[Max Cow Disease]

I've spent some time with the demo and can echo that it won't blow anyone's socks off in terms of making a massive jump from the previous games, but it plays well and the additions/tweaks that were made enhance the experience. A refreshed menu system is welcome (which in the demo at least features some more epic "Madden/NBC-esque" music playing in the background, as opposed to Nickelback or something), and the presentation overhaul seems fairly well done.

The whole "live jersey" thing was probably a bit overemphasized in the trailers, as it doesn't seem nearly as clownish in the actual game, particularly during gameplay, where I find the flowing jersey effects as you skate at speed to actually be a big step up visually over the more static uniforms of yesteryear. I like the commentary, and although I've never really watched any games with Doc presiding, it does seem as though he may be a bit "toned down" in contrast to his TV personality.

One drawback that I noticed while fooling around in practice mode is that it's far too easy to score on the breakaway. There was a gimme goal or two on the breakaway last year that would always be go-to's as well, but I was able to basically score 10 out of 10 times on Lundqvist by either going to the backhand, or faking a shot and going forehand. I know that a breakaway is statistically supposed to produce a higher chance of a goal, but this seemed far too video game-ish, in particular.