Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 39 Ratings

  • Summary: NHL 12 has players try to become the next legend in hockey.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Sep 28, 2011
    100
    NHL 12 somehow was able to take what NHL 11 did so well, improve upon, then completely run away with it. The best hockey title of this console generation.
  2. Sep 28, 2011
    85
    NHL 12 is an improvement over last years, but instead of a full out overhaul, subtle modifications have been done to enrich the little bits.
  3. Oct 9, 2011
    85
    NHL 12 excels in many aspects and is filled with a lot of content. Great for hockey fans, despite the few disappointing updates to the series.
  4. Oct 9, 2011
    85
    That said, NHL 12 is a serviceable hockey game with excellent presentation value. I wish it were a bit faster and more fluid, but the increased control that comes with slower gameplay is nice as well. Owners of NHL 11 may want to skip this year's offering because the changes are not all that much different from last year's model – but if you were one of those clamoring fans asking for goalie fights, then your prayers have been answered.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 16
  2. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. I really enjoyed this game and think that EA Sports did a great job with the improvements. I really like the full hit physics engine that makes the game so realisitic. I also really enjoy the goalie improvements because they make the game more realisitic also. I can't wait to see how EA can make NHL' 13 even better. Expand
  2. NHL 12 is still on top. For those, like me, who played NHL 11 there a few significant adding, but not enough.
    But for somebody who buys ones i
    n a while, this is pretty good game.
    Easports add physics on goalies and goals. In the same way, hits are not always huge hit, it depends most of all with which type of player you doing it (small, tall...). Also skating has been a lot improved, and now I might say that I see the difference between an Ovechkin and Hal Gill. Goalie fights are kind of useless. But now having a boy in front of the goalie really matters, unlike last year which was pretty random, here if you one big Getzlaf in front of you, shoot from the blue line, you don't have much too lose.
    Winter classic is quiet appreciate, but I find Legends pretty much uninteresting, it's only fun in HUT which is pretty much the same as last year.
    The huge difference we can find in modes is the new be a pro, you can start it whenever you want from the first year in CHL to your last year in NHL. Also you can simulate between your shifts which is really appreciate.
    Finally the simulation engine is more realistic.
    I just regret that there is no improvement in the Be a GM mode. The game is still heavy (loading, loading,saving,loading...). But still the same than last year (which was ans still is really good) but very well improved.
    Expand
  3. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love this game. And the fact that The Maple Leafs are awesome in it just makes me love it even more. What's disappointing me is how little work they've put into some of the features. Buying a jumbo pack and getting 3 contract cards and a coach as your rares just makes you want to quit playing it. Then getting to the finals in an HUT tournament only to be up 4-0 and having the game freeze on you resulting in a loss seals the deal. I say play this game for either online vs. be a pro, or be a gm. The new legends are cool but could be waaaay cooler. HUT is a joke unless you want to spend hours upon hours building through trades or forking over a ton of money to buy cards. The goalies need some work still, but overall this is a great game. But then again so was NHL 11. EA has a habit of adding just enough to make people want to buy, but not enough to truly satisfy. Expand
  4. This game is god awful. Here's how it works; you aim in pass in one direction as you angrily watch the puck go another, while the other team intercepts it. Then they pass it and it does the same thing, and you try to go chase the loose puck but the guy your controlling just skates right past it like it's not even there. Are you kidding me? The only defensive tactic you have besides checking (which barely ever works) is poke check, which usually ends in a penalty for tripping. Because of this, the guy on the other team can just take 1 player and deke through your entire defense. So UN-realistic. The square, X and O buttons are barely even used, if at all, and the shooting is now replaced with pulling and pushing the right stick, which depletes the accuracy of every shot. The only real control you have over the game is those brief couple of seconds where the puck actually goes where you pass it, and you fire it at goal from way out and it magically glitches past the keeper into the net. But if you can get past all this, then the only thing you have to worry about is the game freezing on you at random times. Expand

See all 16 User Reviews