NHL 96

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NHL 96
multiplayer

NHL 96 is a 1995

Probe Entertainment for the Game Boy. EA Sports published all versions of the game except the Game Boy version, which was published by THQ. The game is based on the sport of ice hockey and puts the player in control of a hockey team in modes of play such as exhibitions, seasons and playoffs. It is the fifth installment in the NHL
game series.

NHL 96 is the first entry in the series to feature real-time three-dimensional graphics through the DOS version's "Virtual Stadium" technology. The game also features improved and adjustable opponent artificial intelligence, a previously-barred ability to engage in physical fights, new moves such as the spin-o-rama, and general enhancements to the visual animations and audio. NHL 96 was met with critical acclaim, with reviewers commending the game's improved opponent AI, fluid graphics, and added gameplay features.

Gameplay

An example of gameplay in the DOS version; the player is currently in control of Dean McAmmond of the Edmonton Oilers. Through the DOS version's "Virtual Stadium" technology, NHL 96 is the first entry in the series to feature real-time 3D graphics.

NHL 96 puts the player in control of either accurate real-life hockey team rosters from the 1994–95 NHL season or customized teams and players.[1] As one of any given player, the controlling player can skate about the rink and stick-handle the puck in any direction, and can move with a short burst of speed with a certain input. When on the offensive, the player can dump the puck into the opposing team's zone, pass the puck to another player, take or fake shots, and execute a spin-o-rama. When on the defensive, the player can hold or hook, hit the ice to block shots, poke check, and body check.[2][3] Goalies can be manually or automatically controlled, the state of which can be toggled in the main menu.[1] Manually-controlled goalies can dive, poke check, and make save attempts. The player takes control of their goalie if they have saved the puck regardless of the manual or auto setting. In this stage, the player can either flip the puck out of their team's zone, pass to an open teammate, clear the puck along the boards, or draw a face-off by avoiding any input, at which point the referee will blow his whistle and call the puck dead.[2][3] The skill level of computer-controlled opponents can be adjusted to "Rookie", "Pro" or "All-Star" in the main menu.[1]

If a player violates one of several infractions (including holding, hooking, goalie-interference, etc.), the player is directed to the penalty box to wait out the duration of his penalty time, which may be two or four minutes depending on whether the player on the receiving end of the violation is injured.[4] Among these infractions is fighting; the players are capable of getting into physical fights during heated moments in the game, and this feature can be toggled on or off in the main menu.[1] If an opponent squares off against the player, the player can either press any button to drop their gloves and initiate a brawl or avoid any action for four seconds; the latter option will prompt the referee to intervene and call roughing penalties. During a fight, the player can throw punches to the opponent's head, send uppercuts, grab and pull the opponent's jersey, skate back and forth, and block incoming punches. Players who get involved in a fight are given five-minute major penalties.[3] The end of a player's time in the penalty box is signified by six tones.[4] Penalties can be toggled on or off in the main menu.[1]

The game's scoreboard is displayed between periods and any time the game is paused. Along with reviewing basic ongoing game information, the player can view

power play, the amount of alternate lines they have access to is restricted.[3]

Modes of play

NHL 96 features six modes of gameplay: Regular Game, Playoffs, Playoffs Best of 7, Season, Shootout, and Transactions;[1] the Playoffs, Playoffs Best of 7 and Shootout modes are absent from the SNES version.[6] The Regular Game mode is a single exhibition game in which the player can play against computer-controlled or human opponents. In the default Playoffs mode, eight teams from each conference engage in a single-game-elimination tournament. The Playoffs Best-of-7 mode is a closer reflection of the real-life NHL playoffs. The Season mode is a play-through of an entire 84-game season, complete with a best-of-7 playoff tournament and season-end awards ceremony. In the Shootout mode, the player can practice their penalty shot technique in a five-round shootout contest between any two teams.[1]

In the Transactions mode, the player assumes the role of a general manager and creates, trades, and releases players, and signs free agents.[1] The player can create and edit up to 19 new players and add them to a pool of free agents. The free agent pool is formed from all unassigned players, which includes newly-created players and existing players who have been released from their team's roster. Created players can be named and customized by team position, stick handedness, body weight, jersey number, and a series of attributes that can be configured using a limited number of points. When trading players, multiple players can be involved at a time, but no more than three from a team per transaction. Any attempt to stack a team will be rejected. Each team's roster must carry between 17 and 27 players, including two or three goalies.[7]

