NHL 13

[MizzouRah]

Yeah, with NCAA and NHL, I'm cancelling Madden for now. Not enough time to play 3 sports titles and the other games I have to get a bit of time with each week. NHL looks to me like it's a big upgrade this year, I've been waiting for it.

[pk500]

Looks pretty fun, though I already have it preordered anyway.

-I like to see the goalies sprawling around, but that is kind of ridiculous side to side skills.

-the biggest positive to me is how much more deliberate change of speed/direction is. The puck was moving faster and players cutting/spinning/accelerating slower.

-the enhanced skate backwards skill was used too much, in this video anyway.

Agree on all. Plus the defense reacts poorly to all of the dipsy-doodle skill moves by the offense. It almost looks like EA was forced to improve the lateral mobility of goalies to compensate for the over-effectiveness of backward skating and skill moves this year on offense.

These videos look nice. But don't EA NHL series preview videos look good every year? Yet EA still makes mediocre single-player AI for its hockey titles year after year, especially for defensive responsibilities in a team's own end.

I'll wait to see real AI improvement in the demo before I even think of buying this game. EA has burned me too many times over the last 15 years with promises of realistic single-player hockey.

[Jimmydeicide]

Cant you back skate like that in 12? Wasn't there a glitch people used with it online. Whats new about it other than looking smoother in the transition?

[Diablo25]

Looks pretty fun, though I already have it preordered anyway.

-I like to see the goalies sprawling around, but that is kind of ridiculous side to side skills.

-the biggest positive to me is how much more deliberate change of speed/direction is. The puck was moving faster and players cutting/spinning/accelerating slower.

-the enhanced skate backwards skill was used too much, in this video anyway.

Agree on all. Plus the defense reacts poorly to all of the dipsy-doodle skill moves by the offense. It almost looks like EA was forced to improve the lateral mobility of goalies to compensate for the over-effectiveness of backward skating and skill moves this year on offense.

These videos look nice. But don't EA NHL series preview videos look good every year? Yet EA still makes mediocre single-player AI for its hockey titles year after year, especially for defensive responsibilities in a team's own end.

I'll wait to see real AI improvement in the demo before I even think of buying this game. EA has burned me too many times over the last 15 years with promises of realistic single-player hockey.

I rarely play NHL in single player mode anymore. I play online randoms and team play. You get matched up with someone at your skill level in the one on one games and the better your level the better your opponents get. I love this series so this game is already a green light for me. Plus my boy Girioux is on the cover

[Naples39]

Cant you back skate like that in 12? Wasn't there a glitch people used with it online. Whats new about it other than looking smoother in the transition?

Yes. It worked pretty well when circling back in your own zone. A lot of people tried to use for silly looking SO moves too.

I can only assume it's 'enhanced'.

[pk500]

I rarely play NHL in single player mode anymore. I play online randoms and team play. You get matched up with someone at your skill level in the one on one games and the better your level the better your opponents get. I love this series so this game is already a green light for me. Plus my boy Girioux is on the cover

I know I'm one of a rare breed -- those who still enjoy single-player sports gaming. I just can't tolerate playing the random button-jockeys that infest the online world because most of them are better than me and because their proclivity to cheese drives me nuts.

Online team play only is fun if you're using a player whose skill level is similar to your teammates. I bought NHL 12 late and had a player with very basic skills when I joined a few OTP matches with the DSP Ice Dragons. It was not fun. I still didn't have a good grasp of the controls, and my player was too unskilled to be competitive even if I knew all of the button combinations.

I'm taking very much of a wait-and-see approach to NHL 13, which only will put me behind further if I want to play OTP with the Ice Dragons. There are just too many other games for which I'm jonesing -- F1 2012, FIFA 13 or PES 13, NBA 2K13, Assassin's Creed 3.

In the past, a hockey game was a must-purchase for me. But EA's shoddy single-player AI has turned me off to the NHL series.

[MizzouRah]

I'm single player only type as well PK.

