New NHL07 Xbox360 Screens

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 1:51 am

fanatic, we'll soon find out what "wonky" is all about...

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:52 am

10spro wrote:fanatic, we'll soon find out what "wonky" is all about...

Yep. Already have mine pre-ordered which is rare for me game wise. Just seems like there is too much good in this game to pass up on release day.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:19 am

http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?fs=1&id=2890

some stuff i'm not sure i have seen

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:37 pm

I chose the HD preview, just great camera angle and animations. Perhaps the best graphics on a 360 sports game yet.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:41 pm

10spro wrote:I chose the HD preview, just great camera angle and animations. Perhaps the best graphics on a 360 sports game yet.

I agree!

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:35 pm

Some news on the new AI:
http://blogs.ign.com/NHL_07/2006/08/17/28339/

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:50 pm

Since the videos started to come in, I have been looking forward to the game. Graphically speaking it beats down any next-gen sports game, hands down. The defense AI has been a big question mark in last couple of years, whether they were too darn aggressive or just way too passive. The new deke moves and how you can control the puck with it is something I am looking most forward to it.

But with what's happening with the fatigue issue with the upcoming Madden 07, I still remain rather conservatively optimistic about EA, since it's realism what I am most looking forward in an NHL game.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:55 pm

There are rumors that an NHL 07 demo is imminent. In fact, the official website earlier referred to it being available on Live "now" but this has since been removed. Here is a gamespot article discussing:

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/ ... id=6156204

-G7

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:15 pm

Rumors about several demos coming this week...including PES6, FEAR and Forza 2.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:59 am

the demo is OUT.

OS is spooging over it.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:26 am

Copied this from my post in the Marketplace thread.

I wrote: I'd like to echo the sentiments of those who have already commented on the demo in saying that it matches the expectations based upon all of the early videos.

Once the dual analog mode 'clicks' (and it didn't take too long) the duel between shooter and goaltender becomes pretty entertaining. I'd say that the challenge is about right, with goaltenders playing their position very well and the computer scoring ability being right around where I'd like it to be on breakaways. I liked that slapshots seemed to be timing sensitive and I saw a number of them shot wide and high of the net. Good stuff overall. The sound effects for well driven slapshots off the glass and boards were nice as well as the sound off the pipes.

The game is beautiful to look at with some of the best ice textures and reflections to date. All of the player model detail looks exceptional with stitching on the jerseys and goaltenders that are better articulated than any before. The cutscenes are well done and really enhance the atmosphere and the commentary seems fairly fluid for a shootout.

Some additional plusses include a confirmed 2vs2 mode, which was inexplicably dropped from Madden 06 and not restored in this year's version either. The demo includes Edmonton's alternate sweater so hopefully that bodes well for inclusion of third jerseys in the shipping version of the game.

There have been a couple of negatives, though I think the sum of parts far outweighs them.

The animations, while largely good, do appear jerky from time to time and I think a disproportionate number of CPU shooters end up falling to the ice after bumping the goaltender during their shots (though the shots themselves tend to be well-conceived). Hopefully this doesn't become an all too frequent occurrence in 5vs5 play. I have seen players warp in space slightly to make certain animations work, particularly when skating around the net or between the goalie and the net. I managed to score on a rebound once although I might possibly chalk that up to the default of RULES OFF. I couldn't repeat this after setting RULES ON. The rebound goal highlighted a couple of minor quibbles. Though the rebound itself was a good one with a nice subtle redirect of a sliding puck, there were significant clipping issues as the shooter's stick and leg moved through Roloson's pad in order to reach the puck. Certainly somethig I could live with, but others might be more picky. Also, the rebound was caused when a wrist shot caught Roloson up high while in the butterfly and it proceeded to bouce from chest to back of stick to inside of left leg as he drifted back towards the net for about 5 feet. I like the vastly improved physics but at some point Rolie should have probably tried to pounce on it. Overall though, I'd say there wasn't much to criticize in the goalie's play which is good. Lastly, the CPU shooter once started his attempt by dumping the puck in the corner and proceeded to skate in circles at the blueline. I hoped the attempt would timeout, but didn't seem to after close to a minute. The only way I could get the demo to continue was to switch sides at skate the shooter down to touch up the puck, which then caused a whistle.

Overall, there was nothing to deter me from getting the game next week. Kudos to EA for making a demo that is easy to jump back into without having to drop down to the dashboard between every play. Got sucked in for probably 45 minutes or so. Good stuff.

-G7

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:21 pm

GameSeven wrote:Copied this from my post in the Marketplace thread.