Development and release

The Genesis version was programmed by Mark Lesser, who had previously programmed

sports card manufacturer Donruss, as well as video interviews of NHL players and video highlights from the 1994–95 NHL season.[11][13][14] The game's audio incorporates crowd chants and organ tunes specific to the stadium being played,[13][15] and features the 2 Unlimited song "Get Ready for This" as a musical track.[16] The cover of the game features Steve Yzerman and Scott Stevens, then team captains of 1995 Stanley Cup finalists the Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils respectively.[17]

The Genesis, SNES and DOS versions of NHL 96 were shipped to stores in North America on September 30, 1995 and released on October 6, 1995 to coincide with the opening of the 1995–96 NHL season.[13][18] The same versions were released in Europe the same month.[19] A Game Gear version was advertised, but not released.[18][20] The Game Boy version was released in North America on November and carries the NHL league license, but not an NHL player's license; as a result, the game features official team names and logos, but no existing player rosters.[20] A version for the PlayStation was announced the same month,[21][22] but later cancelled because it did not meet Electronic Arts' quality standards.[23][24] A version for the 3DO was also planned.[22][25]

Reception

The Genesis version of NHL 96 received highly positive reviews and is widely considered to be the best installment in the franchise.[33] A critic for Next Generation commented that the game took the basics of NHL 95, "arguably the best sports simulation product ever",[30] and added new features which served to only improve upon the gameplay of the series. They added that the opponent AI had been improved, and were also pleased with the more detailed player graphics, new sound effects, greater strategy with new ways to score, ability to create players, and more complex fighting mechanics. They concluded, "The only thing possibly wrong with this game is that every other sports game in your library may pale in comparison."[30] Mike Salmon of Game Players declared that "the superb gameplay of the '95 version has only gotten better with time", and commended the game's sharp graphics, enhanced audio, tougher AI, and added techniques and features.[29] Air Hendrix of GamePro gave the Genesis version a resoundingly positive review, applauding the new moves, the return of the fighting feature, the improved opponent AI, and the fluidly animated player sprites.[27] Video Cowboy and the Iceman of Electronic Gaming Monthly also gave their approval of the Genesis version, particularly praising the improved opponent AI.[26]

The SNES version was also received positively, though less so than its Genesis counterpart. Next Generation noted that the SNES version has sharper graphics and more animation than the Genesis version, but determined it to be slightly inferior overall due to the rougher gameplay and AI.[31] Salmon stated that while the SNES entry had sharper graphics and gameplay than its predecessors, the combination of a less solid AI and faster gameplay pace led to a lower amount of challenge and capacity for strategy than the Genesis version.[29] Game Players subsequently referred to NHL 96 as "far and away the best Super NES sports title".[34] Quick-Draw McGraw of GamePro remarked that the SNES version had muddier graphics and less content than the Genesis version, the fights were dull and hard to control, and the "weak" audio was comparable to "listening to the game from the parking lot".[6]

Reviewing the DOS version, Todd Vaughn of PC Gamer praised the game's detailed graphics (particularly when higher resolutions are enabled), realistic and challenging gameplay, and modem-enabled multiplayer capability, though noted that not all of the game's camera angles were optimal for gameplay, and that the system requirements were steep.

SVGA mode "on even high-end 486s." However, they gave the game an overall strong recommendation for its realistic features and many special moves.[32] Hugo Foster of GameSpot criticized that the games are too frequently scoreless, and that success and failure seem to be largely random. He added that the game "is still fun to play", and praised the fluidly animated graphics and the precise controls.[28]

NHL 96 was the 9th highest-renting SNES title and the 6th highest-renting Genesis title at

