NHL 08

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:39 pm

Downloading now!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOT!!!

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:40 pm

2k is in serious trouble. This is just amazing.

btmmayor · Post by **btmmayor** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:47 pm

Rodster wrote:Candidate for Sports Game of the Year, great job EA.

I don't think too many sites hand that award out to demos.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:24 pm

Well I'm going to go against the grain here and say the demo does nothing for me.

Problem one is the game is on Pro. I can't judge this game because its just too much arcade for me.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:32 pm

JRod wrote:Well I'm going to go against the grain here and say the demo does nothing for me.

Shocker !

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:42 pm

JRod wrote:Well I'm going to go against the grain here and say the demo does nothing for me.

Problem one is the game is on Pro. I can't judge this game because its just too much arcade for me.

I have enjoyed the demo so far but definitely will be disappointed if higher difficulty levels and slider tweaking doesn't tone down the crazy passing and puck control that's possible. It's far too easy to set up like you are on the power play. I can hold the puck for a minute each time down the ice if I want while the defenders ease off.

That being said, this approach leads to more cycling of the puck and a lot of opportunities to really set up some nice plays. We'll see how the dust settles once the real game comes out I guess. So far I'm loving it, but still cautious.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:00 pm

The NHL series has always been more on the arcadish side, which is why it's never held up more than a month for me. Maybe this year is different though.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:01 pm

Rodster wrote:
JRod wrote:Well I'm going to go against the grain here and say the demo does nothing for me.

Shocker !

He's got a right to his opinion. Sheesh.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:08 pm

sportdan30 wrote:
Rodster wrote:
JRod wrote:Well I'm going to go against the grain here and say the demo does nothing for me.

Shocker !
He's got a right to his opinion. Sheesh.

True Dan but his opinions are always negative and predictable. They are videogames and they will never be perfect.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:20 pm

Good point Rodster. Carry on guys. 99% of the reviews sound extremely positive.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:21 pm

It's on PRO for friggin sake!

They've already said higher difficulties will have the defense pressing more. Good grief.

If there is any series that you can see a MAJOR difference between 30 fps and 60 fps, hockey is it!!

I'm loving the demo, it's clear to me the EA hockey series has finally reached its pinnacle as far as I'm concerned. Game plays smooth as silk, looks incredible and really has that real game feel to me.

I want this game yesterday and I just might have to take the next day off when it's released.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:50 pm

JRod wrote:Well I'm going to go against the grain here and say the demo does nothing for me.

Problem one is the game is on Pro. I can't judge this game because its just too much arcade for me.

Why is that a problem? If EA comes hard at you on a higher level where a bunch of players come at you at once and you can't even cycle the puck, is that realistic Hockey? Let's not forget this is a demo, but compared to 07, this is a vast improvement.

Also I disagree that this demo would put 2K in trouble. How? Having two outstanding hockey games is what any puck head would desire, one may play more sim like than the other, but lets' remember, both games have sliders to play with especially 2K, so take the final product from there.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:02 am

I really enjoyed the demo and will be looking forward to getting the full game.

slyguy · Post by **slyguy** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:10 am

I not really a big hockey guy but i did really like the demo, kind of looking forward to this now. I usually pick up one hockey game, so i will check out and see what 2K brings to the table. In past years it was always 2K but maybe this year that changes

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:12 am

The 1-on-1 with David Littman about the demo:

Differences between Pro and All-Star / Superstar are:
1.) Easier to score goals
2.) CPU won't attack as much / you'll be able to skate into the slot more than in All-Star or Superstar
3.) Stick on stick collisions are turned off meaning that you can stick handle in traffic better
4.) The A.I. will still play good position and still have a pretty good offense, but I do expect you guys to be winning this period, so by the time we ship you're ready for All-Star

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:42 am

10spro wrote:
JRod wrote:Well I'm going to go against the grain here and say the demo does nothing for me.

Problem one is the game is on Pro. I can't judge this game because its just too much arcade for me.
Why is that a problem? If EA comes hard at you on a higher level where a bunch of players come at you at once and you can't even cycle the puck, is that realistic Hockey? Let's not forget this is a demo, but compared to 07, this is a vast improvement.

Also I disagree that this demo would put 2K in trouble. How? Having two outstanding hockey games is what any puck head would desire, one may play more sim like than the other, but lets' remember, both games have sliders to play with especially 2K, so take the final product from there.

