Genesis

NHL 95

Excelling in every category, NHL Hockey '95 is better than EA's three previous hockey games combined. With a cart this complete, who cares if the NHL players go on strike!

NHL '95 is a masterpiece, a tour de force, a showcase of all that has been done right in a video game. We continue to be amazed at the work that is accomplished by EA year after year with the NHL series (look for the evolution of NHL Hockey in the next GF Sports). I thought that '94 was as good as it gets, but a year later, I find myself playing a game that is faster, more controllable, crisper - graphically and more intense than I thought possible.

But all in all, NHL '95 has finally come through with the goods. And although the control and new player art may not be what people are used to from the NHL series, once you pick up on the subtle differences you're gonna enjoy the increased depth this game has to offer compared to it's predecessors. So slap on the gloves, lace up the skates and let's hit the ice.

Overall, I didn't think the quality of the game's art lived up to the other games in the series, though there is a new face-off window that puts you much closer to the action.

Improved graphics and sound are present. Players get more detailed every year and so does the music. NHL 95 is another great hockey game by Electronic Arts. Season mode sets this one apart from all of their previous versions.

What the heck happened here? Apparently EA tried to speed up the action in their prized hockey franchise, but they managed to break a few other things in the process! For one thing, the passing is awful, and the puck never goes where you intend. That stinks, because precision passing is one of the hallmarks of the series, and without good passing, it's way too hard to execute one-timers. Yes, the gameplay is faster, but much less fun. Another problem has to do with the new digitized sound effects. The players sound like they all have laryngitis, and it's really hard on the ears. The theme music sucks royally, and the crowd noise is practically non-existent! And take a good look at the crowd - every single person looks like Thelma from Scooby Doo, and that's never a good sign.