NHL 99 hits the goal post and does not score!
Written: Aug 30 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Rumble pack support, good multiplayer
Cons: Hard to navigate, outdated rosters, slow commentary
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| Oleg3130's Full Review: NHL '99 for Nintendo 64 |
Well, I was hoping for a great game, but I was stopped short. I own every EA NHL game for PC since 1997, so I decided to get NHL 99 for N64 in hopes of playing the greatest multiplayer game money could buy (I got it for $20 new). With sad tone I proclaim: "I am disappointed, EA!"
I loved the PC NHL series more than anything in the world. I was ready for the same level of gameplay, but it was not to be. Here is the breakdown.
AYE:
1) Full NHL License - this remains an important factor for me in sports games. I want to relate to real people, so I appreciate EA paying for the lisence.
2) Rumble pack support - probably the best thing in NHL 99. You can feel the hits, almost putting you in the real game.
3) In-game statistics - you get a lot of interesting data between face-offs such as your power play performance, goals and assists a certain player has, etc. It is very close to real TV broadcasts where they show a closeup of a player and show his stats.
4) Multiplayer - I think N64 is better suited for multiplayer games because you play comfortably without cluttering in front of a PC monitor. The analog stick gives very good skating control, much better than a keyboard or a gamepad would.
5) Camera views - there is several views for your pleasure. Some give the view of the whole arena, which is good for players who are into strategy plays and combinations; others follow the puck carrier to give more action-like feel of the game, especially if you get checked.
NAY:
1) Menus - it is nearly impossible to easily navigate the menus in the game with the N64 control. Changing your line combinations is a nightmare because the control does not act as a mouse. You have to press the button to select a player, switch to another window, replace the player, return. It's a hassle. I wonder why it would be so hard to use the analog stick as a mouse pointer.
2) Game commentary - it is better than in other hockey games, but just not the same as on PC. The commentary is very infrequent, it does not follow every action or player on the ice, so it takes away from fun.
3) Rosters - since you cannot use the Internet to update the rosters, you have to do it yourself, which means you have to follow the trades in the NHL and go through the pain of trading players. So within a year the rosters become very outdated unless you put some effort in.
Final thought: as a hockey game for N64, it is a good overall game, but could be much better. If you have a PC and multiplayer is not important to you, I suggest you try out NHL 2000, which gives you better graphics, commentary, menus and rosters.
Overall score: 80/100.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
Oleg3130
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Member: Oleg Gerovich
Location: Dania, FL
Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 3 members
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