Pre-Polygon Sports games....The Old Schools

[Anthony1]

Is anybody else out there intrigued by the Pre-Polygon sports game era? For whatever reason, I find myself interested in sports games that don't use polygons. I'm especially interested in Playstation and Saturn and 3DO and that time period sports games that didn't yet attempt polygons.


Here are some classic sports games that were on 32 bit systems before the advent of polygons:

John Madden '97 - Playstation - The first Madden to reach the PSX. And the last Madden to use sprites.

NBA Live '96 - Playstation - One of E.A.'s first attempts on the PSX. Sprite based players with 3D backgrounds.

Triple Play Baseball 97 - Again, Sprite based players with 3-D backgrounds. Excellent presentation.

NFL Gameday - The original NFL Gameday. Sony was there in late 95 when E.A.'s Madden was a no show.

Fifa International Soccer - 3DO - This was one of the most impressive early 3DO games. Incredible sound.

Slam N Jam Basketball - 3DO - When Slam and Jam first hit on the 3DO it seemed really amazing. Never before had anybody seen such huge sprites in a basketball game.

World Series Baseball 1 and 2 - Sega Saturn - Before Triple Play '97 on the PSX, there was the World Series Baseball games on the Saturn.

NHL PowerPlay Hockey '96 - Sega Saturn - This was widely considered to be one of the best playing and flowing Hockey games of the early 32 bit era.

[digitalpress]

Yup.

My favorite sports games ever are John Madden '93 on Sega Genesis, NHL '94 on Sega CD and RBI Baseball 2 on NES.

[Gamereviewgod]

Madden 98 used sprites on the PSX and Saturn also. Didn't go polygonal until 99.

[Dire 51]

It's Blades Of Steel for me or nothing.

[petewhitley]

NBA Live '96 is just epic. What a great game that was. I haven't had as much fun with a b-ball game since (though I haven't played the Street series).

[digitalpress]

NBA Live '96 is just epic. What a great game that was. I haven't had as much fun with a b-ball game since (though I haven't played the Street series).

YEAH!

Hey, what version of NBA Live was on Sega's X-Band dial-up network? I used to play that game every night, even with some crazy bugs in the online play that caused automatic 3-pointers on a return after basket... remember that?

Was that '96? It was either '95 or '96, certainly. What a classic.

[Drexel923]

I am also into pre-polygon sports games...I can't play some of the games they make now just cause they're not as fun. Some of my favorites are Blades of Steel, Ice Hockey, NHL '94-96 (Genesis versions), Jordan vs Bird.

[Gunstarhero]

Yes, I actually like 2d sports games. And in particular, 2d sports games that aren't franchise titles. I like Football Frenzy, Run n Gun, John Madden Football(the first one), NBA Hangtime, Brutal Sports Football.

And for some reason, I use to really like John Elway's Quarterback.

[thegreatescape]

I allways enjoy the antics of NES Ice Hockey. Mario Lemeiux hockey on the Mega Drive is also pretty good, because its like a 16-bit version of NES ice hockey. Even better with someone else [insert humerous comment hinting similarities with sex, etc]
Are there any ice hockey games that use that perpsective ? perferably sprite based

[The Manimal]

I have Jaleco's Pro Sport Hockey for the NES. It's not a fast game, and it has it's share of problems, but I still think it's one of the best hockey games for the NES. Basically, it's an 8-bit EA NHL title, playwise. Weird.


Also, is this rare? I picked this up (cart only) a looong time ago and I have never seen another copy since! I think my copy is the only copy I've ever seen

[kainemaxwell]

I don't play sports games too often but some my 8-16 bit favs are Tecmo Super Bowl and Blades of Steel for the NES (even better since I just got BoS last week!). 16-bit I've taken a liking to Mutant League Football for some reason along with always liked the Ken Griffey baseball titles and NBA Live '95 or '96.

Now if I can get an instruction manual for MLF I'll be happy...

[Anthony1]

Madden 98 used sprites on the PSX and Saturn also. Didn't go polygonal until 99.

Really? I thought they went polygonal after Madden 97. At least on Playstation. I just bought Madden 97 for the PSX the other day for $1.99. Is there much of any difference between Madden 98 and 97 on the PSX?

If 98 is just as cheap, then I'll have to scoop that one as well.

Also does anybody have both versions of the sprite based Maddens on both Playstation and Saturn?

If so, which game is the best of those? Thanks for any help on that.

[Gamereviewgod]

'98 lost the awesome video intros that put so much feeling into the game, so I would stick with '97 if you enjoy it. The "sliding" of the players was toned down a bit for '98, but that's about it.

[jaydubnb]

Out of the three sports I play on consoles (Baseball, Football, and B-ball), baseball is the one sport i think has totally fell apart with the advancement of technology. My fave sport game of all time still stands as NES Baseball Stars, Perfect baseball game.

[Gamereviewgod]

Actually Anthony, Powerplay '96 on the Saturn was polygonal too. It can be hard to tell though since the view is so far from the ice. Still one hell of a hockey game though.

[den68]

oh yeah! I love the old pre polygon sports games. a few of my faves have already been mentioned most notably Blades of Steel. some other I love are NHL 96, World Series Baseball (homerun derby baby!) Super High Impact, Mutant League Football, Arch Rivals.

to me some of the early polygon stuff is so hard to look at that it's almost unplayable compared to pre polygon games.