NHL 11

[Red Baron]

Jonathon Toews is your cover boy, and so far there are some nice features in the game.

Sticks break from taking a shot and the physics of it seem to be real. You have to learn how to pass with your hands, skates and try to defend without your stick. Also you are able to take another players stick in the defensive zone or skate back to the bench to pick up a new one.

Also Be A Pro has gone through some changes with the addition of the CHL and all 60 teams in the CHL.

 

[PattyOGreen]

Also Be A Pro has gone through some changes with the addition of the CHL and all 60 teams in the CHL.

Hmmmm, does this mean you start out in the CHL, play a few games and get drafted from there? That'd be pretty cool.

 

[bps21]

OOh....that would mean we could all experience at last what it feels like to hope you don't get drafted by Edmonton.

 

[Vigo]

OOh....that would mean we could all experience at last what it feels like to hope you don't get drafted by Edmonton.

 

[Kageho]

Doc, even I would have hesitations of being drafted by that team.

 

[Obi Chris Kenobi]

NHL has the best Be a Pro and Franchise modes in the EA Sports line up. I'll be getting this year's, without a doubt. HO'WAY BLACKHAWWWWKS!

 

[the max]

At least when/if you get drafted by Edmonton you can leave in 3 years. In most cases of going to prison, you don't have that kind of light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[Nightwing]

You don't get paid for it, either. It's really closer to indentured servitude, or one of those "Would you do this for a million dollars" bets you make with your friends.

 

[Kageho]

At least when/if you get drafted by Edmonton you can leave in 3 years. In most cases of going to prison, you don't have that kind of light at the end of the tunnel.

It'd be worse for me because I'm born in Edmonton. You see what we do to people who have been born in this province or this city and don't play to expectations? Its ugly.

Thankfully though, in GM mode, I'll make the organization into a respectful one. But fuck it all, I don't want to be drafted via Be a Pro.

Hey, anyone wanna hook up for an NHL dynasty? I'm quite sure we could set it to like 22 games or something and have a go.

 

[the max]

I think I might try the online dynasty this year.

Prunetracy1 is my xbox name.

 

[Red Baron]

At least when/if you get drafted by Edmonton you can leave in 3 years. In most cases of going to prison, you don't have that kind of light at the end of the tunnel.

It'd be worse for me because I'm born in Edmonton. You see what we do to people who have been born in this province or this city and don't play to expectations? Its ugly.

Thankfully though, in GM mode, I'll make the organization into a respectful one. But fuck it all, I don't want to be drafted via Be a Pro.

Hey, anyone wanna hook up for an NHL dynasty? I'm quite sure we could set it to like 22 games or something and have a go.

I hated living in Edmonton, found the town boring and a nuisance to drive around town.

I'm down for a league, but on the PS3.

 

[bps21]

I'd be in for Xbox as Buffalo. I have a friend who would probably be down too, although he needs to renew his Gold membership. I think he was planning on doing it when this game came out anyway though because he plays a lot of NHL online

 

[CanadianGuitarist]

I think I might try the online dynasty this year.

Prunetracy1 is my xbox name.

Ned, stop it at once!

I'll get in on a 22-gamer as well.

 

[AntiLeaf33]

At least when/if you get drafted by Edmonton you can leave in 3 years. In most cases of going to prison, you don't have that kind of light at the end of the tunnel.

It'd be worse for me because I'm born in Edmonton. You see what we do to people who have been born in this province or this city and don't play to expectations? Its ugly.

Thankfully though, in GM mode, I'll make the organization into a respectful one. But fuck it all, I don't want to be drafted via Be a Pro.

Hey, anyone wanna hook up for an NHL dynasty? I'm quite sure we could set it to like 22 games or something and have a go.

I hated living in Edmonton, found the town boring and a nuisance to drive around town.

I'm down for a league, but on the PS3.

I'm all for the PS3 league as well

 

[the max]

The demo is out and it is good. The faceoff system will take some getting used to and will likely be a nightmare online but overall, things seemed to be better and tighter than 10 if that makes any sense.

 

[bps21]

I didn't realize there was a new faceoff system. Although this explains how I went from winning 90% in 09 to 0% in the demo.

 

[the max]

I did ok with it but it made more sense after I did the tutorial for it. Probably got 50% in the game I played before doing the tutorial and maybe 60% in the one after.

 

[Broward83]

If I can get a new job ASAP and save up some cash, I might get down on this for 360. I don't know who I'd use..probably the Stars but with Modano leaving, my only rooting interest for that team is gone.

