Summary
- Release Year: 1994
- Genres: Sport
- Platforms: DOS, Sega CD, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System
- Developers: Sony Imagesoft, Stormfront Studios
- Publishers: Sony Imagesoft
ESPN National Hockey Night (1994): A Deep Dive
ESPN National Hockey Night was one of the many hockey games released back in the day. This one featured all the NHL teams for its time, but lacked an official players license. Despite this, the game was still a solid hockey experience with plenty of features and options.
Gameplay
ESPN National Hockey Night offers four game modes to choose from: Exhibition, Challenge, Playoff, and Season. Exhibition mode is your standard one-off game, while Challenge mode pits you against a series of increasingly difficult opponents. Playoff mode lets you compete for the Stanley Cup, and Season mode lets you manage your team through a full 82-game season.
The game features both a horizontal and vertical perspective of the ice, which gives you a variety of ways to view the action. You can also choose to play with or without icing, and you can set the game speed to your liking.
One of the things that sets ESPN National Hockey Night apart from other hockey games of its era is its commentary. The game features the voice of Bill Clement, who provides play-by-play commentary that is both informative and entertaining.
Graphics and Sound
The graphics in ESPN National Hockey Night are solid for a 16-bit game. The players and the ice are all well-detailed, and the animations are smooth. The game also features some nice touches, such as the ability to see the puck trail behind the players as they skate.
The sound in ESPN National Hockey Night is also good. The crowd noise is realistic, and the sound effects are all well-done. The music is a bit repetitive, but it’s not too distracting.
Controls
The controls in ESPN National Hockey Night are simple and easy to learn. You use the D-pad to move your players around the ice, and the buttons to shoot, pass, and check. The controls are responsive and the game plays smoothly.
Overall
ESPN National Hockey Night is a solid hockey game with plenty of features and options. The lack of an official players license is a bit disappointing, but overall this is a fun and challenging game.
Review Score
7.5/10
Pros
- Solid gameplay
- Variety of game modes
- Good graphics and sound
- Easy to learn controls
Cons
- No official players license
- Music can be repetitive
Review Score
7.5/10