NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

[Dragoulios]

Re: NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Glad Dean Richards came back to the series.

[Money99]

Re: NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Looks like bezerker cpu is still definitely in. There are times when they have speed advantages, all loose pucks go their way which really destroys the idea that you can battle for the 50/50 loose pucks fairly. The way they take hits and retain possession is still there. Lots of this stuff has been in this series for ages.

Still, the skating is great, the game looks fantastic. I am certain though during offline play the stuff I mentioned will continue to be an annoyance. The new skating doesn't fix these issues. Looking forward to release though.

I'm seeing this a lot too. That's why I'm going to wait to rent or read from other before buying.
Berzerker mode and AI boosts were the main reasons I never kept NHL11 or 12 beyond a 2-week stretch.
If it's still in the retail version of NHL13, I'll save my money and give it to NBA2K, just like I did last year.

[Vikes1]

Re: NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

One more thing, on defense, my ai team mate no longer helps out by skating to the boards behind the net to create the option of passing off the puck when under pressure.

I've noticed this, too.

I've used that type of pass a lot when under pressure. But with the '13' demo at least...many times there's an opposing player behind my net to pick that pass off. But as far as your AI player goes, it seems if ya kinda wait a second or so, our AI guy will get into position for him to receive the pass. If/when the opposing player isn't there. Just what I've seen a few times anyway.

[jake19ny]

Re: NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Starting to get the hang of the game finally and really dig it. Its not perfect but they have taken a giant leap this year. I hate to sound like a broken record but I hope the sliders work. Can't wait for the 11th....and I just found out Im getting the game for like $14.00 since I had a crap load of Gamestop power up rewards so I got a free $50.00 credit towards anything in the store....now I wish I reserved the Stanley Cup edition

[actionhank]

Re: NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

After playing a healthy amount of the Demo, i think it will rekindle my love for the NHL game. It got to the point where i just couldn't play NHL12 anymore. It was too frustrating. Good positioning, all of that, didn't matter when the goalies just let in awful shots. It was one of my biggest pet peeves (That and the MAGIC INSTACLEAR on the Penalty Kill by the AI). It seems both have been addressed. I have yet to have a goal scored on me where i thought it was completely bogus, or something i couldn't have prevented had i played the puck better. And that's what i want. I want to be punished for over-commiting, or making a mistake. And i want those fluke goals, because sometimes a clean save turns into a goal when the goalie just loses the puck, or drops it. I've seen a lot more clean goals, where the guy just rips off a shot, and the goalie just misses it, something that NHL12 rarely had. And i have yet to see the goalie do that "Down in the butterfly and try to hunch over the puck like a bowl of soup" while the AI just cradles the puck and launches it over his hunched back. That alone will probably be worth the purchase.
Depending on how much sliders affect the gameplay will make it even more fun for me.
I can't wait to get it.

[ComaFaction]

Re: NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

One thing that is really irking me is the boardplay. I can't break out along the boards without constantly being sucked into the boards by a CPU defender. It makes skating the puck on the perimeter of the ice almost impossible.

At this point, I'd almost rather they just removed board-play and go back to the drawing board for next year.

[18 eighty 5]

Re: NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

I've noticed this, too.

I've used that type of pass a lot when under pressure. But with the '13' demo at least...many times there's an opposing player behind my net to pick that pass off. But as far as your AI player goes, it seems if ya kinda wait a second or so, our AI guy will get into position for him to receive the pass. If/when the opposing player isn't there. Just what I've seen a few times anyway.

Thanks for this. Yep, I see what you are saying, the ai do help out but it is different this year. Maybe context sensitive because the cpu are constantly pressing in their offensive zone and seem to be looking to block that lane behind the net.

I am playing this demo every day and I just love it despite some of the same old bag of cpu boosting tricks. I am playing exclusively on true broadcast cam. I reckon offline there will be games against the cpu where they are lacklustre and nowhere near as insane as in the la - phoenix game. But, because the demo is proof, there will be many games where the cpu boosts. There has been no change in this area.

