NHL 12 Updated Hands-On Preview

[plaidchuck]

My biggest problem is that meat and potato things like dump and chase and defense 101 still don't look right in the videos.. sometimes I think this should be the "KHL" series..

[ChaseB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pringles

they really need to put a camera in the net for realism especially with all the contact that will happen with the new goalie physx and replays to decide if the goal stands or not. i mean with us being able to now make contact with the goalie and the net can come off its mournings this will make goal review a lot more interesting and the best replay view is the overhead or the one in the net.

I mean I don't think that would work from a gameplay standpoint, but it's just one of a billion things that could add to the presentation. I love those shots where the in-net camera shows the goalie being crashed into on replays.

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

Great write-up Chase. I loved hearing how you felt certain players had different strengths and the strategy that goes with those advantages. Can you comment if you saw the CPU use it's players accordingly as well? Did you notice playing against a bruising defenseman compared to a more passive, slick dman (Chara vs Lidstrom)? Or what about the different type of forwards? Did you see a difference between a sniping forward, a playmaker or a grinder? Thanks!

I still mostly played human versus human games. I also didn't really play against any "iconic" defensemen that would really stick out besides Doughty -- but, again, I was the Kings.

Quote: Originally Posted by DirtyJerz32

Nice write up Chase. Question you may be able to answer, is there a broadcast cam in this year? They really need to add this. I hope they did.

I should have written this one down since I think people asked about this at E3 as well, but I just forgot. So the answer is, not sure.

Quote: Originally Posted by johnprestonevans

I fear that this is the year that NHL is no longer the defacto #1 sports game as it has been for nearly 5 years now. The big issue seems to be its TV-broadcast presentation - or lack thereof. I think the NHL team has played it safe these past few seasons since establishing arguably one of the best playing sports games of this generation. Marginal improvements to the AI and physics engine are most welcome, but I feel like NHL has looked the same as it did a few years ago. I know there have been new animations and minimal graphical upgrades since 09, but nothing drastic. The biggest problems now are with the out-of-date camera system, repetitive commentary and abscence of true telecast elements that many leading-edge sports games are incorporating into their product. I loved NHL these last few years, but its begining to show its age. None of the changes this year sound like they are improving enough to make me involunarily spend $60. Im tired of the same looking, and generally same playing game every year. Its a fun pick up and play sports game for sure, but I'm happy with playing the 3 year old version I own. The EA NHL team needs to blow out its TV style presentation - badly.

I continually make a general point with sports games, so I should probably just reiterate it here. What the NHL team is doing is smart from my perspective. They have a clear idea about where they want to go with gameplay, and they clearly put lots of their resources there for the tech and general development of the on-ice action.

From there, they seem to look at modes and other things dealing with longevity of the product. After that, then it seems like presentation comes into play.

Again, I love presentation, and I absolutely believe they should be doing more (WAY more), but it still has to be a secondary objective when compared to some of those other things above. And, then as for the folks who talk about a lack of evolution, I feel like you get the base and you build on that base. NBA 2K, NHL, The Show -- I probably would even throw FIFA in there as well now -- are titles that have thrived and become beloved for sticking to their core concepts and building on them on a yearly basis rather than going for these "massive" headline changes on a yearly basis. Sometimes it means you get less press and so forth -- or more misunderstanding in the general public -- because there's not as much to tout on the gameplay front, but it doesn't mean there are not sizable differences at work that are certainly changing gameplay for the better.

That being said, I'm not saying you can't just enjoy an old NHL title from this generation. They are way different at this point to me, but I certainly still have some fun with an older NHL title -- the series does age relatively well for a sports game.

Quote: Originally Posted by Vikes1

At least the impression that I'm getting out of Chase's review is...[not to put words in Chase's mouth]...that nothing about the game really impressed him too much. And I'm personally thinking that just possibly, the NHL game maybe losing a bit of the momentum it's built up the last few years. The NHL game is currently, the only sports game I play. So obviously I dig the heck out of it...and am looking forward to 9/13. But again...I guess I'm just hoping that EA Canada isn't getting a bit too comfortable with this imo, excellent sports game.

I don't mind if you put the words in as long as I can spit them out.

I think another thing at work here is that NBA 2K and The Show, specifically, clearly believe in the TV-style presentation and focus on it a lot. I would argue that neither title really can stand up to what NHL does in the online space both in terms of bringing folks back on a daily basis and in-game performance -- and that's even without a long-term online Be a GM mode, which makes it more impressive in my book -- so it could be a matter of priorities at work here once again.

The NHL guys have never struck me as folks who are just taking it easy. My writing style for previews is just to be relatively down the middle and timid. I write this way because of the general lack of extended hands-on time, so I don't want to lead readers on or anything because it's still sort of a guessing game when writing a preview. I'll write about what I see rather than what I'm told, and, for the most part, I'll try to avoid "projecting" how the end product will look. However, I don't want it to seem like the changes in this year's game couldn't be absolutely huge. Traits/Anticipation could change things in a big way for AI; the physicality around the net could add a whole new layer to the game in OTP while adding new ways to play, score and interact down low; the physics changes could increase "wow" moments while decreasing checking and adding so much more nuance to the title.

BUT

Without extensive playtime, and seeing how it affects AI games, human vs. human and OTP, it's hard to really get too excited or too down before the game actually is released.

[Rogie Vachon]

Chase,

Did you see the goalies pushing back at all when players were getting in their business?
Or were they the ones always just taking abuse?

How do the goalies play the breakaways?

Can the goalies poke check eny more effectively?

Did it seem like the majority of defelections ended up as goals?

