NHL '12

[trevor13478 1]

Nice to actually score on wrist shots with your snipers, the goalies and defense seem much more realistic. I played probably 10 games last night and didn't break the glass once, so that's encouraging. I think twice I had helmets pop off and only once knocked the goalie over during play, resulting in a goalie interference penalty, which I like, more realistic when playing a crash the net type of style.

I really liked the new setup for be a pro, albeit a limited preview, where you can sim to your next shift, seems like it will be much easier to not play 40 minutes a game when you're a third line winger. One complaint, I don't know if this is just because it's the demo, don't remember how last year's was, I hated how you couldn't change the BAP camera. Not necessarily the angle but in NHL 11 you could hit select so that the camera followed the puck, not your player, I kept going offside because I couldn't tell when the damn puck was in the zone if my linemate had it.

Other than that, gameplay seems improved, some nice additions with the netfront play and the goalies being live. Movements seemed a little glitchy, not fluid but I'm sure that will be taken care of with a tuner set or in the final version. I can't wait to play the full version of BAP, playing through juniors seems like it will be a good addition. Oh and I'm a little disapointed that the fighting is EXACTLY the same. I mean sure, use the same engine and what have you but they could tweak it a little, I mean you can only tug the jersey when the player is winding up? When guys fight I'm pretty sure they tug their opponents jersey throughout most of the fight. That said, fighting is a small part of the game and I'm glad it's not EA's primary focus, like most of us thought would be the case with NHL 11

[Louie 28]

Hey it's NHL 09 with updated rosters and gimmicks...

[AIREAYE 248]

Hey it's NHL 09 with updated rosters and gimmicks...

Disagree, I'm coming from NHL10 and I noticed a lot of differences in terms of gameplay, contact etc. Not enough to blow me away, but enough to say that it's and improvement.

However, I'll be playing BAGM mostly and they didn't seem to focus too much on that this year...

[dsjunior1388 81]

Hey it's NHL 09 with updated rosters and gimmicks...

I'll give you NHL 11.5 but Its miles ahead of 09. Had one glass break, one helmet fall off, probably played 10 games yesterday. Fair enough ratio. Had Tim Thomas fight Ryan Kesler and it came about in a very organic way.

[goaliemanshark 6]

I enjoyed it, had a guy fall over the boards into the benches, which was cool. Also I find some players will demolish people and fall down too. Pretty funny. Cam fowler hitting chara always resulted with fowler on his ass!

[trevor13478 1]

How is Vancouver's goaltending 97 and Boston's 91? Tim Thomas is ranked 89? Did he not set the all time save% record, win the Vezina and the Conn Smythe and have arguably the best season ever by a goaltender last year? Luongo and Schnieder are one of the best tandems in the league, don't get me wrong, but so are Thomas and Rask and they were much better last year even excluding the finals where Thomas put Luongo to shame. I'm a bruins fan so clearly I'm biased but come on that is a little rediculous to have Vancouver's goaltending ranked so much higher than Boston's when Thomas basically won the cup for Boston and Luongo cost Vancouver their shot in the finals

[MrWizard 0]

How is Vancouver's goaltending 97 and Boston's 91? Tim Thomas is ranked 89? Did he not set the all time save% record, win the Vezina and the Conn Smythe and have arguably the best season ever by a goaltender last year? Luongo and Schnieder are one of the best tandems in the league, don't get me wrong, but so are Thomas and Rask and they were much better last year even excluding the finals where Thomas put Luongo to shame. I'm a bruins fan so clearly I'm biased but come on that is a little rediculous to have Vancouver's goaltending ranked so much higher than Boston's when Thomas basically won the cup for Boston and Luongo cost Vancouver their shot in the finals

The dev team is in Vancouver....

Played a fair bit last night, I like it. I like the new skating, you can really tell when a guy is dogging it back into the zone. Glass broke twice in about 15 games, helmet came off once. No goalie interference calls despite having him get run over a few times. The loose puck slapshots are a nice addition, really have to be careful about when you wind up. I like the puck physics in general, combined with the battling in front of the net (which got a little out of hand at times) it creates some chaotic situations in front of the net.

[TeamBlue96 3]

Played about 15 games, will play a lot more up until the game is released.

Checking: Glass broke 0 times, put one guy half in the bench on a check, big hits don't always lay guys out, smaller guys hitting big players can lead to both players falling, board hit and open ice hit animations look kinda cool, plowed the goalie once well after the whistle and got a 2 min minor, also had a the net come off it's mourings a few times when crashing the net.

Goals: scored a plethora of different ways, computer actually dekes on breakaways now, loose puck deking seems to be a little smoother, i really love the new goalie animations on breakaways, don't like the shooting sound effects on slow motion replays, I like that players actually tip the puck now on cross passes instead of shooting it.

