NHL 12 first look video

[JRod]

Started a BAP career in the CHL. I'm A center (sniper) on the Shawinigan Cataractes. In my first game I had a goal and 3 assists in a win. It was great simming to my next shift. Fun stuff. Loving the game so far.

I did the same thing. Though I have no idea how to change my name so it's something really weird.

BAP is very fun.

[TCrouch]

You have to edit the pro before you start your career to change the name and looks.

[MizzouRah]

Game feels much faster this year on AS defaults.. Lost to Germany 3-2 after blowing a 2 goal lead.

Too early for many thoughts other than I love the puck physics.

[toonarmy]

Put in a little over 8 hours today with the game and am impressed thus far. HUT is addictive as ever and I appreciate the bonus points I got for doing HUT in NHL 11. A bonus 12,000 points was nice to have to get a good pack of cards. BAP is improved over last year and looks to be engrossing as all get out. I played 5 games in BAP and did one in EASHL just to see what it's about. One of my periods was very laggy, but the other two were fairly smooth and a lot of fun. Spent some time in GM mode as well and haven't gotten past preseason games yet, so not much to mention about that mode.

The one offline feature I have been wanting for years now is a CPU offensive AI that is aggressive and can routinely outshoot me. NHL 12 does this, thank goodness! The AI is much better this year and plays a smarter game in terms of positioning and strategy. I pretty well had the AI routine down in NHL 11, but 12 is throwing me a lot of curveballs. While there are still some pretty easy ways to score, they are not nearly as prevalent and the crowding in front of the net takes the success rate of certain shots down a couple notches.

The physics are excellent. Hip checks are probably on the strong side and overly effective, but I really like how momentum and size now come into play more on checks. The puck physics are overall realistic and the best I've seen in a hockey game.

I was sitting on the fence this weekend, as there have been plenty of people at OS and on EA's forums really criticizing the game a lot, as well as a lot of reports of freezing. I decided the glass was half full more than half empty so I went ahead and got it, and am very happy I did. As for the freezing issues with the game, in my over 8 hours I encountered zero freezes or anything weird going on. Also, my custom arena music works just fine (some people are reporting glitches with this area). I'm sure there are some bugs here and there as have been reported, but I've seen nothing game breaking in the least. It looks like EA has put out yet another very good sports game this year.

[Rodster]

Which version Toon? I have my copy in the mail and went with the PS3. Both versions look nearly identical this year.

[Naples39]

I was out most of last night but got a few games in.

Aside from being totally disoriented with the Flyers new look roster, I realized I can't play D in this game. I was playing on Pro and blew a lead and lost my first 2 games. Third game blew another lead but ultimately won. I think my problem is I either cleanly strip or knock over the CPU puck carrier, or they get by clean, whereas they are constantly nudging/intercepting/deflecting me. I'm sure I'll figure some things out eventually.

I'm probably just going to get back into Ultimate Team. I started a squad, where of course your initial lineup is horrible (I have 1 crappy NHL TWF and 1 AHL grinder, those are my two best players), but I have a few bonus packs to open (winning demo HUT tournament and a few others I forget) and I got ~5600 pucks as a reward from NHL 11 HUT.

I'll be looking for some Ice Dragons action tonight I guess, though I still have to set up my guy(s).

[10spro]

I'll be looking for some Ice Dragons action tonight I guess, though I still have to set up my guy(s).

Invited you into our club last night.

[Rodster]

I fired NHL 12 and saw a message flash that you need a code to unlock alternate jerseys. Where do you get the code?

[Naples39]

I fired NHL 12 and saw a message flash that you need a code to unlock alternate jerseys. Where do you get the code?

I'm assuming it's like the last few years and not available yet. The alternate jerseys haven't been officially unveiled by the NHL.

[TCrouch]

I had huge, hellatious lag trying to play club games last night. I mean like half-second delays when attempting to do anything, and sometimes it was stuttering like it was buffering a video--moving very quickly, then stopping, then moving in fast-forward again, etc. It was impossible.

