Reviewed by Dyson Turner
I actually got this game by accident for my birthday, I
asked for Prime time NFL '96 Featuring Deion Sanders and I
got this instead. At the time I knew nothing about Hockey,
and really didn't want to learn. I eventually got NFL '96,
and didn't play this to a year or so later. I was glad I
did, because this is one great game. Even if you know
nothing about Hockey, you can learn a great deal from this
game. The interface is so easy, and the game play is fast
and furious. The controls were a breeze and I picked them up
right away. For one who never liked Hockey, this was the
first sports game that had a season that I actually went all
the way with without simulating games. My first impression
when I finally played I was a good one, I was impressed by
the characters large, size how fast the game actually
played, and how easy the controls were. This thing also had
tons of options plus a realistic create your own player mode
and team trades. Even though I haven't played too many
Hockey games, in my little opinion this was the coolest one
for Genesis ever.
Graphics 8.5/10
The graphics were stellar, and some of the best I ever seen
on Genesis in a sports game. The character size wasn't
really large but they were detailed. The audience was well
detailed as well, and added more realism to the game. The
ice looked good as well, and had the realistic logos in the
middle of the rank. The opening scene was realistic as well,
and looked like the scene from the previous years Stanley
Cup finals. All the characters were the same size by the way
accept the goalies, but everything was fast and all the
characters moved extremely well on the screen. Even though
the game was that fast the puck was highly visible at all
times, and it looked realistic, it did flips and things just
like a puck did in a real NHL game. The glass that sounded
the rink looked pretty good, too even though you couldn't
break it like many thought that you could in the earlier NHL
games. The referee was shown every time there was a penalty
or violation of play, he looked pretty realistic too and did
all the motions that a real Hockey referee did. The graphics
on this game were overall very good, and some of the best
ever at the time this was made.
Sound 9.0/10
The music in the game was truly great as well, and was some
of the best that I heard. There was some realistic fight
songs that the teams had at the start of every half or the
beginning of the game. The sound effects were realistic too,
every time you hit another player you would here them grown
and the crashing sound of them hitting the ice. You even
heard the last second sounds of their ice skates, cutting
across the ice and different sounds when they were fast or
slow, or they stopped. The audience added to the atmosphere
and it made the game feel more realistic than ever, as they
cheered the home team and jeered the opposition which added
extra realism to the game in its entirety. The referee never
said nothing all you really heard out of him was the sound
of his whistle. Even during the opening screens of the game,
when you hear the realistic sounding music blaring which
usually is associated with Hockey games you will get the
fill for it right there. In my opinion the sounds in this
game were done exceptionally well, and added to the graphics
to make a game, which was both, good to the eyes and the ears.
Game Play 10/10
This game was for one to four players. You had all the NHL
teams available at the time, and the NHLPA license. You had
your usual modes, which were exhibition, season and
playoffs. You also had a shootout mode, which was always
fun. You could create your own player as well, but you
couldn't make any super player. You had all the realistic
calls found in hockey if you left the rules on. You also had
fights, where you cold throw two types of punches, and you
could grab the guy you fight. Won or lose, its 5 minutes in
the penalty box for banging out. You also had all the
realistic hockey hits and checks found in the game. You
could clip and just knock somebody into the team area, which
is always fun. You also had a trading player mode, which was
a lot more realistic than found in the other sports
simulations that were out in the time. The other teams may
reject your trade if it isn't benefiting them, but you could
always over ride this. The shoot out mode was a lot of fun,
this is where just like real life you and the goalie go at
it one on one, which can be pretty exciting and fun at
times. The difficulty is adjustable, and the A.I. is
definitely tough in his one. There is battery back up saves
for all your seasons.
Overall 9.0/10
One could not ask for a better hockey simulation then the
one that is described here. This one unlike the more modern
ones, cut out all the boring aspects of hockey, and added to
the fun. Nothing real complicated here, and it is so easy to
just pick up and play. The replay value is definitely that
this is not one of those sports games where you simulate the
majority of the season just to see that you won the title. I
assure you will play all the way to the end of the season,
and see who gets all the awards. The fun factor is high, if
you have a friend or two with you and a multi player device,
this game is not one that you would put down any time soon,
you could play for countless hours. I really didn't have any
complaints with this one once I get into it. Everything was
killer about quick games, that were fun, perfect control,
but there were factors that you may not have realized while
playing. There also was realistic stat tracking, assists and
hat tricks which hall added to the realism that you were
playing the real game. I recommend this game for anyone,
whether they don't any anything about Hockey, or if they
were brought up on it.