Other: crowd interaction is improved, chants, and getting into it on big hits, or clutch goals.

Overall, not bad for a demo. Game looks promising; I would say NHL 11.5 for sure. Sucks that there isn't DRASTIC contrast from last year to this year (but that's the way it is when you buy the game every year and play it religiously.)

[adam14 182]

I especially like the back boards being more lively. Nice touch.

[trevor13478 1]

I especially like the back boards being more lively. Nice touch.

Yeah I noticed when you tee one up with Chara and miss the net you get a nice ricochet back out in front depending on the angle. Definitely a good addition.

I still haven't broken the glass yet, via hit or slap shot, after probably 20-25 games

I've noticed it's throwing off my NHL 11 game, specifically my timing on faceoffs

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

First thing I noticed is when your winding up for some big nasty slapper with Chara, the puck isn't magnetized to your player and will roam depending on what direction you were moving. Makes things a little more realistic, me likey.

[17D1998 1]

One question remains: is the Bauer 4500 back?

[zachary 2]

I've seen a helmet get knocked off once and a hit into the bench. I had my AI defender knock a forward into my goalie and a goal ensued after. I was pretty pissed...

[Apes44 7]

Its just nhl 09 w a few tweaks...makes me mad that madden gets so many revamped changes each year.

Does anyone know if there will b a multiyear dynasty this year?

[carodz 17]

Best thing so far: I went to check a guy into the bench, missed, and fell into the bench myself. Dunno why, but it made me chuckle.

[AIREAYE 248]

I put Lapierre over the boards intentionally... with no opponents nearby

[Wallzy41 9]

Only thing I wish they'd add but hopeful for '13: The ability to hit your own teammates. Demo is fantastic, not liking the BAP camera at all. HUT is still useless for some people(like me).

I like the fact that several "triggers" are in for the glass break and they are not simple, either. Among them, i specifically like the "errant stick" hitting the glass at the heel of the stick and breaking it.

Hits and Gameplay in general- So true to life. Haters gonna hate... I love the slowed gameplay of '12. It feels realistic and the hits are awesome, such as being able to knock Chara down, but in the process falling on him or bouncing away from him.

Shooting Mechanics- 70/30 relationship here. The good(70%)- They fixed that god-awful toe drag glitch. No more back-and-forth dekes resulting in "headache goals". The bad-They've slowed shooting in general down as well! Requires quicker response than some casual gamers would like. Some people won't like the fact that the "knuckle puck" is in either. It's a great feature.

[Vulcan7905 88]

I have hit my team mate more than once when going for a double check actually. Was awesome to see

[t6lock 24]

I believe there is a building or office for EA in montreal.

i have a friend who is a producer of the EA NHL games, in Burnaby BC. not sure if the montreal office does anything related to the game if there is one there. i know they did (the fail) NBA elite in Burnaby too as well as many if not all the NBA live games

as for the actual game, lots of things to love and lots of things to hate

-the stick tap i was hoping to be phased out did not :(

-im liking the new power wrist shot when u pull the puck back in ur stance

-love bumping the goalie after whistles :)

-the sound during the replays seems kind of weird to me

-not liking how the sim to next shift in BAP works

[dsjunior1388 81]

I'm noticing stick lift isn't the be-all end-all of defense anymore. It drove me crazy that some scrub could take the puck off of the likes of Datsyuk or Crosby, guys of that caliber. Now it seems when I stick lift the Sedin twins, a majority of the time they just kick it ahead and keep it, or else angle out the guy behind them and keep it. Its a welcome change, and long overdue.

They still happen too often, but its nice that I can have the puck on my best players stick and not immediately lose it anytime an opponent gets close to him.

[Jarick 5]

Sounds like I made a good call in skipping 2011 and selling 2010 shortly after purchase.

[AIREAYE 248]

Sounds like I made a good call in skipping 2011 and selling 2010 shortly after purchase.

Same :D I think that although we probably won't be blown away by the gameplay, making the move from 10 -> 12 is definitely better than 11->12 or 10 ->11

[boldfacecole 0]

IMO its a very fun game to play. The nhl games have always had there flaws but they have always been fun for me:D cant wait for this one to come out i think this year im actually gonna try out OTP..any thoughts on how it is? thanks boys.

-Cole

[djinferno 2]

I'll refrain from judging this game until i play online VS, all i can say is that i would not be surprised if i dont like it because nhl 11 is a fun game man

[Vulcan7905 88]

Not that long before we are playing it! I honestly can't way! Tempted to get the season pass just so I can play it three day earlier. TEMPTED but not sure I will!