NHL '94
Description
After establishing themselves in the virtual rinks, EA combined both NHL and NHLPA licenses in NHL '94, allowing them to feature all 26 real teams (including both expansion teams) and players of the new NHL season for the first time in the series.
Aside from the licenses, the gameplay for this edition sees for the first time the inclusion of the devastating one-timer shot, but to keep forwards (literally) in check, defenders also feature harder body checks, with new animations. For an additional challenge, players can also choose to control the goalkeeper manually. A popular feature in previous editions, fighting is completely removed from the game. Game modes include exhibition games (or "regular season" in-game), playoffs (best of one or best of seven) and an all new shoot-out mode. The main options remain basically the same couple since the establishment of the series - period length (5, 10 or 20 minutes), line changes (off, manual or the new automatic mode) and penalties (off, on, on but no offsides).
While there are some minor differences between platforms (Genesis features record keeping for users and the MegaCD version has more stat screens, CD quality audio backdrops and the usual highlight clips here and there), only the PC version released at the same time features complete season action.
Groups +
Screenshots
Promos
Credits (Genesis version)
29 People (18 developers, 11 thanks) · View all
Design Adapted by | |
Programmed by | |
Graphics by | |
Based on NHLPA '93 by | |
Music & Sound by | |
Organ Music by | |
Executive Producer | |
Produced by | |
Assistant Producer | |
Technical Directors | |
Testing by | |
Player Ratings by | |
Player Card Photos by | |
Special Thanks to | |
[ full credits ] |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 89% (based on 26 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.7 out of 5 (based on 35 ratings with 1 reviews)
The Good
Great multiplayer action, especially with penalties turned off. There is a method and skill to scoring, rather than the goalies being impossibly hard or easy.
The Bad
None really. I wish you could get more players than the 5-person limit but that was a limitation of the SNES hardware. Their multi-tap only supported 5 controllers.
The Bottom Line
The best game ever made. You should play it with 5 people with the penalties turned off and it turns into a combination of football and hockey. You block for each other, try to knock the goalie out of position right before your teammate takes a shot and generally do all the things you can't do in real life.
SNES · by sprewell (1) · 2007
Trivia
Compilation
NHL '94 is included in the PS2 version of NHL 06.
Awards
- Electronic Gaming Monthly
- November 1997 (Issue 100) - ranked #61 (Best 100 Games of All Time) (Genesis version)
- 1999 Buyer's Guide - Ranked 8 (Top 10 Genesis Games)
- GamePro
- February 1994 (Vol. 6, Issue 2) - Sports Game of the Year (1993 Editors' Choice Awards)
Information also contributed by Big John WV
Analytics
Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings and price history! (when applicable)
Related Sites +
-
"John Madden Hockey" (Read-Only Memory, 2015)
Detailed article about the influences of the John Madden football games on the creation of NHL '94. Article written by Blake J. Harris with illustrations by Eleanor Crow. -
NHL94.com
A comprehensive fansite entirely dedicated to NHL94
Identifiers +
Contribute
Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.
Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Terok Nor.
Additional contributors: Erwie84, Alaka, Freeman, formercontrib, Luis Silva, Jo ST.
Game added March 12, 2004. Last modified August 29, 2024.