[SGMRock]

I can see where presentation may be behind a bit in NHL games but to be honest I don't think the NHL has a lot of TV Presentation. I watch over a 100 games a year on TV and really they don't do much but site behind a desk and talk about players and keys to the game. Sometimes they show some replays or between periods they show some replays and talk about what teams need to do better or what they have done well so far.

Its not like the NFL where you see Ray Lewis in the huddle with his team chanting and stuff to pump people up. I'm really not sure where they could do a lot in that area.

Commentary though is a big thing in the NHL. I mean if action is slow good commentators like Doc Emerick will fill the void with good stories and stuff. Times when the game is 6-1 or something you can hear him talking about old times with Eddie or something :P. It would be fun to have more options in play by play commentators but thats a lot of disk space to add more voices.

The one thing I really hate about the commentary though is when you have played a few seasons and they are saying canned stuff about your team or players that doesn't apply anymore 3 or 4 seasons into a be a gm or be a pro mode.

[ChaseB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rogie Vachon

Chase, Did you see the goalies pushing back at all when players were getting in their business? Or were they the ones always just taking abuse? How do the goalies play the breakaways? Can the goalies poke check eny more effectively? Did it seem like the majority of defelections ended up as goals?

Goalies push back and all that down low.

Goalies seemed to be playing better on the breakaways. This was partly due to some new animations, and then partly due to positioning. Still definitely can beat them but doesn't feel as automatic so far.

Didn't see many instances of poke checking so far. The big deal for cross-crease stuff is that you can body up to offensive players as defenders, which in effect can cancel out that pass without feeling like the puck went through you and all that. Should really help minimize that tactic in a lot of instances, which might force people to try more ways to score. If you're looking for a negative, I did see one goal where the goalie tried to cover the puck but missed, and then it led to one of those easy goals since the goalie is in Hungry Hungry Hippos mode.

No, deflections didn't feel like a new money goal or anything, they just are a lot more fun to do now because of the interactions down low. I know in OTP this year I just drill guys with shots or never really get many deflection goals -- or when they do go in it's usually on really soft shots rather than "better" shots. It really just feels more like a tactic that can be effective more than an easy goal.

Quote: Originally Posted by SGMRock

I can see where presentation may be behind a bit in NHL games but to be honest I don't think the NHL has a lot of TV Presentation. I watch over a 100 games a year on TV and really they don't do much but site behind a desk and talk about players and keys to the game. Sometimes they show some replays or between periods they show some replays and talk about what teams need to do better or what they have done well so far. Its not like the NFL where you see Ray Lewis in the huddle with his team chanting and stuff to pump people up. I'm really not sure where they could do a lot in that area. Commentary though is a big thing in the NHL. I mean if action is slow good commentators like Doc Emerick will fill the void with good stories and stuff. Times when the game is 6-1 or something you can hear him talking about old times with Eddie or something :P. It would be fun to have more options in play by play commentators but thats a lot of disk space to add more voices. The one thing I really hate about the commentary though is when you have played a few seasons and they are saying canned stuff about your team or players that doesn't apply anymore 3 or 4 seasons into a be a gm or be a pro mode.

I agree that commentary needs to be number one, but even if you don't think there's a lot of presentation, there is certainly a lot of camera work and so forth that goes on in NHL games that is not present here. Whether it's cuts to the coach, the man between the glass, crowd shots. When you see the zoomed out shot of the rink for the 10th time in a game, you have to sort of realize that, hey, maybe more could be done here.

Plus, they could add more differentiated replays between stoppages and a host of other things; it's about keeping things varied as much as anything else.

[Vikes1]

Hey Chase....

Did you happen to notice if the AI controlled players seems more aggressive towards the puck carriers? Ie....less of an up and down playing game.

Thanks.

[abjsuperstar]

i havent gotten NHL sense 09, should i get it to thoughs who are hockey experts, im more of a football, baseball expert

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by abjsuperstar

i havent gotten NHL sense 09, should i get it to thoughs who are hockey experts, im more of a football, baseball expert

I think you'd enjoy it. The controls are addictive and the game is good as a quickie type game.
I like baseball games and have played my share of football games, but neither is good for a quick 15 minute break.
NHL is great for that. The demo will probably be out mid-August. Give it a try!

[Rogie Vachon]

Quote: Originally Posted by ChaseB

Goalies push back and all that down low. Goalies seemed to be playing better on the breakaways. This was partly due to some new animations, and then partly due to positioning. Still definitely can beat them but doesn't feel as automatic so far. Didn't see many instances of poke checking so far. I did see one goal where the goalie tried to cover the puck but missed, and then it led to one of those easy goals since the goalie is in Hungry Hungry Hippos mode.

Thanks Chase,....

When the game comes out,...I`ll fine tune the goalies by adjusting their breakaway attribute,and the poke checking,possibly the whole deal.......with NHL11, I bumped up the poke checking attribute,and that helped,...I bumped up the breakaway attribute too,.....and only saw improvement when set at around 96-99.
The goalies all had to be edited for NHL11,as the ratings/attributes that EA makes are just horrible.

*edit- I forgot to add the comment regarding the comment of yours that I highlighted......the hungry hippo goalie animation for covering pucks looks pretty similar to Tim Thomas` horrible ability to cover the puck.....LOL
I don`t have that issue ever,.....whether I`m playing as a goalie or if it`s cpu goalies.
Could be my settings?
I use the goalie cover puck slider at 6 clicks,.....it works for me.

[Qb]

Quote: Originally Posted by abjsuperstar

i havent gotten NHL sense 09, should i get it to thoughs who are hockey experts, im more of a football, baseball expert

Talk about a perfect pass into my wheelhouse for the one-timer:




But to be serious, Money gave you some good advice... check out the demo in August.