Favorite Hockey game?

[Tupin]

I prefer games like Ice Hockey on the NES and Blades of Steel, but I like the NHL games too. NHL 95 is my favorite NHL one, but all I have is NHLPA 93'.

[SpyHunter]

NHL '94 is still the best, followed by Blades of Steel.

As far a modern games, I am playing NHL 2K9 right now and I am thoroughly enjoying it.

[norkusa]

I always play between the same 3 hockey games: NHL '98 for Genesis, NHL '99 on PS1, and NHL 2-on-2 Open Ice Challenge for PS1 when I want some arcade-style hockey fun.

I know there's better hockey games on the PSX than '99 but I it was the first 'next gen' hockey game I *really* got into and couldn't believe how detailed it was .When I saw a goal review for the first time, I remember thinking it was the coolest thing ever.

[neuropolitique]

I prefer NHL '97, or as I like to call it, LAFONTAINE SCORES!!!!!

[Cornelius]

I haven't played a lot of hockey games, but I'd have to say NES Ice Hockey is my favorite. I've played a heck of a lot more Blades of Steel, though, since that's the cart we had when I was a kid. I did play NHL Hitz on the GC w/ my 5 yr old nephew not long ago, and he totally schooled me, but it was pretty fun.

[bangtango]

I know it is a matter of opinion but I think Blades of Steel has Ice Hockey beat in every single area. I never understood how anybody could like Ice Hockey better. The fat guy knocks over the skinny guy and takes the puck. So that's funny the first two or three times. Then what?

Of the Genesis NHL games, I tend to prefer NHL 95 as it was the first one in the series I owned.

More recently, I enjoy NHL 2002 on Xbox or PS2.

[josekortez]

I'm going modern on this one. NHL Hitz 20-02 for Xbox was the best hockey game I ever played. The controls weren't as good on the GameCube and the PlayStation 2 for some reason. Also, I don't know why the year had a dash between the numbers on the case, but it was also the first clearance game I found for Xbox if I remember correctly.

[DigitalSpace]

To me, Blades of Steel has a slight edge over Ice Hockey, since it has more depth.

[Tron 2.0]

Blades of Steel for me and Hit the Ice that's all.

[gum_drops]

I forgot which NES was my favorite, its been too many years. I remember there were a ton of fights in it but I do not recall the title. Was there a NHLPA game for the NES?

[The 1 2 P]

Blades of Steel simply because it also had a fighting mini game included for free:)

[Cornelius]

Blades of Steel simply because it also had a fighting mini game included for free:)
don't forget the little shooter during a period change!

[Atarileaf]

Everyone is forgetting the king - Ice Hockey for the 2600 by Activision

Everything else pales in comparison.

[cityside75]

I've played a lot of hockey over the years, my favorites are:

NHL 94 - Originally got this for the SNES and played a ton of it, more recently I've gotten the Sega CD version and its got the smoother Sega gameplay and some cool crowd noises.

NHL 98 (PS1) - The best 32-bit hockey, hands down.

NHL 2K2 (DC) - Solid game, one of the last DC games released by Sega.

NHL 07 (360) - Just got this one recently, twin stick gameplay is fun once you get the hang of it.

[Drifter 2000]

NHL 95 - I actually like this one more than NHL 94 for whatever reason. From what I remember it has a season mode that you can trade players in and everything. It's been a while since I played it though.

NHL Hitz 20-03 - Sometimes it's just nice to stop working about hockey strategy and just light your players on fire, checking people through the glass. Easy to pick up and play, and completely addictive. Sad that they'll never make anymore of them.

NHL 09 - My current generation hockey addiction. It's got a boat load of problems but it's still closer to the real thing than 2k's latest game. My first EA hockey title in probably fifteen years.

[krooper13]

Not one mention of Championshpi Hockey for the Master System! I jest, its one of the worst games on the console, my fave is NHL 07 for the PSP, its one of the best portable games ever.

[Mayhem]

NHL93 for the SNES just edging over NHL94, despite the latter's multitap compatibility.

[Zebbe]

I prefer Elitserien 96. The Swedish version of NHL 96 on the Mega Drive.

[Xander]

Ice Hockey.

[fahlim003]

NHL 95 - I actually like this one more than NHL 94 for whatever reason. From what I remember it has a season mode that you can trade players in and everything. It's been a while since I played it though.

Exactly, this was the first instance I knew of a licenced hockey game where you could build your own teams via trading and free agency. I recall remaking the entire league, it was awesome. Plus it was a big jump from NHL 94 in looks and handling. Possibly one of my favourite Genesis games of all time.

[Garry Silljo]

Was there a NHLPA game for the NES?

Pro Sport Hockey by Jaleco had real teams and rosters, I'm too lazy to check if Wayne Gretzky did or not. If we are looking for the worst hockey game, Gretzky on the NES gets my vote.

[DKTheArcadeRat]

I personally love hockey. Favorite sport by far. Here is the list of hockey titles I love.

-Ice Hockey(2600)
-Blades of Steel(NES)
-NHL '94, '95, '96, '97(Sega Genesis)
-NHL Rock the Rink (PS1)
-NHL Hitz 20-02, 20-03, Pro(GameCube, on any cross platform game I go for GameCube)
-ESPN NHL Hockey(PS2)
-Any of the 2K series games.

[SegaAges]

nhl 94 ftw!

that game pwns all

[bangtango]

NHL 95 - I actually like this one more than NHL 94 for whatever reason. From what I remember it has a season mode that you can trade players in and everything. It's been a while since I played it though.


