As someone who is not even a big sports game fan it is a credit to this game that it held my attention for much time at all. This fast paced, arcade style sports game grabbed my attention right from the very start however.
You basically play 5 aside. You can choose players based on body type, skinny, average or heavy. This is good as you don't feel overwhelmed by statistics. A heavy player is going to move slowly and have more powerful shots and vice versa for the skinny player. Not rocket science but it works well.
The control of the players is very fluent. You basically just shoot and pass when you have possession of the puck or switch players and tackle when playing in offence. Again nice and simple. If the tackle doesn't go smoothly (i.e. you mash the tackle button too much) then a fight will break out. It's a shame you can't get more involved in the fight like later Ice Hockey games. In this game the ref will just send one of the players off for a while which seems random.
As a 2 player game it doesn't get much more fun than the old NES classic Ice Hockey. Nice, simple fun which is uncluttered by the plethora of options found in many more recent sports games.
1. Jon
22 Feb 2007, 08:10 GMT
this game downright good. if you are a fan of old school games you will like this. you can pick your team from smaller faster guys who get pushed around easier, to fat slow guys that can knock anyone over. i don't even like hockey and i like this game.
2. TG
26 Feb 2007, 10:46 GMT
This game is the best hockey-game! Still got the bloodiest hockey-fights in hockey-gameing history =) just run and punch they who dear trying to resist your march to win! =D
3. Junky
01 Mar 2007, 18:08 GMT
I downloaded this game, just so I could brag that I had 80's style hockey for my Wii and show it off to people.
It is fun, but I would rather EA get on board and release some games
4. justsumdude899
18 Mar 2007, 09:22 GMT
Ice Hockey is a timeless classic. Anyone who doesn't feel get nostalgiac watching the Zambonis before 3rd period missed out on their youth (or, at least, my youth). Spend 10 bucks and get this and Tecmo Bowl, and have some laughs with the guys. I can guarantee both these games are getting downloaded like crazy on college campuses, and they deserve it. Their simplicity recalls a simpler time, and their pick-up-and-play fun hasn't faded through all these years.
5. Jeremy
01 Apr 2007, 03:27 GMT
This is an excellent Hockey game. It has a sharp learning curve too, at first you'll be like "gaaaaaah whats going on" but you learn fast. My friend and I played this for two hours from 1 to 3 in the morning, and only at 3 did we realize, "wait, we're playing freaking Ice Hockey for the NES. What are we doing?" But as much as we thought we were playing a dated game, we couldn't bring ourselves to push the Home button on the Wii to go play something else. This truly stands out among the other, mediocre sports titles, and I strongly suggest you download it. It's a great way to let off steam after being frustrated by games like Kid Icarus, and only gets more fun in 2-player. 4 stars definitely, 4 1/2 if you allow fractions.
6. Rick James
10 Apr 2007, 01:11 GMT
It'd be nice if someone would mention blades of steel to nintendo for the wii... even though the "Grafix" suck it was one of the first hockey games with fighting in it if I remember right and was in my top four favorites including Sky Shark, Punch-out, and of course Zelda...
7. Adamant
14 Apr 2007, 05:27 GMT
Yeah, this game, along with Tecmo Bowl, are heaps above the rest of the sports games the VC offers (which I agree are fairly crummy stuff). Excellent party game, wildly recommended.
8. Jmac
19 Apr 2007, 00:59 GMT
THIS GAME IS TIGHT! Me and my friend just downloaded it and we get really into it. Personally I hate sports games, but this has to be the best one there is. Besides, $5 Dollars is a STEAL!
9. Spoony Bard
03 May 2007, 04:12 GMT
This is one of the few VC games I've purchased, and it was well worth it! It's simple to play, and makes for a great two player game (or fun to pass around at parties). I'd give it 4 stars.
10. angel m. rivera collazo
27 Jun 2007, 04:56 GMT
this is an excelent game like tecmo football.viva retro games puneta!
