goal line waiting for a pass situation to my guy in the slot, but he was either not there or he was standing there without moving an inch while the defenders trashed him.

Now in the demo, I've seen a few times I'm in the same situation waiting to send out a deadly pass, and all of a sudden one of my defenders does an offensive rush from the point to just outside the slot just like he want's me to give him a pass so he can do a one timer.
ABSO-LUTELY-EFFIN-AMAZING! My defender is acting like his is a live team mate playing co-op. He's moving into an open spot because he wants to score.

The first time I saw it, I was so amazed I forgot to pass him... and he went back to his D-position as he realised the opening wasn't there anymore.

I've noticed this not only in the situation mentioned but many occasions where I hold the puck waiting for someone to pass, my players are moving around, where's in the 10 they'd just go to their default position and stay there... and perhaps moved a bit when I "triggered" a play.


Thank you EA - This game is officially better than sex.

[18 eighty 5]

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

I've also come to love another nice little addition.
On NHL 10 many was the times I had the puck behind the goal line waiting for a pass situation to my guy in the slot, but he was either not there or he was standing there without moving an inch while the defenders trashed him.

Now in the demo, I've seen a few times I'm in the same situation waiting to send out a deadly pass, and all of a sudden one of my defenders does an offensive rush from the point to just outside the slot just like he want's me to give him a pass so he can do a one timer.
ABSO-LUTELY-EFFIN-AMAZING! My defender is acting like his is a live team mate playing co-op. He's moving into an open spot because he wants to score.

The first time I saw it, I was so amazed I forgot to pass him... and he went back to his D-position as he realised the opening wasn't there anymore.

I've noticed this not only in the situation mentioned but many occasions where I hold the puck waiting for someone to pass, my players are moving around, where's in the 10 they'd just go to their default position and stay there... and perhaps moved a bit when I "triggered" a play.


Thank you EA - This game is officially better than sex.

Firstly, your obseravtions about team mates getting open and playing offense is great to hear, will watch for the behind the net stuff.

BUT

If I just arrived home from the shops with a brand new copy of NHL 11 and my wife said to me 'lets rock', I'd leave NHL 11 till later (adding another 120 seconds to wait for NHL 11 is worth it surely) and choose sex with the missus haha.

Still, this game is shaping up to be stellar.

[onlybygrace]

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

Firstly, your obseravtions about team mates getting open and playing offense is great to hear, will watch for the behind the net stuff.

BUT

If I just arrived home from the shops with a brand new copy of NHL 11 and my wife said to me 'lets rock', I'd leave NHL 11 till later (adding another 120 seconds to wait for NHL 11 is worth it surely) and choose sex with the missus haha.

Still, this game is shaping up to be stellar.

I rocked last night for about 45 minutes.

[onlybygrace]

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

Well...after my wife gets back from the doctor with my son, I'm going to pick up my Xbox at UPS.

All I hope for now is that it has a long second life...or works at all. I always expect the worst.

[18 eighty 5]

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

I rocked last night for about 45 minutes.

Haha rock on mate! I might get the call up tomorrow.

[JezFranco]

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

I don't know... I had some great rocking of the boat with the missus last night. It was actually quite amazing.

But... this morning I woke up, she have her day off, so I didn't wake her up.
So had some time for a few games before work... And, well... I stand by statement.

[savoie2006]

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

I don't know... I had some great rocking of the boat with the missus last night. It was actually quite amazing.

But... this morning I woke up, she have her day off, so I didn't wake her up.
So had some time for a few games before work... And, well... I stand by statement.

Thanks so much for the little tidbit on your personal life. It made your post interesting,well somewhat.

[Vikes1]

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

I've noticed this not only in the situation mentioned but many occasions where I hold the puck waiting for someone to pass, my players are moving around, where's in the 10 they'd just go to their default position and stay there... and perhaps moved a bit when I "triggered" a play.

Yep Jez, I've noticed this too.

And really have noticed in all the zones, offensive, defensive, and neutral zone...your AI controlled players are much smarter and active this year.

NHL'10' was a great game. But so many times I caught myself wondering just what is it these higher rated players I had really did for me...if they were worth the $. In many cases, it just didn't seem like they were doing all that much more than the scrubs.

The value of your AI controlled players for '11' seems much greater. This to me also, is a huge improvement.

[DJ]

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

That's going to add a lot to this game if the AI teammates are demonstrating better ice awareness. The CPU definitely seems more aggressive; no more skating around center ice waiting for an opening to bring the puck into the offensive zone. This will only help make NHL 11 better and I really can't wait for the release date.

[Qb]

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

Then again the deke me out of my skates thing might happen on the harder levels so I suppose I should reserve this judgement for the retail version.

Maybe it's me, but I've lost my jock at the hands of CPU on several ocassions playing on All-Star. And it seems to happen more with highly skilled players as well.

Anyone else feel like the odd-man rushes are a lot better than previous years? I've had a couple of nice 3-on-1 and 2-on-1 breaks that either resulted in goals or solid shot attempts that were stopped by the goalie. The CPU also looks to take advantage of the numbers as well.

Noticed this as well. Like Vikes said, I think AI-controlled players are much more likely to drive the net in odd-man situations and are more useful in general.