It got a little better after resetting everything on my network, but then I played some test games with Vader and it wasn't nearly as bad. Still a bit laggy, but not bad. I figured something was up with my connection. Then I played a gazillion games with Isles last night and it was butter-smooth and not laggy in the least. So I'm not sure I'll even be able to play this year in club games, as there's no way I could do anything with half-second delays all the time.

[ScoopBrady]

I played the Winter Classic and a Hawks/Flames game. I was very impressed. They really have this game firing on all cylinders. Seems like another banner release of NHL.

[Naples39]

The first few days a game it out lag always tends to be bad. Also, big EASHL with so many people can be really bad.

[MizzouRah]

Game seems really fast this year.. on 10 min periods, the CPU is getting 35-40 shots on me per game.

[toonarmy]

Which version Toon? I have my copy in the mail and went with the PS3. Both versions look nearly identical this year.

Got PS3 since I love the DS3 with sports games.

[toonarmy]

Game seems really fast this year.. on 10 min periods, the CPU is getting 35-40 shots on me per game.

I'm playing on 7 min pds and getting really nice shot totals for both teams. Really happy with NHL 12. I got bored with NHL 11 eventually, but 12 is such an improvement in AI and physics that it may have a lot more staying power with me this year. EA has the gameplay engine down quote nice now, so I hope that next year they will just tweak the engine for the better and focus on making a really good presentation and strengthening the various modes such as BAP and GM. BTW, still no freezes for me through a lot of games played.

[Lancer]

That is nice they give you some points for playing HUT last year. do you know how many points you get allotted? it seems it differs among different users.

[Naples39]

As I said I got 5600 pucks. I was browsing OS earlier and I saw people there saying 2,000-25,000. I have no idea the basis of this. It might be based on trophies won in 11. I played a ton of HUT in 11 but pretty much exclusively online and had no trophies to show for my trouble.

[Diablo25]

I apologize for having to bail on you guys in the club games last night. That graphical glitch was just a killer. I'm hoping it clears itself up tonight. Funny thing is it only happened in EASHL. I played a random team game and it was perfect. Puzzled. gonna give it another try tonight.

[toonarmy]

As I said I got 5600 pucks. I was browsing OS earlier and I saw people there saying 2,000-25,000. I have no idea the basis of this. It might be based on trophies won in 11. I played a ton of HUT in 11 but pretty much exclusively online and had no trophies to show for my trouble.

I got around 12,000. I played through most every offline tourney and did very little in the way of online.

[MizzouRah]

I finally got some more time in with this game and although I'm not happy they took things like the 3 stars coming back out onto the ice after the game (really have no idea why that was taken out) and I think goal celebrations are way too short, this game is a MASTERPIECE.

Just my opinion, but the game truly feels like a total package on the ice, where honestly is where it counts the most to me.

I've seen so many cool things... I'm amazed at how great the game plays between the nets.

My Blues lost to Germany 3-2 and I played them again tonight with our AHL team, Peoria. Germany had a major speed advantage, but we played the body and forechecked every chance we had. We won 2-1 on a goal where the initial shot bounced off the goalie and into the air and my LW slapped it into the net. The goal was waived off by the ref and they went upstairs to review it.. it was called a goal and when I looked at it via instant replay, it was definitely the right call.

Germany had almost the same situation, but the fowards stick was clearly above the net and it was ruled, no goal. Bishop was stellar in goal and shot totals were 30 for us and 28 for Germany.

We got killed going to the net though as Germany has some pretty big defenseman protecting the net.

Fantastic job by EA as far as gameplay goes, imho.

[sportdan30]

A few questions for those of you who have the game. I'm definitely on the fence.

Are penalties rarely called in offline games like I've been reading? I know this was an issue a couple years ago and they patched it
so it's not a big concern.

Are the majority of your goals garbage goals? That's what I've experienced in the demo.

Are you having much success with slap shots going in?

What has turned me off in the past from this series is the CPU seemingly being able to score at will when it needs to. Meaning, you can
do nothing to stop them. It almost seems as if it's programmed in. Does this seem to rear its ugly head still?

Thanks!

[10spro]

What has turned me off in the past from this series is the CPU seemingly being able to score at will when it needs to. Meaning, you can
do nothing to stop them. It almost seems as if it's programmed in. Does this seem to rear its ugly head still?

