OS Tip of the Day: Choosing the Right Camera Angles for Goalie Mode (NHL 12)

Goalies can't save what they can't see. In NHL 12, the camera angle you choose to play from is just as crucial to seeing the puck as the vision rating that keeps you from being screened.

While NHL 12's custom camera is a great feature -- one that every sports game should have -- it unfortunately only applies to skaters and doesn't work for goalies.

Goalies must choose from eight preset camera angles, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
 

Here is a list of the goalie cameras' usefulness, rated from best to worst.

1a. Action

+ The only camera that provides an equally good view of shooting and passing lanes.

+ Can properly judge skater speed and momentum on breakaways

- The puck goes off-screen and can't be seen when it's in the corners!

Thankfully, to help see the puck in corners, you can switch the camera's focus from your goalie to the puck (toggled by hitting the "Back" button).

1b. High

+ The best viewpoint for judging perimeter shots

+ Improved visibility on plays behind the goal line compared to the low camera

- Difficult to read passing angles and see plays directly in front of the goalie

- Low-to-ice view makes it easier to be faked out by simple stick dekes

2. Classic

+ Gives a great view of passing lanes. Perfect for stopping one-timers

- Difficult to judge your coverage of long shots and shots out wide

This far-back view will sometimes get you scored on from bad perimeter shots, but the trade-off of improved passing visibility is almost worth it.

3. Fixed

+ Essentially a more dynamic version of the high camera

- The view is constantly rotating and making subtle alterations, which at times, can be a bit disorienting

There's really no reason to use this camera when you can just use the high view instead.

4. Low

+ Offers a solid view of shooting angles

- Hard to follow plays behind the net

- Difficult to read passing angles and see plays directly in front of the goalie

- Low-to-ice view makes it easier to be faked out by simple stick dekes

Not being able to track the action behind the net kills the low camera's usefulness.

5. Ice

+ Similar to the classic view, only with a dynamic zoom effect that moves the camera closer or further back, depending on the play

- The zoom angle often gets too tight, making it hard to see shooting angles and passing lanes

6. Overhead

+ Good view of passing lanes

- View is pulled too far back to see goalie's net coverage

7. Broadcast

+ Looks great in replays and photos

- Completely unplayable in live gameplay

This one's for CPU vs. CPU games only, as your goalie's positioning is near-impossible to read.