NHLPA Hockey '93 is a Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System ice hockey game developed by Park Place Productions and published by Electronic Arts Sports Network. It is the second installment of the NHL series and the first to be released for the Super NES.
| NHLPA Hockey '93 | |
|---|---|
 Packaging for the North American Genesis version. | |
| Developer(s) | Park Place Productions |
| Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts Sports Network |
| Composer(s) | Jim Simmons |
| Series | NHL series |
| Platform(s) | Genesis, Super NES |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | |
Although considered to be the second EA Sports NHL game, the game was not licensed by the NHL; however, it did receive licensing permission from the NHLPA. Because of this, all teams are referred to only by city (the New York Islanders were referred to as "Long Island") with no use of the team name itself. Additionally, no NHL team logos or NHL emblems are seen anywhere in the game.
Gameplay
editThe game features are a single-game exhibition mode and a playoff mode (single-elimination or best-of-7), wherein the winner collects a trophy similar to the Stanley Cup. The game includes mostly complete rosters and all 24 teams from the 1991–92 NHL season, including the expansion of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators.
The Genesis version also included EEPROM saving,[1] which allowed one to save lines and the ongoing Playoff, rather than use passwords as in the Super NES version.
Reception
edit
Computer Gaming World approved of the game's use of real NHL hockey player names and teams, and concluded that it was "just about as realistic and detailed as one could hope a cartridge game to be ... two red and blistered thumbs up".[1] Former video game publication AllGame also praised the realism that had been included into the game, specifically the addition of injuries and shattering glass, but expressed disappointment at the lack of a season mode. Criticism was also given to the lack of challenging AI, stating that "scoring goals is still too easy".[5]
In 2001, Game Informer ranked it the 20th best video game ever made. The staff praised the game's depth and strategy.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b Emrich, Alan; Lombardi, Chris (January 1993). "EA's NHLPA Hockey Scores With Two CGW Editors". Computer Gaming World. p. 90. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
- ^ Mega review, issue 1, page 32, October 1992
- ^ MegaTech review, issue 10, page 34, October 1992
- ^ Sutyak, Jonathan. "NHLPA Hockey 93 (Sega Genesis) Review". Allgame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- ^ "NHLPA Hockey 93 - Review - allgame". 2014-11-14. Archived from the original on 2014-11-14. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
- ^ Cork, Jeff (2009-11-16). "Game Informer's Top 100 Games of All Time (Circa Issue 100)". Game Informer. Archived from the original on November 19, 2009. Retrieved 2013-12-10.