NPD Group analyst Mat Piscatella reported that the SNES version of NHL 96 was the third highest-selling retro title of April 2018.[40]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i NHL 96 (Genesis) instruction manual, pp. 5–7
  2. ^ a b NHL 96 (Genesis) instruction manual, pp. 2–3
  3. ^ a b c d NHL 96 (Genesis) instruction manual, pp. 13–16
  4. ^ a b NHL 96 (Genesis) instruction manual, pp. 25–28
  5. ^ a b NHL 96 (Genesis) instruction manual, pp. 9–12
  6. ^ a b c Quick-Draw McGraw (October 1995). "NHL '96 Second-Round Pick on the Super NES" (PDF). GamePro. No. 85. IDG. p. 84.
  7. ^ NHL 96 (Genesis) instruction manual, pp. 22–24
  8. ^ NHL 96 (Genesis) instruction manual, inner cover
  9. ^ NHL 96 (SNES) instruction manual, inner cover
  10. ^ "Sports Insider Previews: NHL '97". GamePro. No. 99. IDG. December 1996. p. 194.
  11. ^ a b c d e Todd Vaughn (December 1995). "NHL '96". PC Gamer (19). Imagine: 227–228.
  12. ^ "Inside Look: NHL '96 (Genesis, SNES)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 73. Ziff Davis. August 1995. p. 118.
  13. ^ a b c "Electronic Arts announces NHL 96 title to ship on three platforms; Best-selling hockey video game to face off with the opening of the NHL season". Business Wire. September 30, 1995. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  14. ^ NHL 96 (DOS) back cover
  15. ^ NHL 96 (Genesis) instruction manual, p. 4
  16. ^ NHL 96 (Genesis, SNES and DOS) back cover
  17. ^ "NHL '96". Crash the Net. Archived from the original on April 21, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  18. ^ a b "NHL 96 advertisement" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 75. Ziff Davis. October 1995. pp. 125–127.
  19. ^ "Previews: NHL '96 (SNES/Mega Drive)". Joypad (in French) (45). Yellow Media: 42. September 1995.
  20. ^ a b "Team EGM Previews: NHL Hockey '96 (Game Boy)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 77. Ziff Davis. December 1995. p. 220.
  21. ^ "Inside Look: NHL '96 (PlayStation)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 76. Ziff Davis. November 1995. p. 251.
  22. ^ a b "NHL '96 (3DO and PlayStation)" (PDF). Game Players. No. 77. Imagine Media. November 1995. p. 111.
  23. ^ "Madden '96 in '97?" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 80. Sendai Publishing. March 1996. p. 121.
  24. ^ "EA Delays 32-Bit Madden, NHL Until Fall" (PDF). GamePro. No. 90. IDG. March 1996. p. 16.
  25. ^ "3DO SALES INCREASE WITH NEW $299 PRICE POINT; Low Price; Software Library; Mass Market Coverage Make for 170% Sales Increase". Business Wire. July 26, 1995. Retrieved December 21, 2018. More than 75 new titles are scheduled to be released for the 3DO system between now and Christmas including NHL `96, Primal Rage, Flying Nightmares and PO'ed.
  26. ^ a b "NHL Hockey '96 (Genesis) by Electronic Arts" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 75. Ziff Davis. October 1995. p. 124.
  27. ^ a b Air Hendrix (October 1995). "NHL 96 for Genesis Reigns on the Ice" (PDF). GamePro. No. 85. IDG. p. 82.
  28. ^ a b Hugo Foster (September 12, 1996). "NHL '96 Review". GameSpot. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  29. ^
    Imagine Media
    : 88–89.
  30. ^
    Imagine Media
    : 125. October 1995.
  31. ^
    Imagine Media
    : 189. November 1995.
  32. ^
    Imagine Media
    . January 1996. pp. 163–4.
  33. ISBN 978-1-55369-731-2
    . Considered by many to be the best game in the franchise, NHL '96 is the smoothest and most refined entry in the series.
  34. Imagine Media
    : 48. December 1995.
  35. ^ "Blockbuster Video November Hot Sheet!" (PDF). GamePro. No. 86. IDG. November 1995. p. 189.
  36. Imagine Media
    : 22. December 1995.
  37. ^ "Editor's Choice Awards 1995" (PDF). GamePro. No. 89. IDG. February 1996. p. 26.
  38. ^ The Feature Creature (June 1996). "1995 Readers' Choice Awards" (PDF). GamePro. pp. 24–25.
  39. ^ Staff (November 2000). "A Decade of Gaming; Award Winners of 1995". Computer Games Magazine (120): 56–58, 60, 62, 66, 68, 70–76.
  40. ^ Jason Evangelho (May 23, 2018). "NPD April 2018 Report: The Best-Selling Games for Really Old Consoles". Forbes. Retrieved December 13, 2018.

External links

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