I wrote: I'd like to echo the sentiments of those who have already commented on the demo in saying that it matches the expectations based upon all of the early videos.

Once the dual analog mode 'clicks' (and it didn't take too long) the duel between shooter and goaltender becomes pretty entertaining. I'd say that the challenge is about right, with goaltenders playing their position very well and the computer scoring ability being right around where I'd like it to be on breakaways. I liked that slapshots seemed to be timing sensitive and I saw a number of them shot wide and high of the net. Good stuff overall. The sound effects for well driven slapshots off the glass and boards were nice as well as the sound off the pipes.

The game is beautiful to look at with some of the best ice textures and reflections to date. All of the player model detail looks exceptional with stitching on the jerseys and goaltenders that are better articulated than any before. The cutscenes are well done and really enhance the atmosphere and the commentary seems fairly fluid for a shootout.

Some additional plusses include a confirmed 2vs2 mode, which was inexplicably dropped from Madden 06 and not restored in this year's version either. The demo includes Edmonton's alternate sweater so hopefully that bodes well for inclusion of third jerseys in the shipping version of the game.

There have been a couple of negatives, though I think the sum of parts far outweighs them.

The animations, while largely good, do appear jerky from time to time and I think a disproportionate number of CPU shooters end up falling to the ice after bumping the goaltender during their shots (though the shots themselves tend to be well-conceived). Hopefully this doesn't become an all too frequent occurrence in 5vs5 play. I have seen players warp in space slightly to make certain animations work, particularly when skating around the net or between the goalie and the net. I managed to score on a rebound once although I might possibly chalk that up to the default of RULES OFF. I couldn't repeat this after setting RULES ON. The rebound goal highlighted a couple of minor quibbles. Though the rebound itself was a good one with a nice subtle redirect of a sliding puck, there were significant clipping issues as the shooter's stick and leg moved through Roloson's pad in order to reach the puck. Certainly somethig I could live with, but others might be more picky. Also, the rebound was caused when a wrist shot caught Roloson up high while in the butterfly and it proceeded to bouce from chest to back of stick to inside of left leg as he drifted back towards the net for about 5 feet. I like the vastly improved physics but at some point Rolie should have probably tried to pounce on it. Overall though, I'd say there wasn't much to criticize in the goalie's play which is good. Lastly, the CPU shooter once started his attempt by dumping the puck in the corner and proceeded to skate in circles at the blueline. I hoped the attempt would timeout, but didn't seem to after close to a minute. The only way I could get the demo to continue was to switch sides at skate the shooter down to touch up the puck, which then caused a whistle.

Overall, there was nothing to deter me from getting the game next week. Kudos to EA for making a demo that is easy to jump back into without having to drop down to the dashboard between every play. Got sucked in for probably 45 minutes or so. Good stuff.
-G7

Talk about a well written impressions post!!

I can't wait to get home now...

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 3:13 pm

MizzouRah wrote:Talk about a well written impressions post!!

I can't wait to get home now...

Glad you liked the post. I hope you enjoy the demo.

-G7

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 3:20 pm

I tried the demo out, and I must say the game looks amazing. However, I am still disappointed to see some crazy puck physics / player - puck interaction. For example, on one shot attempt I ended up skating nearly past the goal line. However, I had the puck behind me and it was still on the correct side of the line. When I started my shot, while my stick went up and back, the puck somehow gravitated on its own to my off-hand skate, which was across the line, and then just as magically (and on replay it was clear it didn't even contact my skate) gravitated back to the spot where it would meet my stick. Of course, as soon as the puck crossed the line, the whistle blew, but the shot turned out to be a perfect, tight angle shot behind the goalie and into the far side net.

It still seems there is a lot of tethering the puck to the player going on, which I am very disappointed to see. I'm not a fan of players warping to meet the puck, but I would rather see that and have the puck's behavior utterly realistic, rather than what I saw on many shootout attmepts, which was puck behavior that made it seem magically tethered to the player.

Still, I am excited for this game, though I will wait for impressions before deciding which NHL game to get this year (if any).

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:54 pm

Very Impressed with the graphics & animations. Speed of the shots seems a tad too fast although I am sure there are sliders to play with. The stick control is great and intuitive. I can see that if you choose A. Hemsky to control the puck, the fluidity of this player is much smoother than say J. Smith as it should be.
I mean you should differentiate the skilled guys from the not so good guys.

If next week's game (hopefully not too much on the arcade side, and the AI is smart) is as good as this SO demo, we are all for a treat.

