NHL Open Ice

• Release Date: 1996
• Genre: Sports
• Style: Hockey
• Similar Games: Hit the Ice (Sega Genesis), Blades of Steel (Game Boy), NBA Jam (Game Boy), NBA Jam (Sega Game Gear), NBA Jam (Sega Genesis), NBA Jam (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), NBA Jam T.E. (Game Boy), NBA Jam (Sega CD), Blades of Steel (Nintendo Entertainment System), Blades of Steel (Arcade), Hit the Ice (Arcade), NBA Jam (Arcade), NBA Jam T.E. (Arcade), NFL Blitz (PlayStation), NFL Blitz (Nintendo 64), NFL Blitz (Arcade), NFL Blitz (Game Boy Color), Hit the Ice (TurboGrafx-16), Hit the Ice (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), NFL Blitz (IBM PC Compatible), NBA Jam T.E. (Sega Game Gear), Blades of Steel (Commodore 64/128), Hit the Ice (Game Boy)

Game Description

In the tradition of NBA Jam comes NHL Open Ice, a two-on-two arcade hockey game featuring both an NHL and NHLPA license for real teams and players. There are over 120 stars in total (each rated in skating, shooting, passing and checking ability) on 26 teams (with rosters and ratings reflecting the 1995-96 season). Chicago Blackhawks announcer Pat Foley will call the play-by-play as you skate down the horizontal rink looking to score on a one-timer, wrist shot or slapshot. Controls are kept simple: pass, shoot and turbo buttons are all you'll need to remember while playing.

Every time you steal, check, score or get an assist, your "hot meter" will become charged. Once it's maxed, you'll be on fire! This means you'll have greater accuracy and velocity on your shots. If you have a memory card, the game will keep track of the top ten users in Most Games Played, Best Win Percentage and Most Points. Other features include a digitized scoreboard, five difficulty levels, adjustable period lengths from one to nine minutes, normal or big head size, two player versus or co-op play, and tournament mode. So what are you waiting for? It's time to put the "biscuit in the basket!" NHL Open Ice for the PlayStation is a translation of Midway's 1995 arcade game Open Ice.

Review: Overall

If nothing else, the folks at Midway prove you can beat a dead horse with a hockey stick just as soundly as with a basketball. NHL Open Ice is NBA Jam on ice, make no mistake about it, so those who love the style of game will probably enjoy this one as well. About the only thing different is you can't leap high into the air to score! The game features the same type of two-on-two action on a horizontal view of the rink. If you're playing with a computer teammate, you can influence when he takes a shot or passes to you, but you can't directly control the skater by switching to him.

As in the later titles in the NBA Jam series, players can enter in their initials and date of birth before each game so they can keep track of their records (Most Games, Most Points and Best Win Percentage). Tournament Mode offers you the choice of whether or not you want the computer assistance feature on or off, which dictates how close the computer matches your score (by cheating to even things up). Unless you like the computer to come from behind to beat you at the last second, most players will want to turn Tournament Mode "on" to disable it.

Fans of NBA Jam will feel right at home with the simplified controls and recognizable features. The pad controls the "skating" and there are only three buttons needed for play: one for passing, one for shooting, and the other for turbo. Use the turbo button to skate at high speeds and perform specialty shots when used in conjunction with the shot button (just like the wild dunks in NBA Jam). Your turbo meter (shown at the top of the screen) will gradually diminish with repeated use, but it will recharge on its own or immediately upon scoring a goal.

Also at the top of the screen is the "hot meter," which slowly builds whenever your player passes, checks, scores or shoots. Once it's completely filled, scoring a goal will make your player "on fire." As in NBA Jam, you'll have increased shooting accuracy and unlimited turbo for its duration (which lasts until the opposing team scores or you pull off a hat trick). Of course, scoring a goal while you're hot will leave behind a burning net. You were expecting something else, perhaps?

The best part of the game is clearly the audio presentation, as announcer Pat Foley really energizes the action with his upbeat delivery. He'll announce each player by name, nickname and even tell you when you've scored a hat trick. Another plus is the four-player support, as it is much more entertaining to play with your friends than CPU-teammates. The game's biggest problem is that its play mechanics haven't evolved since NBA Jam. That there is no option for hot-spots as in NBA Jam Tournament Edition almost suggests that Midway is holding back for a sequel. Where are the individual player statistics? How about a create-player feature? Why is there this sudden feeling of deja vu??

Review: Enjoyment

It's as simple as this: do you love NBA Jam? If so, you'll want to give this game a whirl. Don't be tricked into thinking this is a real hockey game and you won't be disappointed. Unless, of course, you thought there would be a few more enhancements to gameplay.

Review: Graphics

The rink looks great with a huge Open Ice logo on center ice and advertising along the boards. The players are big and colorful, although they don't move very smoothly due to some missing animation from the arcade game. Every time you score a goal, the scoreboard will appear along with a small cinema screen showing everything from a baby crying to women in the stands!

Review: Sound

Pat Foley offers some entertaining commentary, although some of the phrases sound pieced together. The passing and slapshots don't sound very authentic, but the organ music helps make up for it.

Review: Replay Value

The goal is to beat all of the NHL teams to win the Stanley Cup. While five difficulty levels and computer assistance will surely offer a challenge, the game gets tiresome after playing for a few periods. For fans of {*NBA Jam} or the arcade game only.

Review: Documentation

The twenty-four page manual includes various power-up codes to spice up gameplay. These include the expected "baby size" bodies, faster speeds, fat heads and increased passing, checking and shooting abilities.

Production Credits