Hockey fans will have fun

First, I must say that I am NHL gamers the very beginning and this series zocke since the early days of '94. The development, which has since taken this series is phenomenal, both in terms of technical implementation (graphics, atmosphere, etc ...), as well as in terms of getting more realistic design of the game modes. For years, I wonder, what do they want to improve the game even more. And yet they have done it 2012 yet to put the very, very successful NHL one better.

The most important new features in my view are clearly the True Performance Skating and the greatly improved AI. I must say though that I naherzu exclusively use the "Be a GM" mode. I can say to the other modes relatively little. The skating has actually never been so realistic felt, as in this version. The title "True Performance Skating" it brings in my opinion to the point. The players are actually the first time the "normal" laws of physics. Rotation therefore can no longer be just so readily perform without loss of speed or a larger radius. The players go much slower with many curves, as if they just straight heat along the band. Accelerating out of Kruve out the players with some explosive steps out how the well is just as real.

The mentioned KI leads also to the fact that the interaction with the private players is much more variable and interesting. So the players anticipate for example, where a pass can come and start corresponding in full sprint in the free space in order to provide for through balls. This makes for fast Umschaltspiel Breakaways possible who almost never get to the latest versions.

In this very KI but is also the cloven hoof. As already described by some, the game has also risen due to its high degree of realism enormously in difficulty. Could I with the predecessors of most easily play in All-Star mode, the Pro level is already a challenge. Although possible, but it is no longer so easy as before time. The fact is that you should bring something almost experience in hockey in my opinion already, to really have fun with the game, either because you're even players, or at least because you often look Hockey. A certain basic knowledge of tactics, playing, running paths etc. is not wrong in any case. That's just the flip side of approximation to reality. As you finally also gets paid nothing.

The experience that the AI ​​"cheating", so procured unfair advantage, I could not share so far. The Comutergegner is just simply a much curing nut, as a few years ago.

Conclusion: True hockey fans and / or players will love the game because it has very, very close to the reality and opportunities that it never seen before. Occasional gamers who still little to have contacted the sport apart, might at least initially have a thing or two frustrating experience. Overall still absolutely "thumbs up" ...