NHL 99

Thursday October 07, 1998

This might just be THE best NHL simulator EVER!

NHL is back, and better than ever. With new AI, new puck physics, a new graphics engine, and several other notable additions and tweaks, EA Sports has made it an easy choice for those thinking of purchasing the new NHL game. With fine tweaked graphics engine that's practically flawless, and new AI that's even smarter and more realistic before, this is a sure winner for anyone interested in Hockey.

Starting off, I played a simple quick game, playing as the Washington Capitals. Starting the game, you see a short movie of the arena in which the game is going to take place. Then the the game starts with the US National Anthem and you see the players on their sides with their right hands to their chests. The announcers then come on and introduce the teams and players as well as go over some of the info and stats of those players. All of this is exactly like watching a Hockey game on TV, and the graphics and sound are so good that you might actually think so.

Playing the game is extremely simple to learn, yet very difficult to master. Movement is achieved by using either a keyboard, joystick or joypad, and the commands are simple and easy to memorize. They can also be remapped for costom controls, but I didn't see the need, seeing that EA put them in just the right place. Controls include shoot, pass, burst (skate faster),

and special move (according to the player). That's it, its that simple. AI is a high point in NHL 99, being very smart. Now, the computer controlled players play even more realistically than before, playing behind the goal and passing more often.
They now also fight more realistically, though fights happen very rarely. The AI can be adjusted to fit your skill level, so you can make it as hard, or as easy as you like.

Two of the best, and most obvious improvements is the graphics and sound quality. The graphics are crystal clear and perfectly smooth, using hardware acceleration, and the animations, textures and color depth are some of the best ever in a sports game. The sounds are comparable to DVD quality, and can even rival that of actually being there. Even turning up the volume you cant hear any distortion.

Everything from the roar of the crowd to the smash of a body check sounds great, and extremely realistic. Also, the announcer adds to the game more than I can say. His commentary and info seem totally dynamic, he never seems to say the same thing. These features add the the feeling that your really watching the action live on TV. In fact, you can even sit back and watch a game of two computer opponents without having to participate, and it really is like watching TV.

I highly recommend this game to anyone who enjoys a good game. This is great for anyone. Even for those who don't like Hockey, or even who don't like sports in general. Its high action, ease of use, and spectacular gameplay make it ideal for anyone and  everyone.

Company:
EA Sports
www.easports.com

Category:
Sports

NOTES:

Interest: 90%
Maniability : 90%
Graphics: 95%
  Sound : 95%
  Originality : 90%

TOTAL : 92%

Requirements:

Operating System:
Windows 95/98

Processor:
Pentium 166MHz or better

Memory:
16 MB of RAM

Hard Drive:
30MB

Sound Card:
DirectX 6.0 compatible sound card

Video:
DirectX 6.0 compatible 1MB SVGA video card

Joshua Westhoven

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