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It’s one of the most critically acclaimed sports video games ever made, and still loved and played passionately almost three decades later: EA Sports’ NHL ’94 was released in 1993 and went down in history. Featuring every NHL team and introducing groundbreaking new gameplay features, it didn’t just pave the way for many sports simulators to come, it also put ice hockey video games on the map. Originally developed by programmer Mark Lesser for the SEGA Genesis, it was later also released on Super Nintendo, Sega CD systems, and PC (DOS). This 16-Bit ice hockey cult classic has become the most beloved hockey video game of all time, which fans still play in 2022 alongside hyper-realistic simulation powerhouses the likes of NHL 23.
A sports game that went down in history
Mark Lesser, who funnily enough didn’t know much about hockey, could have never foreseen the success his video game NHL ’94 would have. The EA Sports title was the first to feature every NHL team, their logos, and real player names thanks to full team and player licensing deals. Combined with quirky 16-Bit graphics, simple, yet frantic gameplay, music, and new, groundbreaking features, it instantly became a classic. The game introduced lethal one-timers, and new scoring maneuvers such as “the duper”, and let players break the glass with hard slap shots. Hats appeared on the ice when someone scored a hat trick, and the inclusion of the teams’ legendary stadium songs such as the Sabre Dance of the Buffalo Sabres added never-before-seen details that changed the game.
It was a true trailblazer for the entire sports video game genre, and no other ice hockey simulator ever garnered as much praise as the cult classic. Former Chicago Blackhawks star Jeremy Roenick has even called it his “claim to fame” as he still gets comments on his dominant avatar in the game today. His character in NHL ’94 crushed any opponent, making the Blackhawks almost unbeatable in the game. To bring the classic to an entirely new generation, EA Sports released NHL ’94 Rewind in 2020 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Featuring the original game’s 16-Bit graphics and gameplay, it includes the teams and players from 2020 and takes players down memory lane on modern consoles, while new players were able to experience the classic for the first time.
NHL 23: Realism has taken over
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NHL ’94 has paved the way for sports video games. And in the almost three decades since, the world of sports video games has grown and flourished into something that would not have been thought possible back in the 90s. With today’s technology, the new iterations of the NHL games boast realism and immersion that might make players feel as if they were really on the ice. NHL 23 is EA’s newest title in the long-running series and has taken realism to yet another level. It doesn’t just include all the real teams, logos, players, and their likenesses, the gameplay and hockey maneuvers also feel as authentic as never before, with a ton of well-thought-out details implemented.
While Blackhawks’ Roenick crushed any opponent in NHL ’94, even though he wasn’t the highest-rated player at the time, NHL 23 has highly accurate player ratings in place to simulate the real NHL teams and players on the ice as authentically as possible. Like bookmakers, analysts evaluate players’ current performances and stats and translate these into the video game’s player ratings that accurately reflect the real athletes. Therefore, the player with the best ratings in the game is usually also the one that gets the best odds from bookmakers. There are many platforms available online that get reviewed and rated by experts, where bookmakers publish their odds for all types of sports. Looking at the current NHL odds, Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid is leading the pack to take home the Hart Trophy for the most valuable player this season – and he’s also the highest-rated player overall in EA’s NHL 23 video game. Sports simulation games have come a long way since the 90s. With its realistic graphics and authentic gameplay, NHL 23 almost makes you feel as if you were part of the NHL yourself.
Despite today’s technological advancements, the 16-Bit cult classic NHL ’94 has not lost any of its timeless appeal. A trailblazer for sports video games in general and the most beloved ice hockey game ever made, NHL ’94 has gone down in history and is still played passionately today.
