NHL 12

 Xbox 360
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 76 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 49 out of 76
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 76
  3. Negative: 13 out of 76
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  1. barren_sky
    Oct 16, 2011
    3
    A very disappointing release. The game continues to be riddled with bugs and terrible design and interface decisions. It seems like EA Sports has whittled the NHL developer down to about 4 people who's only job is to program in a couple new features. This game has all of the exact same animations, celebrations, and commentary as NHL 10. Career mode is still completely random andA very disappointing release. The game continues to be riddled with bugs and terrible design and interface decisions. It seems like EA Sports has whittled the NHL developer down to about 4 people who's only job is to program in a couple new features. This game has all of the exact same animations, celebrations, and commentary as NHL 10. Career mode is still completely random and arbitrary. The servers were a mess at launch (an EA staple). EA, maybe next year have your 4-man team work all year fixing this game before spending any more time on meaningless bullet-points for the back of the package.… Expand
  2. Stormcrow666
    Apr 5, 2012
    0
    This game is horrible. I have been buying these games since the 90's and they seem to be digressing in stature. Lift a sick? Only if you want a penalty. Poke Check, again only if you want a penalty(when you can actually make contact with the puck). I have tried sliders and it doesn't matter. I don't bother with online since I know it will suck because of glitch goals and crappy servers. BeThis game is horrible. I have been buying these games since the 90's and they seem to be digressing in stature. Lift a sick? Only if you want a penalty. Poke Check, again only if you want a penalty(when you can actually make contact with the puck). I have tried sliders and it doesn't matter. I don't bother with online since I know it will suck because of glitch goals and crappy servers. Be a Pro? Be a bore. That mode is terrible. This game is broken and unplayable unless you like arcade games. Physics? whats that. This game has no Physics. Rehashed EA crap again and again. I am done. DONE buying this garbage. Nhl 09=Nhl10=Nhl11=Nhl12. Same crap again and again. They don't even bother to fix the bugs that have been there for 4 YEARS~!!!! DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY~!!… Expand
  3. SkizDriz
    Oct 19, 2011
    0
    Log into online game, try to push someone and nothing happens. Oh they have a legend card and near-impossible to attain stats. The can look at me and I fall. Go grind and farm for that legend card. Stupid.
  4. Jakee
    Apr 19, 2012
    0
    Worst Game I ever Wasted money on, Highly recommend you do not buy this game if you are new or semi new to NHL, Its terrible, I played my first online game on it and it placed me against a level 39, 39!!! I'm level one and playing my first game, The in game controls are terrible, passing is horrible and computers are far too hard,
  5. Griffin71
    May 3, 2012
    4
    I bought this game a long time ago and it really has little changes to the game play from NHL 11. The only thing new is the Glass breaking, the hitting is based on momentum now, you can hit goalies, and be a legend which is an unnecessary addition. Other things such as create a team and Be a Pro hasn't changed a bit. The thing I was looking forward to was create a team logo design which isI bought this game a long time ago and it really has little changes to the game play from NHL 11. The only thing new is the Glass breaking, the hitting is based on momentum now, you can hit goalies, and be a legend which is an unnecessary addition. Other things such as create a team and Be a Pro hasn't changed a bit. The thing I was looking forward to was create a team logo design which is terrible. You can only choose the logos in the game and you can't make your own, and some of the names don't even match the logos. Overall the game is basically the same as NHL 11.… Expand
  6. Seeker8833
    May 10, 2012
    0
    For the third year in a row, the EASHL remains corrupt. Every year, a glitch has been found that results in an instant breakaway or goal 99/100 times. This year however, EA really outdid themselves. They included 2 of those glitches this year. The first being a fake slapshot glitch that will literally freeze a defenseman in place. Quite literally, he is frozen in place while you skateFor the third year in a row, the EASHL remains corrupt. Every year, a glitch has been found that results in an instant breakaway or goal 99/100 times. This year however, EA really outdid themselves. They included 2 of those glitches this year. The first being a fake slapshot glitch that will literally freeze a defenseman in place. Quite literally, he is frozen in place while you skate by him. The other, (which took EA 6 months after release to address, Yes you read that right, 6 months after release keep in mind this game is meant to last a year before the next installment) was a glitch where the skater would pull the puck to his forehand, and cause the goalie to come off the post far to early at an angle, that would result in a goal every time. This glitch has somewhat been fixed, but not nearly enough addressed. Now, the goalies are more inconsistent than the LA Kings. They will either pitch a 40 save shutout, or give up 5 weak wrist shot goals on 9 shot where the puck bounces off their glove. Another problem with the computer goalies is that they THROW THE PUCK OUT after making a save FOR NO REASON. This has cost me and my team games and even playoff games many a times. Goalies need to be consistent, hell there is even an in game stat for them to be consistent that is buried in edit player that must have not shown up in the EASHL. One of the final major problems with this game is the defense. They suck, there is no other way to put it. In a game that promises better AI, they not only fail, they embarrass themselves. My tamagachi was more intelligent than some of these computer defenseman. Not only do they face the complete WRONG DIRECTION at times, they also cannot deliver passes at times. They also have some mechanic built into them, to ALWAYS shoot from the point when getting the puck. It is IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP THEM FROM DOING THIS, EVEN WHEN CALLING FOR A PASS. So, to highlight some of my points
    -Glitches that lead to AWFUL and downright INFURIATING gameplay for team of less than 6
    -Computer Goalies that can make post to post diving saves for one team, and others that cannot stop a rolling puck coming right at them
    -Goalies still throw out puck for no reason
    -Defensemen with the IQ of a Jersey Shore cast member