This video just got me to preorder...

[Aristo]

I was just coming to post that! At the very least, they have made a game that is a must try. It looks leaps and bunds better for solo play.

I also play solo 99% of the time. Team play is dorked by cheesers and ridiculous schemes to encourage user to play $ to improve their players, and versus is a compete waste of time when playing pubtards.

The GM Connected might make online leagues fun with friends, though.

[10spro]

The backcheck along the poke check is much improved. If the AI is improved as it seems, I may finally dive into the Ultimate mode this year.

[pk500]

I'm single player only type as well PK.

This video just got me to preorder...

Poke-checking and backchecking does look more realistic. A nice plus. Otherwise, much of the defensive AI looks like typical, brainless EA sh*t.

Two examples:

1. At about the 15-second and the 1-minute mark, the defenseman moves wide to defend the puck handler on the wing. When the puck handler cuts inside, the defender continues to skate to the boards and just stands there.

2. Countless examples of defensemen just leveling puck handlers approaching the slot. That's EA cheese. It's not how real hockey is played, as D men don't commit to the body nearly that much in open ice in the NHL. It's too risky.

The offensive AI also is ridiculous. Guys skating into the low slot and then twirling to take a shot? Guys skating backward in the circle, looking toward the blue line for a pass instead of toward the goal for a shot?

EA is using what's supposed to be a hockey game as a platform to display its new skating engine. Everyone knows that NHL players are the best skaters in the hockey world -- they can do incredible things on their skates. But do we see that insane speed, agility and lateral movement every time they're on the ice? No. But EA thinks we should.

I'm more disinterested in NHL 13 than ever.

[Naples39]

I'm single player only type as well PK.

This video just got me to preorder...

Poke-checking and backchecking does look more realistic. A nice plus. Otherwise, much of the defensive AI looks like typical, brainless EA sh*t.

Two examples:

1. At about the 15-second and the 1-minute mark, the defenseman moves wide to defend the puck handler on the wing. When the puck handler cuts inside, the defender continues to skate to the boards and just stands there.

2. Countless examples of defensemen just leveling puck handlers approaching the slot. That's EA cheese. It's not how real hockey is played, as D men don't commit to the body nearly that much in open ice in the NHL. It's too risky.

The offensive AI also is ridiculous. Guys skating into the low slot and then twirling to take a shot? Guys skating backward in the circle, looking toward the blue line for a pass instead of toward the goal for a shot?

EA is using what's supposed to be a hockey game as a platform to display its new skating engine. Everyone knows that NHL players are the best skaters in the hockey world -- they can do incredible things on their skates. But do we see that insane speed, agility and lateral movement every time they're on the ice? No. But EA thinks we should.

I'm more disinterested in NHL 13 than ever.

Regarding point 1, in both instances you mention it is a human defender mucking it up. A human switches to control the dman, misses wildly with a check then again switches defenders. The AI is stuck with a defender with all his momentum going the wrong way, and possibly already in the process of trying to make a check.

Regarding point 2, you are absolutely correct, but that is what the market demands, unfortunately.

Regarding the offensive AI and twirling shots, I agree 100%. My money says the game ships like that, people b*tch, then it's toned down in the first patch. That's my biggest concern on this game.

[toonarmy]

I'm single player only type as well PK.

This video just got me to preorder...

Poke-checking and backchecking does look more realistic. A nice plus. Otherwise, much of the defensive AI looks like typical, brainless EA sh*t.

Two examples:

1. At about the 15-second and the 1-minute mark, the defenseman moves wide to defend the puck handler on the wing. When the puck handler cuts inside, the defender continues to skate to the boards and just stands there.

2. Countless examples of defensemen just leveling puck handlers approaching the slot. That's EA cheese. It's not how real hockey is played, as D men don't commit to the body nearly that much in open ice in the NHL. It's too risky.

The offensive AI also is ridiculous. Guys skating into the low slot and then twirling to take a shot? Guys skating backward in the circle, looking toward the blue line for a pass instead of toward the goal for a shot?

