There have been a lot of hockey video games. From C64, Apple II, IBM AT’s…you name the system and chances are there was a hockey game for it. But no franchise embodies modern video gaming hockey like EA Sports NHL ‘xx series. After the release, the play mechanics, graphics, presentation, everything about the game would be copied by competitors, improved upon, to the point that what you saw in EA Sports NHL series was what you got in almost all hockey video games.

These games have not been without their controversy either. For a while, hockey was deemed too violent of a sport for kids. Somehow, hockey games got caught up in video game violence issues. While you might remember games like GTAIII and other violent FPS games, even back in the 8-bit, 16-bit, and whatever lower-rez bit you can name, had folks denouncing the use of violence in the game.

Fighting was a critical part of EA Sports NHL series. There was nothing like the tight feeling of anticipation and sweaty button mashing excitment when going up against a buddy in the game. End up in a fight against one another and it was whole other world of glorious video game action. So much so, it didn’t matter who won the game (sometimes), only who won the fight.

Enter NHL ‘94. The first game in the series to have fighting removed. It was such a big issue that folks actually picked up copied of NHL ‘93 (with fighting) instead of ‘94 edition.

Presentation in this game is solid. The Genesis version had smoother gameplay when compared to its competitors and skaters glided on the ice appropriately. Control was equally smooth and simple. One button to pass, another to check and shoot, and the third button to loft the puck high out of your zone.

All the moves were there from wrap-around attempts, one-timers, breakaways, hard checks into the boards…and yes, the awesome “deke” move to score. Master this move and you owned the game and all opponents. The deke was simple and hard all at once. Drive to the net with the puck twitch one way then the opposite direction and shoot. If done right, it’s a guaranteed goal. Miss and you run the risk of running into the goalie and having a penalty called on your of interfering the goalie.

If you hated this game or sucked at it, it was because you couldn’t figure out The Move. Get it and the game is totally fulfilling to play.

The Move:

Everything you expect from hockey: the crowd noise, loud whistles, penalties, hits, shining ice, pucks bouncing off the glass and half wall, exciting goals, everything…is here (except for the fights).

There’s no fancy digitize sounds except for the “oohs!!” of the crowd, or the grunts of getting checked. The player sounds should sound familiar, they’re all sampled from EA Sports’ Madden series. The familiar clang off the goal pipes or cross bar is here, only it sounds more like a thud than the clang you’re used to hearing. Puck bounces of the glass (and even shattering it) and boards all sound dead on.

Lacking a play-by-play back then was a good thing. It allowed the player to practice their announcing skills. There’s nothing like playing by yourself and announcing the game or grabbing the announcer’s mic when playing against a buddy just before you score on ‘em.

That’s where the magic was.

Multiple playing modes (season, playoffs, exhibition, etc) and customizable games (penalties, goalie controls, line changes and more) are all here.

Face-offs, power-plays, penalty-kills (and the awesome, tempo changing short-handed goals) are all here for you enjoy. Presentation is top notch and it’s no wonder everyone copied EA Sports’ formula, to the point that the 3/4 rink view in there series has been cloned and included in almost all hockey games after.

Unfortunately, games like NHL ‘94 will probably never see playing time unless you have a system or grab an emulator. I suspect sports titles from EA Sports’ glory days are reserved for money making that EA’s franchise has now become. Unless they can make a pretty buck of off it, I wouldn’t expect to see it on Wii VC anytime soon. It’s a shame though, the original series in the ’90’s are well worth any sports fans time to pick-up and play.

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