Thanks!

Have been playing mostly online, but the few offline games I had in AS it did seem to me that the CPU would have an easy goal here and there. Not at will as you say but had a cheat feeling. So I went back to PRO, boosted the AI sliders such as CPU aid on hardcore, pushing the fatigue slider on the user higher while and lowering the user poke and stick lift effectiveness. It seemed to be more balanced and challenging that way on PRO level.

[Rodster]

I'm playing this one on rookie, tired of getting my @ss handed to me on Pro. Needless to say I suck at Hockey video games.

[TCrouch]

Tried a few online games of Ultimate Team, and every single guy I played had this magical dangling/deking move to just dance through the defense, then run a diagonal line through the slot and a stick-left/stick-right goal from the extreme corner past the goalie. I couldn't check him, couldn't poke it, and just had to watch. I gave up 7 goals in the first period and a couple minutes in the last game to a guy using that strategy. I rarely quit out of games, but I bailed and I think that's the last online game I play against people I don't know.

Hockey is so fun when people play it like it's supposed to be--and so very UNFUN when guys find a trick to exploit over and over again. The nature of the game itself makes it so tough to really plant and take the right angle, but when your other 4 guys are off doing Lord knows what and you're left constantly as the only one back trying to stop that move, it gets so irritating and old in a matter of minutes.

I completely soured on the online aspect in one day.

[Aristo]

A few questions for those of you who have the game. I'm definitely on the fence.

Are penalties rarely called in offline games like I've been reading? I know this was an issue a couple years ago and they patched it
so it's not a big concern.

Are the majority of your goals garbage goals? That's what I've experienced in the demo.

Are you having much success with slap shots going in?

What has turned me off in the past from this series is the CPU seemingly being able to score at will when it needs to. Meaning, you can
do nothing to stop them. It almost seems as if it's programmed in. Does this seem to rear its ugly head still?

Thanks!

Penalties are called, even in HUT offline where you cant adjust sliders. Otherwise, I do move the sliders up to have more called. I have the CPU pegged, and human teammates one notch less. I tend to cause enough penalties to make up for any decrease my teammates might have. But it is hardly an issue. In fact, I've loved the goalie interference penalties. I had a CPU teammate kill a goal I scored on a slap shot when he pushed the goalie as the puck was going in.

I've scored all variety of goals. Using manual aim can be pain, which is what the demo forces, as well as offline and HUT play (offline of not). But I've gotten better with it since last year, and my totals have gone up. but for offline play, I use Auto-aim, and this eliminates the problem, as you will see a huge variety of goals.

Slap shots feel fair.

I feel like the CPU plays fair. When it is behind, it will increase its pressure, adjusting its forecheck and breakout. t be honest, I dropped to Pro for a bit, but have moved back up to All-Pro with some slider tweaks. For one, I slowed the game down, decreasing acceleration and increasing fatigue. I do find that All-Pro out of the box kicks my butt. I'm just not good enough on the skates, as I miss my hits, and I have trouble avoiding them when I have the puck. If you thin the CPU scores at will, wait till you see what some of the kids will do to you online!

The main issue I am finding is that the CPU does not go offsides. Like, ever. You will occasionally get called, but even that is less, as your teammates just flatout avoid going in the zone too early. The CPU also doesn't seem to ice the puck ever. I would say human icing is also a lot lower. Without icing and offsides, you don't get as many stops in play.

I've been playing mostly HUT, which is just 5 minute periods. It's been a blast. I have not spent time crunching numbers, but in my offline play with the Blues, I'm seeing very reasonable shots vs. goal totals in 10 minute periods. I have not compared face-offs and penalty minutes yet. But I do get time on the power play and penalty kill.

I have not broken one pane of glass yet. I did just dump my first opponent over the boards (for an achievement!). I rarely drop gloves for any fight, let alone goalie fights. So the annoying "features" they have added are pretty much a non-issue for me. They do not dominate the game.

But the physics of both the players and puck are noticeably improved. The AI is a lot tougher, which means it is harder to carry the puck into the zone. the AI is not easy to shut down, and will often outshoot you.

Basically, my take is that this is just like NHL 11 and NHL 10, just more better.