EA is using what's supposed to be a hockey game as a platform to display its new skating engine. Everyone knows that NHL players are the best skaters in the hockey world -- they can do incredible things on their skates. But do we see that insane speed, agility and lateral movement every time they're on the ice? No. But EA thinks we should.

I'm more disinterested in NHL 13 than ever.

Beat me to the punch. I'm not all that impressed with what I'm seeing so far. Like some others, I mainly play single-player. The AI looks pretty blah in 13. Yeah, there may be some improvements, but overall the game looks about the same and the players do not behave as realistically as I would like. Typically I play a certain amount of NHL and get enjoyment out of it, then once the AI is figured out the game becomes far too routine. The elite sports games don't give me that feeling. Maybe I'm just burnt out on the series, but I will be taking the year off with 13.

[MizzouRah]

I love hockey too much and this seems like it's a huge upgrade from the lifeless NHL 12.

[Jimmydeicide]

EA is using what's supposed to be a hockey game as a platform to display its new skating engine.

I'm more disinterested in NHL 13 than ever.

Erm yeh thats what they are doing showing off a new feature.

[pk500]

EA is using what's supposed to be a hockey game as a platform to display its new skating engine.

I'm more disinterested in NHL 13 than ever.

Erm yeh thats what they are doing showing off a new feature.

Jimmy:

Come on: Do you see NHL players pulling off some of the sh*t you see in that video? A spin-a-rama in the low slot before shooting? Skating backward with the puck through the offensive zone circle, looking to pass to the point instead of shooting or driving to the net?

I love hockey just as much as you do, but even the prettiest skating animations in the world can't hide the unpolished AI that continues to plague this series. I don't envy the developers, as it must be damn tough to program AI for the fastest, most fluid team sport in the world. Still, I'm tired of breathless promises of vastly improved AI from EA when videos show very little evidence.

[Zlax45]

My biggest problems with EA is I can never find a competitive level. Aka One that I lose instead of one that I get blown out or blow the computer out. It gets really boring after about 2 months.

[Jimmydeicide]

Dont get me wrong i hate the backwards skating thing they keep showing. I dont play that way so im sure i can find some good entertainment from this game. Its a great all round package and game which looks even better for 13.

Dont forget i took a year off so im sure the frustration will creep back in but i dont think ill be snapping the disc and re buying it 2 days later cough Diablo cough.

Between some dsp nights and offline its gonna be well worth a buy for me.

[Diablo25]

Dont get me wrong i hate the backwards skating thing they keep showing. I dont play that way so im sure i can find some good entertainment from this game. Its a great all round package and game which looks even better for 13.

Dont forget i took a year off so im sure the frustration will creep back in but i dont think ill be snapping the disc and re buying it 2 days later cough Diablo cough.

Between some dsp nights and offline its gonna be well worth a buy for me.

Not one of my brightest moments

[Diablo25]

New 'Presentation' trailer? Looks great. Flyers WC unis look bad ass at the beginning.

[10spro]

The broadcast camera looks promising, will have to see if it's playable.

[MizzouRah]

Incredible....

[Naples39]

The broadcast camera looks promising, will have to see if it's playable.

Yeah, it does look cool. It might be awful to actually play from though.

[FifaInspected]

That just moved me into buy mode. In my opinion the cost of the upgrade hasn't been worth $60 the last few years.

[Jimmydeicide]

That last sequence of the broadcast cam wow, thought it was a real video until you could see some clunky animations but the movement of the players and the guy sprinting down the wing was fantastic.

[MizzouRah]

That last sequence of the broadcast cam wow, thought it was a real video until you could see some clunky animations but the movement of the players and the guy sprinting down the wing was fantastic.

Yeah, there is one spot where the broadcast camera shows a winger taking a shot from the right side and it looks like a live game.

I don't think that camera will be usable for me.. but I know there are many folks who will probably love it.