NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by Weapon X

Realm and I were just talking about this via PM, and does anyone else feel that the Loose Puck Chop would've been better situated on the RS as opposed to the LS? Maybe something like holding R1/RB and quickly flicking the RS from one side to the other (i.e. left->right or down->up)? It still seems very awkward to have it mapped to the stick that's promoted as "controlling the players skates", even after multiple games. WX

Co signed. I've not managed to get it down at all, granted all this time I was thinking it was mapped to the right stick since that one controls stick movement to begin with. Odd that they'd put it on the same analog that controls movement.

[bwiggy33]

After continuing to play a crap load of games I've noticed a few other things.

The goalie settings they have on superstar hardcore are going to be lowered immediately. They seriously stop everything and make these dynamic looking saves with ease. I'm pretty sure it has to do with their reaction speed. I still just can't describe how irritated I am with the goalies in this series though. They just bother me a crap load. The way they move and react with just these hyperspeed animations just kills it for me. I really wish it didn't. They do make some great looking saves, and I'm actually really digging the goalies not giving up on pucks when they are out of position, but other than that I'm so irritated. IMO the biggest flaw in this series!

Another thing I noticed is that glitch goals are definitely tuned better. I can no longer go on a breakaway and use my left, right, left, right, move and score 70% of the time. Hell I think I may have only scored 2 breakaway goals so far on numerous opportunities. Now I think goalie reaction speed has something to do with that though. If only EA would allow us to actually score by shooting on a breakaway instead of trying to deke every time.

I also noticed faceoffs seem to have been tuned. It's a much better battle for the puck off the faceoff. Of course there are clean wins, but the centermen do a much better job of tying up and allowing the wingers to come in and get the puck.

Pass reception and pass accuracy are definitely effective in the demo. I'm actually having a somewhat hard time passing the puck with the proper speed and getting it on target. I haven't been able to score any one-timer goals whatsoever because my passes just seem to be off.

I have also noticed that guys seem to lose the puck when stick handling. I was playing HUT for the hell of it and one of my games went to a shootout. I was using Stamkos and sure as **** even he lost the puck when I was stickhandling. That's good to see. Now I did find a problem though. The new skating system affects shootouts a crap load. Players aren't able to go in with any speed because they can't take enough strides to gain speed, therefore you are basically handcuffed on making any moves and beating the goalie. I think something may need to be fixed with that.

Another finding is one that has been mentioned a couple times. It's just too dang easy to bring the puck right in the zone and set up. Grant it it's only one period of play and who knows what the CPU aggressiveness and CPU learning sliders are at, but it's super annoying. I was really hoping that I would be able to see in the demo that it's truly changed. I don't know if I can go another year of forcing myself to forecheck differently, just so I can add variety to the game.

Overall this game is no question going to be better than 12 just because of the skating, and truthfully 12 isn't hard to beat. The demo is definitely fun, but if the game doesn't have randomness or a feel of differentiation from game to game I will probably be done playing it within a month. That's why I'm hoping the new strategies and player ratings will play a big role in this game. Team separation and player separation are what is going to make this game fun. If they don't have these two factors, ultimately we just have NHL 12 with better skating.

[Vikes1]

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

My only gripe with the demo is it's often still too easy to gain the zone but if the AI isn't picking a defensive scheme to stack the line I don't know what can be done about that aside from maybe slider tweaks in retail affecting it.

This has kinda gotten my attention too, RealmK.

Although ya...I really haven't noticed either team using the 1-4 or 1-3-1. To where you see the opposing team kinda lined up across their blue-line.

I used the 1-4 a few times myself, and it sure seems to work. Ie, my players setup nicely across the line. And forced the AI to dump it in. But anyway...yeah I was hoping it would be tougher to enter the zones than what I've seen quite a few times. [All-Star, hardcore] But like you mentioned, could very well be the strategy the teams were using. Which they do seem to sink back into their end quite a bit more than not.

[gopher_guy]

Quote: Originally Posted by bwiggy33

I still just can't describe how irritated I am with the goalies in this series though.

I think you've been able to describe it quite well over the last month or so!

