NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

[BaylorBearBryant]

Re: NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

Just reiterating, can really notice the net presence against Charra.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

I'm REALLY enjoying it.

The puck physics and goal variety are great, maybe it's because I wasn't really expecting that part of the game to be that much better, but it has me very satisfied. Sure, presentation is not where it should be in this day and age, but this is going to be a great game.

This! wow really impressed with the puck physics, I've actually seen the puck literately bounce over a player's stick realistically and sit on edge. Scored a sick deflection, goals look really organic this year, game feels pretty good, not a major upgrade over 11 but the subtle improvements, puck physics, net battles etc really feel great. Just need some presentation love going forward.

BTW is the action tracker disabled in the demo?

[Qb]

Re: NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

Also want to mention the dekes have been slowed down a lot and your player loses speed while deking so hopefully it stays this way to really make it more of a team game online.

I disagree with you, the deking is terrible because you go backhand forehand and you have lost all momentum. If you have someone like Datsyuk or Zetterberg who are great stick handlers they should lose almost 0 speed while deking.

I suspect this is something they will be looking closely for feedback on for further tuning. I can see a lot complaining from those used to the old style, so hopefully they don't go too far back the other way. It sounds like a promising change if balanced properly.

[SinisterAlex]

Re: NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

I'm playing on All-Star Normal and I think the A.I is just fine. It's aggressive when it needs to be and sits back when it needs too.

I'm also loving the variety from the A.I in terms of passing. They don't just skate and never pass, if they're about to lose room in the neutral zone, they'll pass it off a few times before eventually gaining the blue line or dumping it.

Also don't get me started on their shots... purely amazing. I've never seen the CPU take the amount of shots that they are in this demo. Most of their shots aren't just shots, they're legitimate good scoring chances.

The puck physics are superb and the way the goalies react and control rebounds is astonishing. Seeing Luongo and Thomas deflect rebounds to the corners and make these nice pad saves is a nice thing to see.

Gosh... I'm in love.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

I'm playing on All-Star Normal and I think the A.I is just fine. It's aggressive when it needs to be and sits back when it needs too.

I'm also loving the variety from the A.I in terms of passing. They don't just skate and never pass, if they're about to lose room in the neutral zone, they'll pass it off a few times before eventually gaining the blue line or dumping it.

Also don't get me started on their shots... purely amazing. I've never seen the CPU take the amount of shots that they are in this demo. Most of their shots aren't just shots, they're legitimate good scoring chances.

The puck physics are superb and the way the goalies react and control rebounds is astonishing. Seeing Luongo and Thomas deflect rebounds to the corners and make these nice pad saves is a nice thing to see.

Gosh... I'm in love.

Noticing the same thing on SS, AI doesn't just let you set up all day long anymore and Aggression slider isn't even maxxed out. The rebounds look great as well, passing doesn't seem as tape to tape and the CPU isn't afraid to shoot. I remember I thought last years demo was organic, man was I wrong. Impressed with the gameplay, wish you could turn off the beep on line changes though.

[gopher_guy]

Re: NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

BTW is the action tracker disabled in the demo?

If you play BAP, you can see it in action as you sim to your next shift.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

If you play BAP, you can see it in action as you sim to your next shift.

oh cool, I'll have to give BAP a try, thanks for that.

[SinisterAlex]

Re: NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

Just saw something cool while playing. It seems they have added highlight package for certain players. They first showed a cut scene of Luongo in his net, Bill then talks about Luongo and says "watch these replays" an graphic comes up with "Roberto Luongo" on it and they then show some of his saves that he had made that period.

Now that's pretty cool.

[mazinkaiser]

Re: NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

I like it better than nhl 11. Still need to tone down the puck sticking to the stick like a magnet with sliders. It looks like nhl 12 and bf3 are the two ea games I'll be buying this year. I really wanted to get madden, but I really hate the demo and I don't feel like playing the eagles every other game online.

[RealmK]

Re: NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

Holy hell, during a stopage they just broke down a few replays, saying how good Luongo has been in net. Nice!!!

[Vikes1]

Re: NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

Negatives:

Seems to still be way too easy to enter the offensive zone. And still can go coast to coast, with nearly anyone. On All-Star [hardcore] with the aggression sliders at 5 [provided their functioning] I was going end to end nearly uncontested. I then tried Superstar [normal] and it was a bit better. But imo...was still just too easy to skate through the zones. I'm hoping this is a "demo thing". Thinking that many people giving the demo a try...would get frustrated if the gameplay was too, "gritty". Hopefully the retail version will be more realistic with slider work.

Positives:

Lots to like here....

I like the look and feel of the skating.

Really like the congestion of players down deep in front of the net. [big plus] Several more blocked shots, and many more dirty goals.

Puck physic seem very good. Taking a slapshot now, really seems like it.

Seen some nice examples of the full physic engine, with the checking. Still a bit overboard though, imo. Again...maybe a demo thing. There's other positives, but I'll stop here.

I believe NHL '12' with some slider adjustments that I prefer, this will be a good year for my GM mode. And as always...a blast to spend time with my son playing. Can't beat that!

[SinisterAlex]

Re: NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

Holy hell, during a stopage they just broke down a few replays, saying how good Luongo has been in net. Nice!!!

Yup, hopefully it's not just him though, because I've seen him twice and no one else.

[Super Glock]

Re: NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

Really enjoying the demo. How many goals are you guys generally scoring every game?

[FBeaule04]

Re: NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

I've played 2 games so far, 1 locked as a Tim Thomas, the other locked as the RD of the Bruins.

I don't know where to put my fingers on, but there's something about that game that makes it feel different. Don't know if it's the skating who feels less artificial, don't know if it's the AI who is a lot sharper (even if it's not perfect) than in NHL 11 or maybe the hits that seems tone down a bit and not always bone-crushing.

There's some areas that need to be looked at, the intro, cut scenes, etc, looked like it was just copy-paste, but I made so much comments about the AI that it was fun to see the D playing less bone-head than the offense for once.

I'll continue to play it, will try every position, but so far, a lot of what I see is pleasing me a lot.

One thing I notice with the D is the fact they aren't always bent like in NHL 11. They are following the play stand-up while waiting for the rush, and when they come, the guy is in position and play accordingly. That's a nice touch of realism there!

[stew514]

Re: NHL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

I suspect this is something they will be looking closely for feedback on for further tuning. I can see a lot complaining from those used to the old style, so hopefully they don't go too far back the other way. It sounds like a promising change if balanced properly.

I think slowing down the movement of the right stick was a perfect compromise. Sure you would still lose a bit of speed, but when you aren't able to go left right in a blink of an eye it's not as impactful. When you combine the two it makes playing 1 on 1 defense extremely easy.