NHL Open Ice

• Platform: IBM PC Compatible
• Release Date: 1997
• Genre: Sports
• Style: Hockey
• Similar Games: NHL 97 (PlayStation), HyperBlade (IBM PC Compatible), NHL 97 (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), NHL 97 (Sega Genesis), NHL 97 (Sega Saturn), NHL 97 (IBM PC Compatible)

Game Description

NHL Open Ice is hockey's answer to NBA Jam. The game allows only four skaters and two goalies on the ice at one time (two skaters and a goalie on each team), as opposed to a normal game of hockey with five players and one goalie per team. With fewer players on the ice, there is more room to skate, leading to less defense and more goals.

NHL Open Ice features the play-by-play commentary of legendary Chicago Blackhawks announcer Pat Foley. The game has over 120 real hockey players from the NHL, with licensed teams and logos. The arcade style of play results in super power ups, secret characters, jumbo heads, and lots and lots of brutal checking. NHL Open Ice also allows up to four players to compete at one time. Multiplayer options include two-on-two, two against the computer, or the chance to gang up on one player in a two-against-one game.

Roots & Influences

The game draws its influence from arcade hockey titles released by Midway. This title is not a true hockey simulation but, as its title suggests, is more of a unique 2 on 2 "power play" type game.

Review: Overall

NHL Open Ice is a great game. It isn't very realistic, but if you want realism you should play NHL 99 . NHL Open Ice approaches hockey in a fashion reminiscent of the way basketball is represented in NBA Jam. Much like NBA Jam, NHL Open Ice has no rules, no penalties, lots of scoring, and even an "On-Fire" mode for arcade-style fun.

For the uninitiated, the On-Fire mode is gives your hockey player unlimited turbo power and a super shot that bursts into flames as you shoot. To become "On Fire," you must score goals, check opponents and assist on goals to increase your fire meter. If you can score a goal while the meter is flashing, you'll be "On Fire." This mode wears off after you either score three goals or your opponent scores once.

The graphics in NHL Open Ice are great in the high-resolution, one-third of the screen mode. In the full screen mode on my machine, the graphics are pixelated and look like they're from a game made a few years before the year (1997) NHL Open Ice was released. There are no polygons in the graphics and many of the visuals are taken directly from actual player footage.

The sounds are what you might expect in a game of this sort. They are very exaggerated, adding to the enjoyment of the game. A gamepad is essential to playing NHL Open Ice. The action is quick and the game isn't very deep, so your mind just let's itself go.

You can play the game with friends or just against the computer until you get bored, which probably won't be for a while. If you choose to enter your name, the computer will save all your game records such as wins, losses, ties and your winning percentage. If you like arcade-style sports games and roughneck hockey, then this game is could be perfect for you.

Review: Enjoyment

Great fun once you get used to it.

Review: Graphics

The graphics are good in the highest resolution but only average in full screen.

Review: Sound

The commentary by Pat Foley gives the game a television feel.

Review: Replay Value

Up to four people can play at once, adding a whole new aspect to the game.

Review: Documentation

Normal instructions, install, requirements etc.