Backwards skating and how it will be addressed.

[Gagnon39]

I think the general consensus of all of us NHL fans that have actually watched the majority of the videos released by EA have at least some concerns about both the ease and frequency of the backwards skating in NHL 13. While this is a good attempt by EA to implement something that happens in hockey, from everything I've seen so far it appears that the ability to skate backwards (and control the puck, as that is what I am specifically referring to) is a little bit overdone. It definitely looks like something that might be exploited online in particular.

With that in mind, I'm sure EA is aware that skating backwards and controlling the puck should not happen frequently, at least in the context of when it happens in many of the videos. I don't think I've ever seen a player bearing in on a goalie with the puck, cut around behind the net, turn backwards and come around the other side in a backwards skate.

The good news is the fact that EA releases numerous tuner sets once the game comes out. That is something that I commend EA on, as they allow their fans to play the game and bring to light some slight issues that need to be addressed. I'd be willing to bet that the ability to skate backwards will be something that is tweaked in the first tuner set.

[Vikes1]

Like it's said about other things that EAC is kinda highlighting in early videos through the years...maybe they kind of tweaked up the back skate ability to kinda show it off?

But yep Gagnon, like you mentioned...if it is at release overdone and there's quite a few complaints, hopefully it'll be addressed with a tuner.

PS: How I hope they make the back skating better imo would be....to slow the transition a bit to going backwards. And maybe increase the chances of losing control of the puck.

[Splitter77]

i wish we could edit the game ourselves with the tuners

[kerosene31]

It is hard to tell without playing of course, but it seems way overdone to me. I see real reason for concern unless they tweak it for release. It looks highly exploitable and completely unrealistic. In the one defensive video, Hodgson (19 on the Sabres) almost splits the D by doing a 180 right in front of them. It just looks strange.

[06woz]

The simple solution to me would be to add the realistic lateral slide in before the transition. I'd like to hop in with someone like Hal Gill and see how easy it is.

[Qb]

Quote: Originally Posted by 06woz

The simple solution to me would be to add the realistic lateral slide in before the transition. I'd like to hop in with someone like Hal Gill and see how easy it is.

I've heard it's not a good idea to get fancy with poor skaters, which is encouraging. However, I agree it looks a little off. It remains to be seen how it will play out online, especially as people are able to acquire high skating ratings. FWIW, I hear it's not overly effective since it's fairly easy to knock the puck away from a backskater, so it's more visually jarring than anything at his point.

[JimmyDeicide]

Yeh in the defensive vid you can see the puck is getting dislodged easily from a backwards skater but it is happening way to often and easily for my liking.
Most people are commenting on it so it has to be looked at surely.

For offline though , as long as the ai is not doing it that frequently it shouldnt be a problem.

[Simple Mathematics]

A player randomly EVER turns around backwards while skating with the puck in real life. They need to make this close to impossible to do. Not a very good addition IMO.

[LuGer33]

I'd like to think that this maneuver will be more difficult / less beneficial to pull off on the more "sim" gamestyles (Normal, Hardcore) rather than what EA was showing off (which was Default).

Either way, I'm sure it's something that can be tuned and we will all have a good crack at it / opportunity to relay feedback to EA once the demo comes out.

[m-dogg]

its part of the skating engine, so I am not sure how much they can alter it. But I just know that even if it is perfectly tuned to be limited to only the top skaters -- everyone in EASHL will just make sure they have those 99 attributes to figure skate all over the ice all game long.

I am not sure they can slow down the transition through a tuner set, but count me among the worried. we shall see, it definitely does not look good in the game since we never see such maneuvers in the NHL. I blame Claude Giruox and his penalty shot move!