Retro Review: NHL 94

Hi, I’m Rich Ramsey for Star Power Games. Welcome to my review of NHL 94 on the Sega Genesis.

NHL 94 is revered as a classic that will live on as most sports games do not. The graphics look fine for Genesis standards, but as with “realistic” graphics from that era, they don’t look great now. However, the presentation is very good for a Genesis game. There is a pre-game introduction done by Ron Barr, who talks about which players are hot and cold, and who teams should watch out for. The overhead camera perspective provides a good view of the action, allowing you to figure out strategies on offense or set up on defense.

But the gameplay is where NHL 94 truly shines. The skating physics are fantastic, especially for 1993 (when the game was made). You are unable to simply stop on a dime and turn, much like actual skating. This gives more of a true hockey feel. One of the best gameplay improvements in NHL 94 was the introduction of one-timers. Passing the puck around to set up a good shot is easily the most effective offense, which is more realistic. The 3 button controls are very easy to learn, but offer far more control than you would expect. Overall, the gameplay is very smooth and after a couple games you have a great feeling for the game.

There are multiple different game modes, like Regular Season, Playoffs, and Shootout. You can save your record and play through a season, or jump right into the playoffs. There are a few in-game options as well. You can have manual control over the goalie or allow the computer to control your goalie. Penalties can be turned on or off as well. This allows you to go between more realistic or arcade styles.

I would recommend this to any Genesis owner, even those who are not hockey fans. The game is somewhat hard to describe, but it just plays so well that anyone can enjoy it. You can find it for quite cheap (less than $5) and it is well worth the purchase.