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.