Re: NHL 12 Initial Impressions
There is no way that the gameplay is where it should be after 6 years. I could list off a ton of stuff that hasn't been good from NHL 09 and on. IMO the gameplay is almost there. There is still stuff that has to be done in order to really improve the game. One thing that I doubt hardly anyone would agree with me on is changing the skill stick. The skill stick in this game is the biggest drag to the game. Ya it's fun to control, but it is the sole reason why the same goals can be scored over and over and over. I'm an all out sim guy so I'm sure the more casual players would hate me by saying this. Once they change the skill stick to be more like a real player would actually stick handle in a game, then we can talk.
Why would I change it? Because no player in the NHL can extend their arms to full extension and continuously keep posession of the puck. Next, what player can stick handle 100 mph without losing the puck. You can literally skate up the ice, stick handling as fast as possible and not lose the puck with a superstar or good player. That's with puck control at zero. I'm sorry but not even Crosby, Ovechkin, Kovalev, or anyone can stick handle 100 mph in a game situation and not lose the puck. I could go on and on about it. Until the skill stick is changed we will always see the same goals go in time and time again.
To change it I would limit the extension/reach that the players have with their arms. Second, I would make it so that only good-superstar players can move the right stick around to deke. That also includes using the Left Bumper to do the hop over deke and the crazy around the Dman move. The lower skilled players would be limited to just going left and right for stick handling. Also limiting each player's controls can be done. NHL 2k did it for their games from 2k8 on up.
I know it's hard to create that in a video game but it can be done. Until they make the stick handling more realistic this game will be the same thing over and over. I don't even get excited when I deke around a player any more. It happens so often that it's just another day at the office. That doesn't happen in real life, which is why the NHL is so fun to watch. You never know when that sweet deke or play could come. In NHL I can basically predict when I can do it. I will say they have progressed the CPU AI defense to stop the user more, when trying to deke around them. I can still do it fairly often though.
On another note I fully agree with your last comment. Crazy tragedy that happened today. It's just crazy how a plane crashing takes 43 lives right then and there. Just terrible stuff. I remember watching Demitra here in MN. I don't think he enjoyed his time too much here but he was still fun to watch. RIP to all of them.
There is no way that the gameplay is where it should be after 6 years. I could list off a ton of stuff that hasn't been good from NHL 09 and on. IMO the gameplay is almost there. There is still stuff that has to be done in order to really improve the game. One thing that I doubt hardly anyone would agree with me on is changing the skill stick. The skill stick in this game is the biggest drag to the game. Ya it's fun to control, but it is the sole reason why the same goals can be scored over and over and over. I'm an all out sim guy so I'm sure the more casual players would hate me by saying this. Once they change the skill stick to be more like a real player would actually stick handle in a game, then we can talk.
Why would I change it? Because no player in the NHL can extend their arms to full extension and continuously keep posession of the puck. Next, what player can stick handle 100 mph without losing the puck. You can literally skate up the ice, stick handling as fast as possible and not lose the puck with a superstar or good player. That's with puck control at zero. I'm sorry but not even Crosby, Ovechkin, Kovalev, or anyone can stick handle 100 mph in a game situation and not lose the puck. I could go on and on about it. Until the skill stick is changed we will always see the same goals go in time and time again.
To change it I would limit the extension/reach that the players have with their arms. Second, I would make it so that only good-superstar players can move the right stick around to deke. That also includes using the Left Bumper to do the hop over deke and the crazy around the Dman move. The lower skilled players would be limited to just going left and right for stick handling. Also limiting each player's controls can be done. NHL 2k did it for their games from 2k8 on up.
I know it's hard to create that in a video game but it can be done. Until they make the stick handling more realistic this game will be the same thing over and over. I don't even get excited when I deke around a player any more. It happens so often that it's just another day at the office. That doesn't happen in real life, which is why the NHL is so fun to watch. You never know when that sweet deke or play could come. In NHL I can basically predict when I can do it. I will say they have progressed the CPU AI defense to stop the user more, when trying to deke around them. I can still do it fairly often though.
On another note I fully agree with your last comment. Crazy tragedy that happened today. It's just crazy how a plane crashing takes 43 lives right then and there. Just terrible stuff. I remember watching Demitra here in MN. I don't think he enjoyed his time too much here but he was still fun to watch. RIP to all of them.
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