 

[the max]

Are we going to do a TSM league? I don't know how to start a league but I would like to do one on here.

 

[Kageho]

Probably could do one easily. Though I won't be commishing that one. I've got my hands full with NCAA.

 

[AnonymousBroccoli]

I've got it pre-ordered for PS3. It's another one of those locked online modes games, and also--like StarCraft II--one my brother's more likely to play than me. I don't think he does much online, though. So we'll have to see there.

I played the demo, and liked it well enough. I don't know if I see 3 iterations' worth of improvements, since they drastically changed the style in NHL 08. But I guess that's how these things go. I still don't know how to deke, or do one-timers properly without cross-checking the goalie half the time. And all the face-off options are likely to confuse for a while. And I didn't quite catch on to how the manual hip checking works, either.

 

[AntiLeaf33]

Picked up NHL 11 this morning at 8:30. Only got to play it for a few hours since I work at noon, but I am digging it so far. Living in Halifax, I really enjoyed seeing all of the CHL teams in the game, even though they have last years roster since the current players have to play at least one second to officially in the game. Either way, that will be updated in a roster patch down the road.

Game play seems like a natural progression from the last few years. Going to take a while to get used to the new Faceoff system. The HUT card game seems like a cool little addition, and I can see me spending a lot of my time with that, as I tend to get bored playing with the same team and players when playing a season.

Only minor grip I have is that the Montreal Canadiens STILL have their old scoreboard, and not the new monster one. Not a major issue, but the new scoreboard is basically a big cube, so it can't be that hard to make.

 

[oldskool]

What's the new faceoff mode (having not played since NHL 09)? And can you finally Be A GM with less than an 82 game season?

 

[AntiLeaf33]

There are now a variety of ways you can take a faceoff. You can go forehand, bankhand, take a shot, lift the stick, tie up a player, etc all from the faceoff this year. Pretty cool mechanic, but its going to take some time just to get used to it since I have been taking faceoffs 1 way for years.

 

[HarleyQuinn]

Got the game at Noon. Having never played an NHL game (my last one was NHL 99 or so), I expect to have a rough start. Already a little overwhelmed with the whole card idea in the UHL thing.

One cool thing is they have NHL '94 Controls as a Settings option.

 

[AntiLeaf33]

The NHL 94 control option has been available for a few years now. I played a few games with it, but I actually prefer the complicated new control scheme....give me more options and control.

 

[skullman80]

Got the game at Noon. Having never played an NHL game (my last one was NHL 99 or so), I expect to have a rough start. Already a little overwhelmed with the whole card idea in the UHL thing.

One cool thing is they have NHL '94 Controls as a Settings option.

I could never imagine going back to regular controls now. Moving shoot/deke to the stick was a great idea. It's gotten better the last few years too, I don't even know if I would be able to go back to using the face buttons to pass/shoot/deke.

 

[AnonymousBroccoli]

I got it for PS3. I'm curious how the Online Pass works. If it's for all online modes, for example. And whether it's a per-PSN account thing, or if it's a downloadable unlock code for the console (and theoretically for 2 consoles, as PSN DRM usually allows). I think I read something saying it's the former for 360, the latter for PS3.

 

[HarleyQuinn]

Got the game at Noon. Having never played an NHL game (my last one was NHL 99 or so), I expect to have a rough start. Already a little overwhelmed with the whole card idea in the UHL thing.

One cool thing is they have NHL '94 Controls as a Settings option.

I could never imagine going back to regular controls now. Moving shoot/deke to the stick was a great idea. It's gotten better the last few years too, I don't even know if I would be able to go back to using the face buttons to pass/shoot/deke.

Yeah. It's funny but I've found the sticks actually make the game far easier to play (although it's taken me a while to pick up how to pass and body check with the shoulder buttons). I also really like the ability to quickly snap a wrist shot or wind back for a laser slap shot.

 

[the max]

The Superstar difficulty helpfully pushed in my stool last night. 8-0 in the first game I played. Holy shit what a nice looking and feeling game. The feel of the game is more realistic, the hitting is much more realistic and I am LOVING the smarter AI. Looks like EA may have finally gotten rid of the "throw the puck to the guy crashing the net for the easy 1 timer" goal. I tried that with Savard feeding Lucic and Lucic got fucking railed by the D in the slot.

I have noticed the improvements to the BAP and I am liking it. I decided to go with a defenseman since I hate the non-realism of the center expectations in BAP and like it a little bit better. Still have to finish the Memorial Cup (my team had 6 shots in game 1) and will see where I get drafted.