NHL '13 Demo now available - Post your impressions here

[MrBill]

The NHL '13 demo is now online for the Xbox 360 and will be available later this afternoon on PSN. Post your impressions here.

NHL 13 Demo Hits the Ice on August 21

EA SPORTS NHL Fans, the moment is fast approaching! On August 21 (August 22 on PSN in Europe), you’ll finally be able to get your hands on the NHL 13 demo available for download on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. This year’s demo will offer a brand new gameplay experience headlined by True Performance Skating and EA SPORTS Hockey I.Q.. NHL 13 will be released on September 11, 2012. Pre-order NHL 13 now to receive exclusive retail bonus offers!

The demo will feature access to four different modes – Play Now, NHL Moments Live, Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT) and Free Skate – and the ability to earn up to three HUT Item Packs to use in the full version of NHL 13.

In Play Now, select either the Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings or the New Jersey Devils as you battle it out in the third period. The period will start with a randomized score each time you play. Test out the all-new ‘True Broadcast’ camera which delivers a startlingly realistic hockey broadcast presentation as the camera swivels and zooms to capture every moment.

[Ravin]

Wish they would have just given us a full game instead of this one period shit. Madden can give a full 4qrts of 5minutes, surely hockey can get me 3 periods of 5 minutes.

[killgod]

shutup and tell us what you think of the new shit.

[Ravin]

Just starting my game now.

[Ravin]

Just played two games, both as LA. First I was up 2-0 to start,won 3-0, second I was down 2-0, tied 2-2. This is what I noticed so far. I played both games on All-Star

Goalies
- Goalie animations are nicely done. Moving from side to side doesn't seem as stiff as it was before. They actually move their feet and glide into position rather then the side step.

- AI for goalie seems to be much better as well. They were making some good saves and coming out to challenge when needed. Obviously have to play more to see just how well they are, but on a first look, it does seem like they have improved. Of course also, you are playing with two good goalies, so that kind of helps.

Skating
- New skating feature is a little weird at first to get use to because you get so use to pushing the puck forward to get speed. But it does work fairly well. I have three breakaway chances in the two games, the first with Richards where I got the puck at centre ice between the two backwards defence and I blew past them as they had to turn around. The second was with Brown against Kovy who caught up to me to cut down the break. The third was Brown again, only this time Kovy was tired and couldn't catch up.

- It works well on dump ins because now the skating feature allows the forwards a chance to get to the puck first like in real life. If you got the forward momentum you can beat the defence.

- My only knock is it sometimes felt like it wouldn't activate. I'd have a fast skater like Carter and I couldn't blow by the defence like I thought I would. But that could also be that they have their backwards skating momentum. If you give a player a lead pass, he will beat a backwards skating guy turning around.

Goals
Just throwing how I scored each goal here.
1. Kopitar in the slot, wrist shot to the glove side top corner. Was kind of odd it went in, but I guess nothing glitchy about it.

2. Penner had space in front, did my ravindeke to see if it worked. Marty came out to poke check, so left it open. I did try the move before this and it didn't wor.

3. Pass from behind the net to Kopitar alone in front. Snipe top corner. Both dmen got caught behind the net.

AI
- Defence on All-star seemed much better. They were poking, pucks were being deflected, and it wasn't a simple game. Last year you could just play keep away and wait. This year they seem to challenge a bit more.

That is all I can think of right now.

[wingsfan77]

Definitely feels slower, momentum is really important. I noticed a couple times when I would try to turn and skate with a defenseman like Mitchell it takes him a second or two to get going.

[killgod]

hmm. 7 goals in two periods eh?

[PP]

1 period? shit demo imo.

[Ravin]

hmm. 7 goals in two periods eh?

No, the score was already 2-0 both times I started. It makes it a random score each time. I scored 3 goals in 2 periods.



Anyone has any questions I'm around to answer them.

[killgod]

Oh good. Is it still looking to be like 88-90% saves for goalies, or something realistic? Can a goalie really steal a game?

[Ravin]

From what I played, it does look like a goalie could steal a game. Quick was making some big saves, as in one game I was on 3 PK's. He shut the door, and held the fort. I'm sure once you start playing more, it might go back to the normal save rates because obviously everyone finds a way to score, but it does seem like for now the goalies are a little better. Though that could also be rust because I haven't played NHL in like 3 months.

I will say though that it isn't massively groundbreaking or anything. I know the marketing people are all "Biggest game change in 6 years" yadda yadda, but really, it will be one of those things you will just get use to after the first couple days and then it goes back to being the normal NHL. I guess I don't jizz about gameplay features that much because to me, if it fixes shit and makes it the way it should be, then you enjoy playing maybe a little more. But hopefully the game modes help out. NHL HAD to do something this year because their game modes became boring. EASHL while fun, is the same old same old, and I really think they dropped the ball on that. Hopefully the OD is better, because even with just a few people it could be fun to play with.

[Ravin]

Weird hit alert!

My guy got hit in open ice, fell onto his back, then as he slide towards the boards, bounces off the ice, and head first into the glass about halfway up.

[Ravin]

Just some more things I'll add when I played some more.

- True broadcast view is stupid. I tried it, and I knew going in it would take time to get use to, but there is just no perk to it that I can see. You can't see where you are aiming, depth is totally different when trying to do things like block shots or line up hits. It would be one of those things you play with friends for a goof, but nothing I'd play a league game with.

- Shots seem more realistic right now. Where as last year every shot would go on net, this year they seem to be going wide, high, etc. You slap from the point, it hits the glass, you come down on a 2 on 1 and wrist shot, it goes wide or into the glass. Not 100% on net all the time.

- I have yet to score a cross crease goal. I've tried, but on the harder settings, it is difficult to do.

- Wrist shot goals seem to be the thing. I've score a good number of them, and if you get a good sniper like Kovy or Carter, you can pick the corners. I'll be looking forward to this with my sniper build.

- The game to me seems to balance things out well. Just looking for an EASHL point of view, you need to do a little more with your players this year. With the skating actually impacting the game, having a solid power forward who can get in the corners and bang shit up and beat guys to the puck is going to be good. The foot race is something you actually see in the game and offence beats on the defence a fair amount depending what happens. Flip dump becomes more of an option then years before, and catching players off guard will work as well.

[wingsfan77]

The puck carrying animation is weird, there's been a few times already where I hit LT trying to speed past a guy but couldn't.

[Ravin]

What sucks is, there really isn't any fast skaters on either team. Devils have Kovy, and LA has Carter as I would say their two fast players. So it isn't really noticeable yet. Will be interesting to see what Crosby does and what other fast skaters do. I just hope it doesn't turn into madden where everyone just looks at speed.