I remember the first time I played this game. My brothers and I had bought it from Zellers and had run home to play it on our Sega Genesis. We were so excited we moved the system onto our big 40" TV at the time. I also remember playing it for Playstation soon after and thinking at the time how brutal it was. The play was choppy, the graphics hurting - the whole thing felt rushed.NHL 97 had so many new features it was almost overwhelming, similar to the new EA games in which there are so many game modes to choose from. There were international teams, skills competition events, and our favourite addition: special skills for certain players.
The NHL skills competition game mode might have been the most addictive thing in 1996 (other than collecting Pogs) as it featured non-stop challenges with friends. The game featured four events: hardest shot, 2-on-0 with a goalie, accuracy shooting and a fastest skater/agility competition. Ripping slapshots with Al MacInnis was borderline cheating.
Now to the best part - the individual special skills for elite players. There were 15 special skills that reflected the skills of NHL players (well sort of). I don't remember them all, but I do remember there being a behind-the-back shot with Mario Lemieux, being able to skate with the puck and hit at the same time with Eric Lindros (apparently he could skate with his head up in this game), Mike Modano being able to dangle with a special deke, and Dougie Gimour able to drop a pass at the blueline for Larry Murphy (booooooo) to whistle high and wide.
While there was an easy way to score as there is in most NHL series games, it was still a great game that had the "wow factor" at the time. Just watch the gameplay and remember sitting on a beanbag drinking a Jolt Cola at 3am as you pushed deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
I was not a big fan of 94 because they took out the fighting. Brink back NHL 93!
ReplyDeleteI was always a fan of the NHL series on Sega. Just 3 buttons and so easy to play.
ReplyDeleteUsed to love just going down the ice with Big E and hit guys while stickhandling, or ripping wrong footed wristers with Wendel Clark
ReplyDeleteI always loved the "music". And when a player got hurt, he would lay on the ice twitching. I miss my Sega
ReplyDeleteA major flaw in the game was the glitch that allowed players to score 100% of the time when shooting down by taking a shot against the boards at the hash marks of the left circle in the bottom zone.
ReplyDeleteI remember getting a Playstation for Christmas that year with NHL 97 but still playing it on Genesis because it was just better. My favourite next to '94
ReplyDeleteyahoo hit...nicely done boys
ReplyDeleteSorry, but there is no redeeming that 1996 World Cup loss.
ReplyDeleteSincerely, an American.
I think it was 94 (or could have been 97) where the goalie would come out and poke check and their was a glitch were he would get stuck on the ice just humping away at it....
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