Blades of Steel, much like one of Konami's other NES sports games, Double Dribble, was loved all over the world back in the day. Double Dribble didn't hold up that well, so you may wonder how its ice hockey has fared. Actually, it has aged remarkably well!
The game doesn't have detailed "cutscenes" like Double Dribble does (although the sprites are pretty detailed now), but it makes up for this in pretty much every other way. There are now eight teams (four from Canada, four from the US), three difficulty modes, and of course both a single player or two player mode.
The game's pretty fast paced, which of course makes for frantic fun as everybody goes for the puck and smashes and trips each other. As in Double Dribble, there is no music during gameplay, but some slightly addictive tunes play at almost every other time. However, as with most other later NES games, there is a small amount of sampled speech. If a player bumps into another player enough times, chaos will ensue as you enter a small fighting minigame akin to Urban Champion where you try to beat up the other player before he beats you. The loser gets sent to the penalty box!
During the second intermission, there is about a 50% chance that you get to play a little minigame based on Gradius (Which is by Konami, of course!). This provides a fun break from the action and is pretty nifty (Konami sure love to stuff Gradius into their other games as a minigame).
What else is there to say? Overall Blades of Steel is better than Nintendo's appropriately titled Ice Hockey, and it's held up pretty well compared to Double Dribble. If you liked the game back then or like ice hockey games then this would not be a bad download.
1. Kevin
27 Nov 2007, 12:12 GMT
Sweet! This is a good hockey game from back in the day.
2. CuzinMike
28 Nov 2007, 03:35 GMT
I was obsessed playing this game. The in game fights were the best part!
3. deggs
28 Nov 2007, 11:16 GMT
the best nes hockey game at the time... still, stanley cup for snes was likely the best hockey game i ever played but before that, there was this and my friends and i played it much too much considering how simple the thing is... i guess it could still be playable today...
4. INSANELY_SIK
30 Nov 2007, 16:07 GMT
OMG I love this game and i always kept betaing up every one up can't wait for this
5. Tim
02 Dec 2007, 02:56 GMT
I hope this game comes to the North American virtual console before christmas. This is easily the best hockey game available on the nes. The single player game probably won't hold up in this day of age but the multi-player is where all the fun is.
6. darthmix
04 Dec 2007, 20:31 GMT
Awesome. This was one of the few sports games I really got into back in the NES days. Can't wait.
7. animagnum
21 Dec 2007, 04:16 GMT
BLADES OF STEEL!
8. CyclonWii
21 Dec 2007, 07:35 GMT
This game is mine!!!!! Again
9. Aldo
21 Dec 2007, 10:16 GMT
Oh I love the Fights between the Players
Good old Game!
10. Eclipse Dj
21 Dec 2007, 10:18 GMT
"Bladeshh of shhteel" kerching! ...what an opening title, loved this game back in the day. My first experience of Ice Hockey and I loved it, had endless games against my Bro, great memories!
11. BigKing
21 Dec 2007, 21:31 GMT
Blades of Steel is an amazing even, even if you aren't into ice hockey at all (like me). Especially the fights were pretty cool, just keep bumping against an opponent and you'll trigger the fighting mode with close ups of the hockey player.
It was also one of the few NES games with digitalized voices. Which was quite nice at the time.
12. Koolkitties
22 Dec 2007, 02:50 GMT
I hope this comes out here in the states....however...I dunno if I agree with your comment about Ice Hockey.
13. Guyute
24 Dec 2007, 14:41 GMT
I had this game as a kid, and will be picking this one up tonight...
14. Koolkitties
03 Jan 2008, 21:37 GMT
Ice Hockey is great.
Blades is great.
15. Scizzoman
07 Jan 2008, 11:02 GMT
I've never played this game before, but downloaded it just to see why it was so popular. It's crazy addictive. I spent hours playing multiplayer, and the single player isn't bad either. Very frantic and fun game, and I can play as Vancouver =D
16. learn japanese ds
07 Jan 2008, 22:04 GMT
You can play as Vancouver!? OMG was this game licensed by the NHL?
17. DEMON212
21 Jan 2008, 01:38 GMT
I'm sorry, but if Ice Hockey gets a 4, then this game EASILY deserves an 8. Because it's easily twice as good. It blows it away in every aspect.
18. The shoemaker
25 Jan 2008, 02:56 GMT
Hmm does it really? oh well hockey doesn't interest me too much (and I'm Canadian!) My points I'm getting tomorrow are being spent else where
19. ChocoDK
21 Feb 2008, 02:42 GMT
I just tried out this game today since someone at school said he used to play it. And wow am I shocked I am no fan of sports games but this game is so much fun. And it aged extremely well that the graphics look good for the NES days. This game is way better then Nintendo's Ice Hockey and is just so much fun!
20. Matt Thorndark
27 Feb 2008, 05:03 GMT
This was one of my favorites growing up. It was really amazing and pretty easy, even for someone like me--I stink at sports games. I'd download it if I didn't still own the cartridge.
21. Tony
29 Feb 2008, 23:52 GMT
This is a great game. Maybe Konami will grace the VC with Track and Feild 1 and 2
22. Superlink911
17 Mar 2008, 10:52 GMT
the Fights in the Game Alone are worth the 500 Points
23. waldojeffershead
06 Apr 2008, 17:31 GMT
I purchased this game, unfortunately I cannot rate it until I have given it a far shake with multiple players. single player isn't anything to write home about, but based on the appearance of the game I can see a multi-player being a lot of fun. I also feel I should purchase the classic Nintendo ICE Hockey to compare, I remember playing that game as a child. It's no NHL 2004 for the PS2, but rather an enjoyable video form of my favorite sport. The only thing wrong with this game is the lack of the Boston Bruins!
-WALDO
24. David77
24 Jul 2008, 01:35 GMT
I prefer the chaotic gameplay of Ice Hockey, but I have good memories of both.
25. LordJamak
09 Aug 2008, 22:16 GMT
This was the first hockey game I had aside from Ice Hockey for the Atari 2600. Gotta love the simplicity and excitement of the action. Defense involves running into the other team. The goalie automatically knocks down anyone who hits him. AND THE LOSER OF A FIGHT GETS A PENALTY!!!! Ahhhh memories... "Hit the pass!" (or whatever it says)
26. THATG0MEZ
04 Sep 2008, 08:29 GMT
I love how they left in the in-game advertising for Contra and Jackal in this version. This was a great buy.
27. Corbie
28 Oct 2008, 03:01 GMT
A good enough hockey game, but I never really got into it the way some of my friends did. Maybe that's because I'm not much of a hockey fan.
Leave A Comment
Please login to post a comment.