NHL 12 News Post

NHL 12 Video - Stage Demo

06:16 PM - July 7, 2011 by nddurst

If you can't view the embedded video, click here.

Some good comparison video between NHL 11 and NHL 12 presented by Littman. Anticipation AI, physics and goalies are touched on.

Game: NHL 12Reader Score: 7.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 26 - View All

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Member Comments

# 21 Qb @ 07/08/11 11:11 AM

A couple things... first, ChaseB is at this event. Hopefully he'll be able to share some insight from more hands-on time.

The "Anticipation AI" stuff is promising. Hopefully it comes off as well as can be expected. Kind of hits on what I was saying in another thread about AI players always reacting to what we're doing, thus often putting them a step (or several more) behind. I really hope the net battles and balance control are, well, balanced. Again, promising stuff.

As for the footage from Gamespot -- which I can't watch now because I'm at work -- depending on what it's from, it could be on casual gameplay settings if we're seeing non-stop tape-to-tape passing (like the E3 stuff). I know the game has a way to go when it comes to representing the type of hockey Money talks about, but the settings can make a big difference in how the game plays in many ways. And yeah, I know we're stuck with the online settings, but at least offline we have control over a lot of things.

# 22 JezFranco @ 07/08/11 11:27 AM

I actually saw Rammer miss a few passes on the gamespot video.
But most of the time, spot on.
A) Rammer is good
B) The recieving player adjusts to missed passes.

The CPU on the other hand...?

But I think passing in general could be fixed with sliders... When I play vs CPU on 11 the CPU misses a lot of passes and I usually gets a few icings, especially late in games and periods.

But agree with that the gameplay on the gamespot video was a lot of up-and-down. Actually looked a bit boring.

# 23 d0wntime @ 07/08/11 12:09 PM

one-knee blocks and the cpu making a bank pass off the boards through the neutral zone were highlights.

# 24 BlueNGold @ 07/08/11 03:44 PM

Yeah, I'm not concerned with the passing because I already know it can be adjusted with sliders. Just lower pass reception ease and you'll get a lot of missed passes and less tape to tape stuff.

# 25 speels @ 07/08/11 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money99


	I noticed that too. The one thing that's hard not to notice also is that every pass is tape-to-tape. It doesn't even matter if it's an errant pass or deflects off something it's always on someone's tape immediately. There are very few loose-puck moments in this game it seems. Watch an NHL game and it's kind of turned into a trench-warfare type process. With each loose puck, comes a collision or scrap for the puck. You don't get that in EA's game. And it's quite obvious that the physics don't apply to board pinning. There's still a tonne of suction with size and strength playing no role in who's doing the pinning and who gets pinned. I bet I can pin Chara with Hudler anytime I want to. I'm still going to pick it up. I haven't really had a full-time hockey game in 2 or 3 years now. I think I've gotten used to this series' shortcomings. The game is what it is and until the next consoles come out, it's not going to change. It's always going to be very north-south with no neutral zone pressure and very 'clean' gameplay. It's still fun and I think I just need to get over my hangups. It's a game and I should simply try to enjoy it.

Didn't we say that when the PS3 was about to come out.

# 26 Vikes1 @ 07/08/11 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juiceman612


	Thanks for this. Watching the gameplay it still seems way too easy to gain the offensive zone. Defense isn't pinching at all from what I can see. Not that they should every time, but I didn't see it at all. That's pretty disappointing. A ton of up and down too. This is frustrating to see again.

This is a concern for me too.

As Qb so rightly pointed out, that at least for off-line play we do have sliders to hopefully make the play more realistic. Because at least imo...being able to with ease, nearly always gain the offensive zone is arcade hockey. Certainty not a simulation. NHL hockey is not simply up and down back and forth shoot at the net type of play.

Like Money said...most times is a battle through the zones. Not too often do you see teams just let you skate into their end without being challenged. I have my fingers crossed, that the aggression sliders are effective enough to give us a more sim like play.

# 27 Vikes1 @ 07/08/11 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueNGold


	There is one major disappointment and that's the presentation. Unless they're magically hiding it, it looks almost exactly the same. It sucks, but like I said, the biggest thing I wanted fixed was the AI, so I'd rather have the better playing game than the better looking game.

Yep BNG....I too would much rather have the main focus being on the overall gameplay. With a great playing game, I'm far more likely to forgive some weakness in the games presentation. Of course one day I hope to have both.

I'm starting to get the impression that the Winter classic maybe the nuts and bolts of the improvements to the presentation. Hopefully there's a bit more to it in GM mode.

# 28 Lightbringer719 @ 07/08/11 07:15 PM

My disappointment is rooted in the fact that the Game Scouting Report is still the first thing you see when entering the intermissions? Why not use the Action Tracker or something?

# 29 green94 @ 07/08/11 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwiggy33


	Nice catch. Maybe they added old school teams, or just added in old school arenas. It would be pretty sweet to play at the Maple Leaf Gardens, Montreal Forum, Chicago Stadium, or MET CENTER (this would be sick).

Thanks.... had to do a double take when I first saw it

Old school teams and arenas would be icing on the cake!

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