Jk

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by bwiggy33

After continuing to play a crap load of games I've noticed a few other things. The goalie settings they have on superstar hardcore are going to be lowered immediately. They seriously stop everything and make these dynamic looking saves with ease. I'm pretty sure it has to do with their reaction speed. I still just can't describe how irritated I am with the goalies in this series though. They just bother me a crap load. The way they move and react with just these hyperspeed animations just kills it for me. I really wish it didn't. They do make some great looking saves, and I'm actually really digging the goalies not giving up on pucks when they are out of position, but other than that I'm so irritated. IMO the biggest flaw in this series! Another thing I noticed is that glitch goals are definitely tuned better. I can no longer go on a breakaway and use my left, right, left, right, move and score 70% of the time. Hell I think I may have only scored 2 breakaway goals so far on numerous opportunities. Now I think goalie reaction speed has something to do with that though. If only EA would allow us to actually score by shooting on a breakaway instead of trying to deke every time. I also noticed faceoffs seem to have been tuned. It's a much better battle for the puck off the faceoff. Of course there are clean wins, but the centermen do a much better job of tying up and allowing the wingers to come in and get the puck. Pass reception and pass accuracy are definitely effective in the demo. I'm actually having a somewhat hard time passing the puck with the proper speed and getting it on target. I haven't been able to score any one-timer goals whatsoever because my passes just seem to be off. I have also noticed that guys seem to lose the puck when stick handling. I was playing HUT for the hell of it and one of my games went to a shootout. I was using Stamkos and sure as **** even he lost the puck when I was stickhandling. That's good to see. Another finding is one that has been mentioned a couple times. It's just too dang easy to bring the puck right in the zone and set up. Grant it it's only one period of play and who knows what the CPU aggressiveness and CPU learning sliders are at, but it's super annoying. I was really hoping that I would be able to see in the demo that it's truly changed. I don't know if I can go another year of forcing myself to forecheck differently, just so I can add variety to the game. Overall this game is no question going to be better than 12 just because of the skating, and truthfully 12 isn't hard to beat. The demo is definitely fun, but if the game doesn't have randomness or a feel of differentiation from game to game I will probably be done playing it within a month. That's why I'm hoping the new strategies and player ratings will play a big role in this game. Team separation and player separation are what is going to make this game fun. If they don't have these two factors, ultimately we just have NHL 12 with better skating.

CPU learning is Maxed, Aggression I believe is @ 5 on hardcore SS.

I dunno, sure the tenders need a bit of dropping on reaction and the screen effect slider certainly needs to be maxed out, but I have zero issue with how they move. I honestly think they're better than even 2k8's much hailed goaltenders to be honest.

I think there's quite a bit of player separation even though the attributes effect slider is one click from max. When I have the puck with a Stamkos or Kopitar it's easier to make quick deke movements, with a Manny Malhotra it's much harder and slower and 9 out of 10 times you just lose the puck off the end of the stick. (Just based on messing around in HUT)

Rotating between the Kings and Devils, I notice LA players seem much more deadly offensively, and over all feel like a quicker team speed wise, while on the Devils really it's that first line, Ilya Kovalchuk in particular is deadly if left alone. Now I don't expect one more click in attribute effects to matter much, I'm pretty content with how it feels over all between first liners and fourth liners, after playing tons of periods. (Hell I've stopped to sleep and post really)

I'm torn on the player passing sliders, even though the fact that they're jacked for the user in the demo, I still miss a fair share of passes. The cpu does as well although I'll for certain be lowering the CPU's and upping the fatigue slider as well.

Granted I think you mentioned you play goalie, so movement might obviously bother you more. Personally I think the goal tenders are great if not a little TOO good with their settings as they are in the demo.

Edit: or hit someone with Dustin Buflin.. he decimates people. Hitting will be turned down too.

[meep3162]

Did they remove the ability to slap shot a loose puck? I skipped on last year's game and am on the fence about this year, I tried to slap a loose puck and it was completely unresponsive.

[bwiggy33]

Quote: Originally Posted by gopher_guy

I think you've been able to describe it quite well over the last month or so! Jk

Hahaha yep you are correct! I try to not go there anymore because I'm sure people don't really want to read about it anymore. It always seems as though I end up talking about it though.

Realm, I completely agree that there is definitely more separation between both teams and players. In fact it's very noticeable that LA is better than NJ. Makes you think that if you're a less skilled team you may actually have to take advantage of the chances you get, and then hold down the fort.

You are correct I was a goalie and I played at a high level so I know the position extremely well and that's why I get very angry about the goalies in NHL. It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't seen better goalies in 2k8. If I had never seen those, I wouldn't know that it's possible to make NHL's goalies any better. To me I just think that EA can do something to make them move more naturally and uncanned. Hell look at the skating they just added to 13. It looks so real. I just have no doubt that they can change the skating/movement for the goalies as well. I AM NOW FINISHED WITH TALKING ABOUT THE GOALIES!

[EvolutionSn1per]

From what I have played of the demo so far, I have nothing but good things to say about it. I was originally a bit skeptical about the new skating system, but after playing with it for a while, I love it. The players actually feel like they have weight now, as opposed to previous games when they would just glide effortlessly. Overall, it is a lot better.