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

[LM1213]

I never really played NHL game. I'm more of basketball 2k man. however, with picking it up and giving it a try I gotta say it was a lot more fun that I expected. I don't know squat about hockey so I wouldn't be able to notice what was not right. I had to look at the controls a little to learn how to switch players, do a shuffle pass (whatever it's called with the RB button), do a normal pass and put the puck out a little. after passing it around and taking some good shots, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It didn't feel cheap or cheated. I feel like I did what I meant to do and got a realistic response.

Again, I am not a pro at hockey, but as a first time pick up and player, I gotta say it was very interesting. I like it. not sure I would pay 60 bucks..but if it was 40 I would grab it in a heartbeat. To me, NBA just felt more polished, but again, I don't play hockey

[gopher_guy]

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

Just played as Vancouver, chased Chara into a corner and threw a check with Daniel Sedin, Chara brushed him off like a mosquito. DS looked like a fool, and fell in a heap against the boards.

I've been trying to set up a scenario that would make a player toe the line. Has anybody seen this happen? I've always thought it should be in the game. I suppose the best way to do it would be to lock on as a player and do it while your team is carrying across the line.

[Stormyhog]

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

Eh not really, though on SS it seems a bit harder to knock the cpu down unless you really drill him perfectly, I chalk it up to the sliders being lock. At any rate, the more I play on SS, the easier it's getting to set up in the zone.

I usually play All-Star with slider tweaks. I always find with the highest difficulties in sports games that everyone plays like a superstar and goalies are like brick walls. I guess it depends on my skill as well as I may not be as good as others that play on higher difficulties but it usually is just too frustrating and low scoring for me.

[jyoung]

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

Yeah I think the extremity of the hitting depends on what difficulty and slider setting you play the demo on.

I played all day on All-Star with default sliders, and nobody could touch Chara.

Everyone who tried to hit him slid off his 6'9" 255 pound frame and fell to the ice in a heap.

But still, I never did see any broken glass. Maybe tomorrow.

[RealmK]

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

Yeah I think the extremity of the hitting depends on what difficulty and slider setting you play the demo on.

I played all day on All-Star with default sliders, and nobody could touch Chara.

Everyone who tried to hit him slid off his 6'9" 255 pound frame and fell to the ice in a heap.

But still, I never did see any broken glass. Maybe tomorrow.

I might actually try all star to see the difference with the hitting, though I fear it'll be way to easy for me.

[jwilphl]

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

I haven't extensively played the NHL series since '09, so I'm a tad out of date with improvements. That said, the game feels quite a bit different from '09. That is the good news. The bad news: the game looks and sounds quite a bit similar to that three-year-old game. To me, that is not entirely acceptable.

Based on just the demo, the game needs a lot of updates visually in the presentation department. I think the graphics are fine, but I'm not sure if generic venues and faces have yet been fixed? Also, it seems as though cut scenes have hardly changed. I see some more shots of the crowd, but they seem awkwardly executed. The TV-style, broadcast presentation is essentially non-existent, and I feel like it has not changed since '09.

The audio is also very similar, although I imagine this has a lot to do with NHL still using Thorne and Clement and less about added dialogue. I cannot comment on how much dialogue has been added, nor can I tell if the audio has received other lifts. There was not a ton of commentary in the demo.

Now I've noticed that quite a bit has been done to gameplay, which I definitely can appreciate. The game felt slower and perhaps more precise in shooting/passing. I also noticed improvements in momentum, and the interactive goalies are a big plus. However, I also felt when checking guys, your own player falls down on top of them too easily.

After plays, if I would tap the goalie in any way, the opposing defense would assault me. I got slashed in the back of the knees and checked face-first into the boards, but never was a penalty called for roughing or anything else. The only penalty I saw called was when I tripped a guy attempting to poke check. Not sure if this is a demo issue or not, but it is concerning.

[gopher_guy]

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

I'm finding it really satisfying to play as a defenseman and clear out the crease for my goalie. I usually do my BAP as a D Man anyways, so added bonus there

[stew514]

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

Something that's been annoying me is the AI comes behind the net to play a dump in, and I've seen now 3 occaisions where they take a delay of game penalty because they grab the puck on the edge of the trapezoid.

[Steven547]

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

After playing the DEMO a few times, I'm not sure if I'm playing NHL 11 or 12. I guess EA's idea of "presentation" is adding more text to the screen saying "Replay" or "Highlights".