Ok, time to play some more. Oh, one last thing, anyone else notice on TB cam that you have to go into cam relative under controller settings and toggle it on even if it is set to that in the menu because the game automatically plays as if it is set to cam always up. Just mentioning in case some were wondering why the controls seem a bit screwed up on TB when playing with alternate shooting.

[18 eighty 5]

Re: NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Just to follow on from my last observation about shooting with relative cam on true broad cast angle, there is a real problem with this during gameplay. It is difficult to do slap shots because the move isn't registering during a game but in free skate it works like a charm. This is making it futile to set up slappers to an open d man or forward. When I try my guy just dangles the puck and doesn't even wind up. Wrist shots only.

Anyone else finding this?

[18 eighty 5]

Re: NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Ok, I have narrowed it down to only skaters who shoot right handed can't slap shot, but left handers can once I toggle the relative camera setting under controller. Very strange and frustrating. The move should be, pull right to wind up and left to shoot when shooting left of screen and the reverse for shooting right of screen. Doesn't work for right handers they only dangle and shoot wristers and I am sure it is screwy once I swap ends after intermission.

Tell me if you guys notice it otherwise it could be my controller? I just tried nhl 12 on the old broadcast cam and it all works fine. Just tried old broadcast view on this demo and it works fine. It is only a problem on true broadcast view. Bummer.

Give us a confirm or deny guys because I am so looking forward to playing using this angle.

[Hotstreak]

Re: NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

For all the work they've apparently put into the goalies this year, I keep seeing the same animations over and over again. The kick save animation especially is one I can almost trigger at will in Free Skate with a left-right-left deke. Kinda disappointing.

[Vikes1]

Re: NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Well, I spent some more time with the Free skate...and did manage to light the lamp a few times. I even practiced some at aiming my shots!

Kinda one thing at a time...so I practiced at coming down the right wing and trying to hit the top corner. Man...it's tough! But talk about fun when ya whistle one past the goalie ear and hit the twine.

[meep3162]

Re: NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

I've stated in this thread a bunch of times the stuff I like, so I'll now say something I don't like: the AI's positioning. Absolutely dreadful, these are supposed to be NHL players, the best in the world, and they look like mites out there running around with their heads cut off.

Puck support is awful, the CPU dumps the puck, you go back to retrieve, and your AI defense partner doesn't give you any support, he just goes after the puck, too, and gets in your way. Forwards don't switch lanes like they should on a breakout, cris crossing entering the offensive zone, people just don't get open, it's crazy. They should be constantly at least skating to open areas where I can just toss the puck and hope for them to go and try and win a battle for it. I mean this is basic, hockey 101 stuff. Hopefully it's better in the full game.

Also, on 2 on 1s, they never are able to get open. It seems like every time I get the puck and look up to somewhere where I think someone should be, there's nobody there, the most common pass in the game seems to be the homerun pass.

[Nickflyers]

Re: NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Well, I spent some more time with the Free skate...and did manage to light the lamp a few times. I even practiced some at aiming my shots!

Kinda one thing at a time...so I practiced at coming down the right wing and trying to hit the top corner. Man...it's tough! But talk about fun when ya whistle one past the goalie ear and hit the twine.

Yeah nothing more satisfying. I've done that in games every so often with Malkin and Stamkos. Come down the wing and let a laser go just under the crossbar, awesome!

I can't wait till Tuesday. My wife may lose me for a few days haha

[18 eighty 5]

Re: NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Totally agree Meep! The ai support is dreadful and is glaring compared to the cpu. The game just doesn't feel at all balanced. The cpu are doing things that just aren't fair and my team mates are not capable of playing hockey. My other issue which is really bothering me is still the slap shot on true broad cast cam not working.

[Vikes1]

Re: NHL 13 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Yeah nothing more satisfying. I've done that in games every so often with Malkin and Stamkos. Come down the wing and let a laser go just under the crossbar, awesome!

I can't wait till Tuesday. My wife may lose me for a few days haha

Especially when ya hear that clank off the crossbar first...then the lamp lights up! With how everything seems tied to getting your player under control first to even get an accurate shot, it feels even better, now.

And yep, on Tue....I plan on hiding away for a few hours myself. I wish the NHL game was popular enough to warrant them putting out a strategy guide to thumb through till the game comes out. I really enjoy looking through those.