NHL’XX games have been around on consoles for decades now and this year is no exception. This release is a next generation title released on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.If you have not picked up a copy of an NHL 11 strategy guide with your copy of the game, then you might find the next few hints and tips invaluable.
After starting the game you will quickly notice that there are many different menu options to choose from. Let’s start with the most obvious of the choices, select “First Time?” from the menu. From here you will be able to select your team name. You may put in whatever you want. You will also be given several packs of cards. This mode will carry you on through your roster selection and a few other options before you will finally begin playing your first season.
There is an often overlooked statistic included in the game that revolves around how much thought is put into assigning your roster. By placing players in positions that they are familiar with, or by placing them in formations with players from the same towns or former teams, you can create higher chemistry between your players. Chemistry effects many different things in the game, but the most prominent is its effect on passing. Higher chemistry between players will produce a significant increase in pass success probability. Try not to have goalies playing center or the other way around.
You can play the created team in tournament, season, or exhibition games by selecting the hockey ultimate team option. These can be played online against live opponents, or solo against the AI if you prefer. Whichever mode you choose grants you items like EA pucks and other collectible items like trophies. As you play more and more with the custom team, it will level up and ability parameters may be increased. The game seems to level up computer opponents accordingly so the difficulty will progress as you level. Before upgrading teammates it is important to remember to renew their contracts for a long time so that they stay at the current sixty rating pay instead of an eighty for instance.
Several aesthetic items have been added to the game for the hard core collectors out there. There are hundreds of different jerseys, trophies, staff members, logos, and several other vanity items that are merely there for the completionists. This does however provide lots of replay value.
There is an auction system set up for players to spend their pucks on collectible items or even contracts for players to add to their rosters. The database is search able and each item will display a buy now cost and how much time is remaining in the auction. If you place a winning bid on a card, it will go to the watch list, where it can be sent to one of your friends or applied to your card collection.
There are several different cups that can be competed for, and this option is called battle for the cup mode. When you select this mode you will be able to choose any team you like as well as randomize your selection with the square or X button, depending on your console. The control stick selects your team. The length of the series can be chosen now and the options include either one game, or best of three, five or seven scenarios. There will be other options to edit as well but they depend mainly on personal preference.
If you ever need a break from the action, choose the “Be a GM” mode. This enables you to be a general manager for whichever team you choose and then manage things like their NHL 11 strategy. You can make them as aggressive or defensive as you wish. The general manager mode can last for up to twenty five seasons. This mode, like the others, has several different things that can be modified.
Figuring out an NHL 11 strategy takes some familiarity with the game and some dedicated practice. You can learn more about the game and its techniques by checking out the website at http://www.nfl-tournaments.com now.