NHL '94
A landmark hockey simulation that defined the 16-bit era.
NHL '94 is an ice hockey game developed by EA Sports and released for the Super NES, Genesis, and MS-DOS in 1993, with a Sega CD version following in 1994. It is the third entry in the NHL series and the first to be officially licensed by both the National Hockey League and the NHL Players' Association. The game is frequently cited as one of the greatest sports video games ever made and is widely regarded as the finest hockey game of all time.
Quick Facts
- Publisher
- EA Sports; Electronic Arts Victor (Japan)
- Designer
- Jim Simmons
- Programmer
- Mark B. Lesser
- Composer
- Rob Hubbard
- Series
- NHL
- Platforms
- Genesis, Super NES, Sega CD, MS-DOS
- Rewind
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre
- Sports (ice hockey)
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
The game retains the series' vertical camera angle, providing strategic advantages over side-view hockey games, and uses 2D sprite character models from NHLPA '93 with new animations. Rosters and player attributes reflect the 1992-93 season, including the expansion Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Florida Panthers. New features include the one-timer shot, manual goalie control, and the ability to save user and player records. Five modes are available: Exhibition Game, Playoffs, Best of Seven Playoffs, Shootout, and Demo. Both all-star teams are present, but no international teams. Team-specific organ songs play at period starts and after goals, such as the Hartford Whalers' 'Brass Bonanza' and the Montreal Canadiens' 'Halte-là! Les Canadiens sont là!'.
Other versions
The National Hockey League required EA Sports to remove fighting from the Sega CD version. The game engine, modified for extra violence, was used for Mutant League Hockey on the Sega Genesis. A port based on the Genesis version was included in the PlayStation 2 version of NHL 06, but lacks official NHL rosters and renames the Hartford Whalers as the Hartford Canes. NHL 14 introduced an NHL '94 Anniversary Mode, which alters audiovisuals and controls to resemble NHL '94 using 2013-14 teams and players; this mode returned in NHL 15 and NHL: Legacy Edition. NHL '94 Rewind, a port for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One developed by Empty Clip Studios using the Arsenal emulation engine, was released on October 30, 2020 for pre-orderers of NHL 21, and became available to all in December 2020, featuring 2020-21 teams and players.
Reception
Computer Gaming World stated that NHL Hockey for DOS offered a playing environment flush with realism and excitement, and in June 1994 it was a finalist for the magazine's Sports Game of the Year award. GamePro gave the Sega CD version a perfect score, praising its controls and playability. Allgame editor Scott Alan Marriot called it the best playing hockey game at its release. The game was a commercial success, outselling Madden 93 and selling a million copies. IGN ranked it 59th on their Top 100 SNES Games of All Time, praising its four-player multiplayer and fast-paced gameplay, while criticizing the removal of brawling. PC Gamer US named it the 11th-best computer game ever in 1994, and PC Gamer UK ranked it 41st. GamesMaster placed the Mega Drive version 65th in its Top 100 Games of All Time in 1996.
Legacy
NHL '94 is often considered among the greatest sports games ever made, ranked number one by Boston.com. The Genesis version placed 61st on Electronic Gaming Monthly's 100 Best Games of All Time in 1997 and 47th on IGN's Top 100 Games of All-Time in 2005. Bleacher Report listed it as the second-best hockey video game ever. Former NHL player Jeremy Roenick credits his fame to the exposure from NHL '94. The goal horn sound from the Genesis version has been used as an unlockable in the World of CHEL mode since NHL 19.
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