11. Mip
05 Jul 2007, 20:11 GMT
Is there anyway to decide which direction you will shoot when powering up your shot?
12. Mii be you
31 Jul 2007, 20:00 GMT
This is a great game. I thought this was on Animal Crossing.
That's why didn't downloaded it in the first place.(It isn't!)
Since I knew that, I wanted it so badly, And I still want it!
13. WoRMaSTeR
11 Aug 2007, 10:16 GMT
This is just downright fun to play. It is amazing how good it feels to score in this game. One of the best sport games ever - simple but so much fun.
Minus is that you don't sometimes feel like you are in control because the computer al of your players is so stupid. Also there isn't enough challenge against computer, I can win every time no matter what players I take or what teams.
14. WoRMaSTeR
23 Aug 2007, 09:52 GMT
"It's a shame you can't get more involved in the fight like later Ice Hockey games. In this game the ref will just send one of the players off for a while which seems random."
Yes you get to be involved in the fight, tap the a button as fast as you can. If you do the opponent gets a penalty if not you get a penalty.
15. CastlevaniaTest
26 Aug 2007, 23:25 GMT
I like this game. Sometimes, when I'm ahead, I like to pass the puck to a skinny player, and then run him around the field for about a minute. I love the fact that this game is so simple, and it's meatier than some of the VC sports games out there. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a sports game or just an alternative to a huge, in-depth adventure game.
16. Mii be you
11 Nov 2007, 18:04 GMT
Should I get this game, or should I wait for Blades of steel?
Oh, and if you're wondering about Blades of steel, Check it out at
http://www.nesguide.com/games/bladesofsteel/.
17. BJWanlund
15 Dec 2007, 01:42 GMT
I personally am waiting for Blades of Steel myself.
BJ
18. learn japanese ds
09 Jan 2008, 20:59 GMT
This is such a great game. Everything is so fluid and I would say the physics of skating are probably more realistic than Blades'. Blades' does beat it in the fighting department though.
19. Villain
20 Feb 2008, 08:47 GMT
Not a huge fan of sports games, but MAN is this game great.
I remember a few years ago, me and my cuz broke out the old NES and decided to give this game a spin. It had been years since we last played it, at least since I had played it. That night was pure video game fun.
There really is something special about this game.
20. Marvel_Maniac
20 Feb 2008, 19:51 GMT
22 posts so far an it seems like just about everyone loves this game. I'm no different. Back in the 80's my brother and I would get into actual fights over this game. That was sweet,
21. Peppy Hare
23 Feb 2008, 15:02 GMT
Meets the very definition of "pick-up-and-play". Loved this game as a kid and love it just as much now. My advice: play it with a buddy as the game is best enjoyed in a social atmosphere.
22. pricetag
12 Mar 2008, 19:45 GMT
I loved how the games could end--if it was a tight game (within two goals, I think) during the last two minutes, the crowd would start cheering!
Then, you went to a shootout if it ended in a tie, and if it was still tied after the shootout, an overtime period with no goalies!
That made for some wild finishes between my brother and I back in the day. I'd find myself sandbagging so the game would be close at the end.
23. Mr. Cheez
28 Jun 2008, 21:43 GMT
I thought about getting this game a little while back, but since I'm not exactly fond of the other nes launch sports games, I passed on it.
24. Mr. Cheez
28 Jun 2008, 21:45 GMT
unlike those games though, this one actually looked kinda fun.
25. KISSman
10 Jul 2008, 05:18 GMT
This game was simply awesome for the NES and it's still fun to play every now and again today. I immediately bought this and Punch-Out!! the second I got my hands on a points card. I love how you can choose the types of players on your team so you can make a team that works best for your style of play. IMO, this is a more enjoyable game than Blades of Steel.
26. David77
24 Jul 2008, 01:58 GMT
This is the best sport game i ever played, but i must say I don't really like sports games, exept this one of course!
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