Exactly, this was the first instance I knew of a licenced hockey game where you could build your own teams via trading and free agency. I recall remaking the entire league, it was awesome. Plus it was a big jump from NHL 94 in looks and handling. Possibly one of my favourite Genesis games of all time.

You two obviously have impeccable taste, given your preference of NHL 95.

For some reason, this particular version isn't all that popular on internet forums compared to NHLPA 93 or NHL 94. I find that strange. The common complaints were that the graphics were redrawn slightly (in my opinion they look better), the music was slightly different (I found it to be an improvement) and the fighting was taken out (fighting is such a minor detail compared to other nuances of the game).

So yeah, NHL 95 ruled. The control was sweet as sugar and I loved taking the Ottawa Senators factory roster all the way to the Stanley Cup on multiple occasions, just because they were such a bad team (in terms of ratings) compared to every other squad on the cartridge. It made for more of a challenge.

This game was released during the vintage "bad" Ottawa Senators era (early 1990's) when they'd win about 12 games a season, a few years before they got rid of the same guys seen on NHL 95's roster and became a competitive playoff squad. Journeyman goalie Craig Billington and failed first round draft bust Alexandre Daigle became household names in my home and put up monster stats in my copy of NHL 95 :)

The only big flaws I remember were that the cart battery went dead within 6-12 months and the wrap around the goal shot made it far too easy to score on the other team.

[Greg2600]

NHLPA '93, Sega Genesis. I would agree that the '95 versions of the EA sports games were probably their pinnacle.

[TheGam3r]

-NHL 2002 (PS2)
-NHL 94 (Genesis)
-NHL 98 (Playstation)
-Blades of steel (NES)
-NHL 2004 (XBOX)
-NHL 2002 (GBA)
-NHL 2K6 (PS2)

[BenG76]

Mine would have to be Ice Hockey on NES. Me and my step brother played the heck out of that game.

[fahlim003]

You two obviously have impeccable taste, given your preference of NHL 95.

For some reason, this particular version isn't all that popular on internet forums compared to NHLPA 93 or NHL 94. I find that strange. The common complaints were that the graphics were redrawn slightly (in my opinion they look better), the music was slightly different (I found it to be an improvement) and the fighting was taken out (fighting is such a minor detail compared to other nuances of the game).

So yeah, NHL 95 ruled. The control was sweet as sugar and I loved taking the Ottawa Senators factory roster all the way to the Stanley Cup on multiple occasions, just because they were such a bad team (in terms of ratings) compared to every other squad on the cartridge. It made for more of a challenge.

This game was released during the vintage "bad" Ottawa Senators era (early 1990's) when they'd win about 12 games a season, a few years before they got rid of the same guys seen on NHL 95's roster and became a competitive playoff squad. Journeyman goalie Craig Billington and failed first round draft bust Alexandre Daigle became household names in my home and put up monster stats in my copy of NHL 95 :)

The only big flaws I remember were that the cart battery went dead within 6-12 months and the wrap around the goal shot made it far too easy to score on the other team.

What do you expect, we're Canadian, of course we have good taste in hockey games, heheh. In all seriousness I do agree with all points you made.

Regarding the wrap around, it wouldn't have been such a huge issue (as it was in NHL 94 anyway) if the opponents skaters didn't plow into the net blocking the goalie from crossing over. Thankfully this doesn't always happen, and then again 95 made good use of the one timer and that's what I usually rely on, despite being position biased(ie, Center).

Speaking about the bad years for Ottawa, I think we're seeing the beginning of new era of disappointment in the real NHL for those Sens.

[snes_collector]

I not big into hockey, but I do enjoy a round or two of Mutant League Hockey every once and awhile.

I also though NHL Hitz 20-03 on GBA was good too. Reminded me of the old SNES and Genesis games.

[Mr Mort]

I can't stand sim-style sports games, they bore me to death.
My favourite hockey game is easily NHL Hitz 20-02 on the GC. I'm a big fan of those old over-the-top Midway arcade games, and this one is their crowning achievement. IMHO. There's something to be said about simplified controls, easy-to-pick-up gameplay, putting someone through the glass, and setting stuff on fire.

[wfnjstallion]

Ice Hockey on the NES. I remember being 7 years old and playing on speed 5 with all the really skinny guys thinking that this game had what I called "warp speed". it is by no means the best hockey game ever made, but it is my personal favorite.

[sidnotcrazy]

No mention of Hat Trick on the 7800? I love that game, but I know I am in the minority there. But for me the best is Blades of Steel.

[jdc]

I own NHL 94 on the Genny.....but since I absolutely am not the best at hockey videogames (was a decent goaltender in real life) I find that due to the insane range of tweaking I can actually do well with the modern 2K games.

[alexkidd2000]

Best hockey games through the ages

Hat Trick - Arcade
Blades of Steel - NES
NHL Series - Genesis (SNES? PLEASSSSSSE)
NHL Powerplay 96 - Saturn
(painful times for next few years)
NHL 2k2 - Dreamcast
NHL 2k3 - PS2 and Xbox
NHL 2k5 - Xbox
NHL 07-09 - 360 (EA back on top finally)

[Night Driver]

NHL 94 - Genesis

[Tupin]

No mention of Hat Trick on the 7800? I love that game, but I know I am in the minority there. But for me the best is Blades of Steel.
I played that, and it was so weird to play.

I just didn't like it.

[ronclon]

NHL 94 on the sega cd. Best hockey game ever.