The cut scenes are the exact same as last year.

The players go into a bee hive affect again, after the whistle. You check someone and everyone starts hitting everyone. C'mon EA, that is NOT realistic.

Graphics...take em or leave em.

I'm still not seeing this "improved AI". Maybe I need to play 50 more times???

Where's the presentation DURING the game?

The overall menu system is the same. Come on EA, be creative!

Now, I understand it's ONLY a DEMO and that is why there is no pre-game. But just from this DEMO, it feels like NHL 11 with the patch they should have created. Maybe we will see the improvements in the FULL retail version, but if you are going to release a DEMO, shouldn't you release it with a sampling of features you marketed? Otherwise, this DEMO is not making me run out to the store like a kid leaving school for the summer. Right now, it's like, "Wait, didn't I buy this game last year??"

[SinisterAlex]

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

One thing that's annoying me is the stick lift. I literally stick lift a player three times when I am right beside him, only for him to still have control of the puck, but yet the CPU can stick lift me with ease...

I know sliders can fix this but it's very annoying.

[st67]

Pros-
Shooting and passing feel much better. Actually has some oomph to them.
Shooting close to goalie feels way more realistic finally.
Minor hits make the players wobbly.
Puck not glued in postion when setting up for slapshot.
Goalies are a little better.
Love the automated stick swinging while on defense (I play mostly D online).
Seems easier to tug players while fighting.
Love the fact that I can crease clear.
Arenas look less generic for now.

Cons-
Skating has a wierd vibe to it this year, just doesnt feel right. (very hard to explain unless you've played it).
Big hits feel less satisfying.
Knocking players into to bench is way to easy. (Granted they boosted checking for the demo)
Stick deking feels a little unnatural to me.
Jersey's are a little too dim.
Gordie Howes Menu picture is really blurry
It feels NHL 2k8 or NHL 08ish.
Overrated the crap out of the Bruins and some Nucks. Glass 79? and Lucic 87? lol.
Game is still horribly skewed towards offense. Poke checking is pointless in the Demo.

Kinda meh about it.

How is the game feeling like NHL 2k8 a con? 2k8 is the most realistic hockey game ever made and gave you full control of your players.

[bubba4]

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

I haven't really paid attention to hockey games for years, but I decided to check out this demo. With most EVERY sports game these days giving us an authentic broadcast camera angle, I am REALLY surprised how sad NHL 12's is. I play sports games because of how well they can depict what I see on tv. This one doesn't draw me in at all.

I'm at the point now in my game playing that if a sports game doesn't have a nice broadcast view, I don't even bother with it... unless it is exceptional of course. From this demo, this one doesn't feel exceptional.

[mrclutch]

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

First off not a hockey guy at all. I played 10 which was my first Hockey game this Gen. Enjoyed it as a very casual hockey fan. Didn't Play 11. I don't even think I even played the demo. All that said....

As a casual guy it looks and feels a whole lot like 10 to me. Not a bad thing altogether because I thought 10 was a fun game but I really thought by skipping a year the advances would kind of jump off th screen at me.

I'm sure the hockey folks around here are loving the "little things" which I'm sure are cool but if your not a hardcore hockey fan or gamer I don't see much here. I'll probally take a pass myself pass.

Last thought is EA does a kick tail job with demos. Whether it's multiple teams, game modes, unlockables within the game. Props where they are due for putting deeper than average demod out the last couple years.

[DJ]

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

My overall feeling is that the game, at least on default settings, isn't a whole lot different than what we have played the last 2 years. This is largely due to the beyond stale commentary and lack of true presentation upgrades (the highlight clip addition is nice but not nearly enough).

I did like that my AI teammates were more active on both ends of the ice. The CPU dumped the puck a bunch, which was refreshing. Goalies clearing pucks to the boards is a welcomed addition.

However, it is still way to easy to gain the blue line; you can go coast-to-coast with my most guys. The CPU intercepts anything close and the passing on both sides is still far too clean.

With no changes to Be A GM, outside of the sim engine, I have a feeling this game could get stale quickly for the offline crowd, as it won't feel much different than NHL 08-11 in terms of immersion into a career mode. Teams still play similar styles, and the above-stated issues with commentary and presentation really are starting to hurt this game, IMO.

I have the game pre-ordered and with my credit, I won't be paying for the game. The question is, how long will it stay in my rotation?

[Jattbreed]

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

So just got down playing NHL 11 2.0

I hope the full version is VERY different.