Closing on its 30 years anniversary NHL 95 still holds its own against newer games of the franchise. It is very easy to play – just put the game in and turn on the console!
The controls are very simple as well. There are only three buttons that do everything; shoot, tackle, pass and block the opponent’s shots. This simplicity is something that unfortunately no longer exists in hockey games.
The simplicity makes the overall experience better. There are no gimmicks nor long loading times, and it is not necessary to know anything about the sport itself to have fun. Therefore, the game is easy for anyone to play. I’d say you can get the most out of it by playing with your friends and family.
This game has got everything that a hockey or a sports game need and many of these features were possible for the first time. You can play a full season and even save your progress! Additionally, this was also the first-time players could be traded, signed and released. Therefore, one can argue that it indeed was a game changer for the franchise.
In 2023 the graphics don’t look that appealing. However, there is nothing majorly wrong with them either.
The downside is that only NHL teams are included which for a European is a disappointment. NHL, in other words National Hockey League is a major professional league for ice hockey in North America. This is no surprise as the game was developed in Canada and the league is thought to be the highest level of hockey.
However, this downside can be swerved. Already back then it was possible to create your own fantasy players in the game! This means that you can create your favourite team and its roster yourself despite it not being there originally.
When it comes to gameplay, there are some issues. First, the players aren’t very agile and therefore it is not possible to make quick and precise movements with them. Secondly, there is a problem with the way that the manual line changing works during a game. If you try to get fresh players on the rink, sometimes everyone goes to the bench at the same time.
Sometimes the accuracy is not that great either. This is most notable when you try to pass the puck to your teammates: the pass might go to completely the other way. Scoring a goal isn’t that difficult once you understand the ways that work for most of the time. As a conclusion, if you would like to enjoy the tactical aspects of hockey, NHL 95 is probably not the right game for you.
One thing that divides opinions are the heavy tackles that, for me, are hilarious. When you hit the opponent, they fall down and stay there for a while. This can be also annoying but a more experienced player like me can try to use this feature as an advantage.
You can’t always win, not even every time. The game is challenging enough even for someone like me who has played it every now and then since being a kid.
I’m one of those who pay attention to music and sound overall in sports games. I would say that for the past ten years the soundscape in the NHL games has been awful, mediocre at best. This is not the case in NHL 95, and everything sounds pleasant. The sounds are quite realistic: audience react to what happens during the game, the voices on the rink are realistic such as shooting a puck and of course the goal horn is a nice addition. The 8-bit music is also good creating the feeling of nostalgia.
NHL 95 represents what once was “the next generation of video games”. It is naturally lacking some elements and is visually primitive, but still in 2023 it is a playable game one can enjoy.
Pictures: Patrik Oksanen
Basic info: NHL 95 is an ice hockey game developed by Electronic Arts Canada. Originally released for Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment system on October 27th in 1994. Also on DOS, Sega Mega drive, Game Boy and Game Gear. Player attributes and team rosters reflect on the real-life NHL season of 1994–1995. PEGI 3.
A journalism student trying to learn the tricks of gaming and game journalism. Unfortunately, these days have very little time for games. Enjoying sports and racing games the most.
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