I've played this game a lot since it came out and here are my opinions;
-Online play still needs to have all the replays/delays REMOVED from online play. In the year 2012, I still cannot fathom how EA games allows multiple players to pause the game during online play. It is incredibly frustrating to allow someone to stop gameplay with multiple users taking part in a game. You cannot pause games during FPS online play. Why the F can you do it in a hockey game?? EA continues to drop the ball on this, and this has been my #1 gripe with the series ever since '07.
-Adding onto my last point, when a user quits the game, why the F does it pause the game for everyone? Other games can seamlessly drop users from the game without a stoppage in gameplay.
-The AI needs some work in BAP mode. Alfreddson and Gonchar traded to the CBJ for spare parts?? Kipper traded for...Reimer?? My own created player sent down to the AHL after leading the league in points and goals for the first 4 months?? Common EA, hire someone to at least give a reasonable value for a players worth.
-I like how the menus load faster then the last couple of years' versions. The menu is still clunky and laggy, but compared to last years (it would take over almost a minute for the main menu to load for me last year), its much improved.
-The shot sliders still piss me off. If I move all the human sliders to maximum, the opposing AI's shot velocity is still just as fast as mine, even if I move the AIs to minimum. I would expect the AI's shooting speed to be reduced like it is in online play, but nope, no matter how I move the sliders, the shot speed is the exact same as mine.
-I really like the new skating features and makes chases to the puck much more enjoyable then previous games. Takes some getting used to, but if I get beat to the puck its more often then not my own fault.
- I like the board play and how when you poke check a player along the boards, the puck acts realistically instead of just being pushed forward.
-I love how players can be rewarded for playing strong defense. I get the same amount of satisfaction buy shutting down the other team's offense, as I get when scoring a goal. Shut down D man is probably my favorite role in the game, moreso then playing forward. Unlike previous versions, I get the feel that I am actually playing an important role when playing D. A strong steady defenceman will really help a team online.
Overall I am pleased with the game and I really like the strong learning curve. I'm still not a fan of all the online delays, but I have given up hope that it will ever be fixed.
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