I think Pro is the problem not the game. I just can't get a read on it.

On pro the AI sits there while I cycle a puck it's like 5 on 5 plays like a 5 on 4 power play. Again it's on pro.

My biggest peeves is how quickly the CPU still looks to shoot. I could be standing right in front of them sprawled on the ground and they try to fire it in. There less quick than last year. We'll see what happes in the full version.

I made it clear, I though the pro level didn't really show off much. I didn't like the demo because of that reason.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:45 am

Rodster wrote:
sportdan30 wrote:
Rodster wrote: Shocker !
He's got a right to his opinion. Sheesh.
True Dan but his opinions are always negative and predictable. They are videogames and they will never be perfect.

There's no sense in just saying hey the demo is fantastic we don't we just ejaculate all over EA now. I said the I couldn't judge the game because of the arcadiness of pro.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:55 am

JRod wrote:There's no sense in just saying hey the demo is fantastic we don't we just ejaculate all over EA now. I said the I couldn't judge the game because of the arcadiness of pro.

10 to 1 says we hear the exact same thing on September 11th...or any other sports game release day for that matter. I know, I know, you're a hardass on sports games. Congrats...you've lived up to your self proclamation.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:59 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:
JRod wrote:There's no sense in just saying hey the demo is fantastic we don't we just ejaculate all over EA now. I said the I couldn't judge the game because of the arcadiness of pro.
10 to 1 says we hear the exact same thing on September 11th...or any other sports game release day for that matter. I know, I know, you're a hardass on sports games. Congrats...you've lived up to your self proclamation.

Hey dumb f***, how long has that been. Maybe 4 years. You're the only one that brings it up.

So DB where did I say that game was bad in any statement. Point it out. All I've said it pro doesn't show off the game and that PRO is too arcade like. So f*** off DB.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 2:02 am

I was a 2k guy last year, be interested to see how this plays (esp the framerate & camera...) Oh, and online....

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 2:40 am

If they get this 3 on 3 with more than 2 consoles thing right (assuming it's for real), then they'd have a leg up.

Wasn't there also talk about online leagues, presumably with stat tracking?

Nozzleman_216 · Post by **Nozzleman_216** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:07 am

JRod wrote:Hey dumb f***, how long has that been. Maybe 4 years. You're the only one that brings it up.

So DB where did I say that game was bad in any statement. Point it out. All I've said it pro doesn't show off the game and that PRO is too arcade like. So f*** off DB.

NICE! Don't go getting banned or something dumb.

Now, it personally doesn't bother me what you post as I can look past someone's post if need be. I really don't care what the hell you say as long as you say it on youtube with a nice video to brighten my day I hadn't laughed so hard in a long time!!

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:10 am

I'm a big fan of 07, and I really like a lot of the obvious improvements I've seen in the demo.

-Frame rate. VERY nice! Thank you!

-Player switching is handled much, much better. On defense, they actually allow you to switch to a defenseman between the net and the attacker now, whereas is last year's game you were almost always switched to a pursuing player.

-Far better positional play. Defensemen keep the puck in the o-zone much better.

-Working around the puck on offense is much better, but I agree in the demo (difficulty setting?) they seem to have gone too far in the opposite direction. Where there was overpursuing last year, there's too much standing around this year. Let's hope that this is addressed on higher difficulty levels.

-Some better looking animations.

-Transition between forward and backwards skating is much better now, without some of those awkward loops or curls you would get last year.

-Shot speed maybe too fast? I've seen some rocket rebounds.

-Skating speed at default was much better! (slower) I didn't feel like I needed to immediately drop it down to a low setting.

Overall, I'm very impressed. I can't wait for the full game!

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:15 am

Played a few games of the demo, and was very impressed. Never got into 07 because the I thought the skating and AI was lousy, but those areas appear to be very improved. Easy decision to buy this game in a few weeks for me.

Post by **Jared** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:50 am

JRod and DB,

Quit the feuding...it's been happening in many of the new game threads over the past few months, and I'm tired of it.

DB,

JRod can state his opinion without you having to jump all over him all the time. If you have something substantive to criticize him for, then go for it. But repeated flaming him because his opinions are different has just gotten stale and annoying, and just causes problems...and then we have to read the JRod/DB back-and-forth instead of actual game impressions/info. So cut it out.