    If you are a casual hockey fan, please I beg you, do not buy this game. EA does not need anymore of your money. Their main selling points on this game were broken glass, "improved AI" and adding a Winter Classic mode. EA fails miserably with their latest NHL entry. It is as if EA was submitting their final college thesis paper, and spelled their own name wrongs on the Final Copy. That is how embarrassing this game should feel to them    … Expand
  7. TheMarker_1
    Jun 17, 2012
    0
    This is probably the worst NHL game I have ever played. If you were thinking of buying an NHL game sometime soon, either go back to NHL10 or wait and see if the AI is better in NHL13 because this is a complete waste of a good $60. Physics don't exist in this game. What I mean by that is if someone tries to hipcheck you, just hope you aren't within 3 feet of them because otherwise you areThis is probably the worst NHL game I have ever played. If you were thinking of buying an NHL game sometime soon, either go back to NHL10 or wait and see if the AI is better in NHL13 because this is a complete waste of a good $60. Physics don't exist in this game. What I mean by that is if someone tries to hipcheck you, just hope you aren't within 3 feet of them because otherwise you are going down... hard. Also, don't even bother to try to dive down to block a shot or pass because you will rarely stop the pass and the shot will literally go right through you if you are right in front of someone when they shoot it. EASHL will. provide only extreme frustration when the other team waits at your blue line for a break away pass or uses one of many other glitches that EA didn't bother to fix. The AI is completely useless, and most of the time only serves to get in your way. If this wasn't bad enough, you can't even fix the bad goalie problem by playing goalie because the game doesn't allow you to make many saves. You will find that generally 1 or 2 times per game, you will be in perfect position to make the save and it will somehow go in anyway. Basically if you want a semi-realistic hockey experience, look elsewhere because this game fails to impress even a little bit.… Expand
  8. youwish
    Jul 6, 2012
    0
    the game sucks, it seems to act on its own. i can spend some games bring players out of the play and the will be no more goals despite difficulty, when it decided to score there is no stopping the computer despite skill of player or strategic defence. Be a pro was very close to the same. advice: watch highlights videos cause you are not really in the game

Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2011
74
#74 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 56 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 55 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 56
  3. Negative: 0 out of 56
  1. Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
    Dec 2, 2011
    86
    Matches now have a more combative feel. [Dec 2011, p.102]
  2. Xbox Achievements
    Nov 15, 2011
    82
    NHL 12 is yet another great ice hockey title that will appeal to new fans of the sport as much as it will to the old guard. The only quibbles tend to be minor ones, but the main issue is that this game is yet another in a growing line of updates rather than sweeping revolutions.
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  3. X-ONE Magazine UK
    Nov 14, 2011
    80
    Some control and physics tweaks are needed, but to remedy distractions rather than critical errors. [Issue#77, p.90]
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