Oh man, I can’t believe I almost missed this thread!
bat_attack, for future reference, when you have a thread as important as this one, do not hesitate to bump it!
The EA Sports NHL series for Sega Genesis probably had the greatest run for any sports game ever. The wrap-around move and the deke are money every time, but they never get old. The money moves just contribute to this classic story. I have been having pangs to dust off the old Genesis and hook it up for old time’s sake. I just hope I can find all the parts. It had many great features that aren’t even present in the current editions out on systems like the PS2, such as highlights from other games.
This series is even fun for non-hockey fans.
Let’s start from the beginning:
NHL hockey by EA Sports was the first NHL game and came out in 1992, I believe. This is the version where it was only the players with numbers, no names, but it did have the team logos. There was the option to turn off penalties altogether leading to a fight at the slightest bump. Fighting started any time and all the time. After beating a friend to win the Stanley Cup my friend checked my guy with the Cup, who promptly dropped the Holy Grail to fight the guy that checked him. Messier was still with the Oilers, though he was #11. The Stars were still the North Stars in Minnesota, and it was the first year the San Jose Sharks, in all their teal glory, were in the league. It was only possible to go throught the playoffs, not a season. The conferences and divisions were still set up with the Wales, and Campbell Conferences. The divisions were I believe Adams, Patrick, Norris, and oh no! I’ve drawn a blank on the fourth. There were no injuries. I believe an EA Sports hockey game that was not NHL predated this one, but I only saw it mentioned in a book, I have never actually played it. I think it was probably similar to NES Ice Hockey in that the teams were just countries, like the Olympics.
1993 NHLPA hockey. This was the version that was being played by Double Down Trent and the rest of the gang in Swingers. Roenick was unstoppable, as Trent points out (paraphrasing), “It’s not so much me as it is Roenick that’s awesome.” Yes, this year had blood accompanying the injuries, which was illustrated when Trent made Wayne’s (Gretzky) head bleed. I don’t remember if it was 93 or 94, but in one of these years the player would either be knocked out for the period or for the game. If there was blood, they were done for the game. Always a great amount of anticipation when a player went down, “DON’T START BLEEDING!” This was the first year with names, and I believe there was also stat tracking (I scored 100 goals with Pavel Bure during a playoff run), but team logos were absent. The theme music sounds like it’s worthy of a porno. Season was still not possible, only playoffs. The options for penalties went from “On, Off,” and “off excepting fighting” to just “On” and “Off except fighting” because of the NHL’s attempt to clean up it’s image and give in to soccer mom’s desire not to have their kids turn into thugs. This was a mistake that would turn into a slippery slope in later versions.
1994 NHL. Yes, one-timers made their first appearance adding another good scoring play to the already solid arsenal of the wrap around move and the deke. The “bench check” was also added, allowing you to check an opposing player over the bench. This was the first year for Eric Lindros, and Teemu Selanne, I believe. There was still no season play, just playoffs. The Ducks and the Panthers made their debut, and so did the “player cards” which kept track of records over the long term. I think this was the first year that the “three stars of the game” were awarded. Fighting was completely absent in this version.
1995 NHL. This is the first year it was possible to play an entire season, though if you were too good (winning all the games) the stats would mess up and it was possible to miss the playoffs despite having the best record. Awards were brought in and players could win things like the Hart Trophy and Norris Trophy. It was possible to make trades and there was a GM that would either approve or reject a trade depending on whether or not the trade was “fair”. Fighting had still not made a comeback. Because of the absences of fighting in the NHL games of the mid-90’s I will forever hold a grudge against NHL Commish Gary Bettman.
95 was the last year I played on Genesis. I got 96 for computer and it was outstanding. I didn’t play 97, and got 98 and onwards for the first Playstation.
Of all the versions, I would have to say that I think NHLPA 1993 was my favorite of the series. It was the first year with names, and while it didn’t have the logos, stat tracking and player names made up for it. Even though fighting had to result in a penalty, it was still in the game. There is a huge nostalgia factor as well since the game had older players would not appear in later games and current stars early in their career (Doug Weight and Tony Amonte on the Rangers! Langway with the Caps! Larmer with the 'Hawks!). I would say that it narrowly edges out the original Tecmo Bowl as the greatest sports video game ever.
Out of curiousity, does anyone know about the very first EA hockey game I mentioned above, where the countries are the teams? How was that game?
Anyway, this is a classic series. I hear 04 for PS2 has made a comeback after ther quality of the series had fallen off a bit with the first PS2 games.
), West Germany, Czechoslavakia, and Canada. However, this isn’t the game I was talking about. I found a link describing the first EA game. I’m going to have to find an actual copy of the game and see what it’s like. Here’s the link describing EA’s first venture into the slick world: 
