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It didn't take very long for me to figure out that NHL 11 really doesn't that much of a step forward from NHL 10 and NHL 09. This year's game looks and feels the same in many ways, but as the old saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Instead, the tweaks and refinements thrown in have combined with the core fundamentals to create the premier hockey gaming experience.  As I said, NHL 11 will not appear to be any different than the previous two years, which is not a bad thing, since EA has done a wonderful job of presenting a realistic brand of hockey. Slight improvements to the visuals only adds to the aura surrounding a game, so that it looks more like a TV broadcast. That includes showing players talking to each on the bench and more chitchat between plays from the great duo of Gary Thorne and Bill Clement. It's also the little things like players twirling sticks when skating to the bench after a whistle and goaltenders going for a short skate outside the crease. But these are just augmenting the actual gameplay experience, which has additional elements to make the game even more realistic. The controls still require a bit of a learning curve if you haven't played for months, but once you get the hang of it, you'll appreciate the extras even more. The physics surrounding goals have changed to the point where deflections, caroms, redirects and bounces can either create a glorious chance, a fat rebound or end up hitting the twine. This also includes stuff like players falling awkwardly, pucks off goalie masks and caroms from blocked shots. Players will also jump over diving players, though it's a move that requires great timing to pull off. And then, of course, are the broken sticks. Those one-piece twigs that players have fallen in love with always seem to break at the worst times, and NHL 11 captures that most of the time. In one instance, I was on the power play with less than three minutes to go in the game, desperately needing a goal to tie. After setting up in the offensive zone and moving the puck around for a perfect one-timer from the point, my defenseman's stick just exploded. The resulting turnover didn't translate into a goal for the other team, but it killed enough of the clock. This is a good segue into the improved AI in the game. Playing the computer is definitely not a laughing matter at the higher difficulty settings. Not only is it tough to score, but it's also tough to complete plays without thinking too much about them. NHL 11 requires you to think and execute well to create scoring chances, much like the game is played in real-life. Breaking down a defense goes well beyond streaking down the wing and centering a pass for a one-timer. Granted, EA moved away from this years ago, but it's now more pronounced. This goes both ways, too. The AI will surprise you in its ingenuity when it comes to making plays. It rarely tries the same thing twice, and it knows how to frustrate you when you attempt to repeat things as well. Still, it leaves room for improvement because there are plenty of moments where the AI doesn't show the killer instinct it should. Players will hang on to the puck too long or make low-percentage passes that invite a turnover. Speaking of passing, I wasn't overly thrilled at the slow pace the puck travels at on the ice. The game is supposed to be fast in real-life, and that includes moving the puck quickly. In NHL 11, the default speed is just too slow to really appreciate, and I'm not sure why EA felt they needed to do that. Moving on, I should note that the entire CHL is in the game now, so you can play games using junior teams. In fact, you can go a full season and play in the Memorial Cup, too. Junior can also be the starting point for the Be A Pro mode, where you work your way up from a rookie in junior to being drafted, making the cut on an NHL squad and being successful as a pro. The Ultimate Hockey League is really the only new mode in the game, and it proves to be quite the doozy. It has a lot to do with team building, but it differs from Be A GM in the sense that you use EA pucks you earn to buy packs of virtual trading cards. The cards can either be players or skills you can use to ramp up player development. The challenge is that you need to find the right mix of both in order to take your team to the next level. The mode is cool, but it will inevitably place you in a position where you'll have to spend real money to get ahead, especially if other gamers are doing that, too. It's kind of like a hockey pool, except that points per player don't matter as much as winning games and earning achievements do. The total package that is NHL 11 is full of the excellent elements that have made the franchise what it is today. There isn't much inherently revolutionary here, so fans will not really have to adapt too much to how the game plays, but the evolutionary steps taken have created a better game. It will be interesting to see what they add next year.   NHL 11 Format: PS3 Publisher: EA Sports Developer: EA Canada ESRB Rating: Everyone Official Site: http://nhl.easports.com/ Rating: 9 / 10

 

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