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. CarpeDiem
    Jan 16, 2012
    5
    This game is average. The game shows great potential in certain areas. The season mode is greatly improved and the mechanics aren't completely frustrating. However, this game fails to deliver anything new or improved in most of the game's areas. 5 hole scoring is impossible and the goalies seem to be superhuman at times. The game fails to put the puck where you want it to be. Amongst thisThis game is average. The game shows great potential in certain areas. The season mode is greatly improved and the mechanics aren't completely frustrating. However, this game fails to deliver anything new or improved in most of the game's areas. 5 hole scoring is impossible and the goalies seem to be superhuman at times. The game fails to put the puck where you want it to be. Amongst this Be a pro is useless for players looking to be snipers and Defenders. Poke checking is best left to the AI and for Snipers one-timers are non-existent. You're left taking the puck up to the slot and hope your deeke is good enough to trip up the goalie. Also opposing defense-men can easily poke check or cross check you and completely obliterate any chance of scoring. I found myself scoring 15 goals in 30 games beginning my career with 4 goals in a single game. However due to the lack of assistance from teammates winning the ross art would require you to somehow have a 2 player career and ask a friend to constantly feed you the puck for one-timer goals. Also there is no hope for the AI i tried to find hope in giving my teamates the puck and then asking for it while i was in the slot. 2 things will happen. 1 they will fire the puck around the back of the net and screw you over. Or 2, they will try and take the shot for themselves ignoring the fact they can't shoot and ignoring your call for a pass. The team practice is not as one would hope playing a 4-4 3-3 skirmish. You have 3 chances to fire on the goalie if the puck is held by an opposing player you must restart and try to score again. The game showcases many amazing things but its nothing new. EA failed to deliver an interesting and fully functional game. If controlling a whole team by yourself is your cup of tea then purchase this game. If your looking forward to having a career your better off playing real hockey.… Expand
  2. crockerspaniel
    Sep 13, 2011
    5
    Terrible AI, or the people that made the game never played hockey before. Extremely frustrating trying to play be a pro when you teammates not only refuse to help but actually get in your way. Online's the same as it always was, buy packs to make you better than your opponents.
  3. Crymson84
    Oct 6, 2011
    6
    This game, while making improvements upon NHL 11's animations and gameplay elements, has some serious issues.

    The main and gamebreaking issue right now is the lack of proper collision detection. Sticks warp through the sticks, bodies, legs, and arms of opposing players, and sometimes--when a pokecheck is attempted--through the puck itself. This makes defense very difficult and leads to a    This game, while making improvements upon NHL 11's animations and gameplay elements, has some serious issues.

    The main and gamebreaking issue right now is the lack of proper collision detection. Sticks warp through the sticks, bodies, legs, and arms of opposing players, and sometimes--when a pokecheck is attempted--through the puck itself. This makes defense very difficult and leads to a huge amount of frustration.

    The new goaltender interference mechanics in the game are also broken. There have been instances in which my goalie has been run over and thrown into a corner, only for no penalty to be called and the opposing side to score into my open net. Online team play and EASHL are dominated by forwards. EA has put no effort into balancing out the positions. The result is a step backward in this game mode. Figure-skating, and persistent cross-crease passes are thus still the order of the day, rather than realistic play, and glitch shots still exist. This could all be fixed with even minor effort by EA, but that is sadly lacking.

    I've never seen so many complaints about an EA game as I've seen over the last month on EA's NHL 12 forum over the past month. This game is a huge disappointment to those of us who have been fans of the series for a long time.

    I give this game a six because it's still a decent play. But if you've got NHL 11, don't transition until EA does some work on the game (assuming this will happen).    … Expand
  4. ztuominen
    Oct 10, 2011
    6
    The lack of hockey knowledge of the designers of NHL 12 is glaringly obvious. The same brain-dead AI, barely any changes to game play aside from a couple tweaks, interaction with the goalie (which can be exploited, and is not adequately penalized,) and the hip check as the most effective means to separate an opponent from the puck, regardless of what part of your body makes contact withThe lack of hockey knowledge of the designers of NHL 12 is glaringly obvious. The same brain-dead AI, barely any changes to game play aside from a couple tweaks, interaction with the goalie (which can be exploited, and is not adequately penalized,) and the hip check as the most effective means to separate an opponent from the puck, regardless of what part of your body makes contact with your opponent, make the high scores of this game laughable. I can't wait until the exclusivity of the NHL to be removed from EA, so that another designer can make a hockey video game that actually plays as the sport does, rather than an arcade fantasy for individuals who've never seen a hockey game, played the sport, or touched a puck in their lives.… Expand
  5. MichaelH
    Nov 11, 2011
    7
    Itâ

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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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