LAking · Post by **LAking** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:21 pm

I don't know about everyone else but i'm still very worried that the rest of the game just won't be very realistic, or as realistic as we would like. I haven't tired the demo yet, will do that the second i get home. If i remember last years version there was very little grinding and board play. I know that the new NHL rules have made it so you can't pin a guy for more than second or two but there is still plenty of board play and grinding out for a garbage goal. I am still worried that this aspect of NHL hockey won't show up in 07. I can picture the deking being used way too much by the CPU and it being one of the few ways to actually score a goal as a human player. I'm still very excited but i can't overlook the years of terrible hockey games put out by EA. Crossing my fingers that this is the year it all changes.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:39 pm

GameSeven wrote:
MizzouRah wrote:Talk about a well written impressions post!!

I can't wait to get home now...
Glad you liked the post. I hope you enjoy the demo.

-G7

I speak for myself when I say, I love the demo. The controls are so realistic once you get used to them. I can't wait to pick my copy up next week.

Beautiful is so demeaning to a game that looks this good.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:57 pm

You guys are basing all this off of a shoot-out??

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:17 am

JRod wrote:You guys are basing all this off of a shoot-out??

I was thinking of the same, but I think I know why people are getting a bit optimistic. When was the last EA edition of Hockey that felt like Real Hockey? Times up. It's been long for me, partly because I chose the competition. Having said that, I like how the way you can control the puck and the intuitive controls. But as I said earlier, if the AI fails or the game feels more on the arcade side, then people will have its doubts again.

All along personally I have been cautiously optimistic. Graphically speaking, it'll win top awards for any sports game hands down this year.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 1:23 am

Two animations that I really enjoyed. The goalie poke cheking you when you get too close to the crease, and when he takes a second look behind him to make sure that the puck it's not in the net.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:09 am

JRod wrote:You guys are basing all this off of a shoot-out??

You're right. I guess I'm just pumped for some hockey this year in St. Louis and well, the game (at least the shootout) is a whole new way of playing console hockey.. and I'm liking it quite a bit.

The rest of the game could suck big time.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:48 am

JRod wrote:You guys are basing all this off of a shoot-out??

I remember a post I made at SR wanting a hockey game with the stick mapped to the right analog stick. This was before other sports games started doing it. Now it has finally happened and I can tell from playing the shootout that it can lead to changing the way hockey games have been played for years now. It can add the one-on-one battles that occur in hockey all the time. Hockey is not all about passing and cycling the puck. Sure, it's a huge part of hockey, but hockey is not limited to just passing the puck. There's plenty of situations where there's open ice with an offensive player or one to two defenders where the offensive player will try to split the defense or make a move on the solo defender to get past him. In the past this has been handled with a speed burst button and a canned animation from a simple button press. This new control system puts you manually in charge of the move you're going to make and takes away the speed burst creating a true representation of open ice hockey. I'm excited about the possibilities, not the shootout. AI and puck physics will likely fall a little short with this release but when they get that ironed out this could be a special series. It's fresh and new and I'm excited about it.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:34 pm

The control system is fresh but poorly implement. The right stick should be only stick control no shooting. I was trying to deke the goalie only to haplessly fire off a shot.

Just leave one of the triggers as a shoot button and leave the right analog solely for stick control. Sadly EA's mantra is becoming, "Great ideas, poorly implemented."

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 1:03 pm

JRod wrote:The control system is fresh but poorly implement. The right stick should be only stick control no shooting. I was trying to deke the goalie only to haplessly fire off a shot.

Just leave one of the triggers as a shoot button and leave the right analog solely for stick control. Sadly EA's mantra is becoming, "Great ideas, poorly implemented."

Really? I think it's implemented wonderfully. You push forward on the stick and you shoot a wrist shot just like you would with a hockey stick. You pull back on the stick and push forward just as you would a slap shot. You move the stick left or right and your stick moves left and right. Once you get used to it there's a lot more you can pull off with the controls. By the 10th, or so, run through of the demo I was amazed at the moves I was pulling off. I started thinking about the options that opens up in the game. Imagine deking a defender to gain space in the crease and following that up with a deke on the goalie for a goal. That's been missing from hockey games from the beginning. I don't want to have to rely on quick passes and one-timers to score goals. It seems as if this new control system can really open up the offensive game. The jury is still out on the AI and gameplay but at least the door has finally been kicked down and a change in videogame hockey is on its way. Does everybody else feel the controls are implemented poorly?

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 1:13 pm

Agreed Scoop. I think it's something EA has actually done RIGHT for once.