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The Nintendo 64 finally has a hockey game that kids, large and small will love. NHL 99. It is easily the best hockey game for the 64 so far.The game is hockey and every option you would want has been included. All the teams are here including all the expansion teams that I still have no clue about. The players are here and they look good too. The animation is what you would expect on the 64 and with a company like EA SPORTS behind the action you get some nice looking players.

The animation is on par the PC version with only the sharpness of the display missing. The players skate, shoot and pass the puck just like the real players in the NHL. The shooting and passing is handled nicely and adjusting shooting strength is easy. A nice little shot meter pops up every time you get ready to take a shot. Allowing you the player to decide how much speed n power you want on the puck. Great for getting the shot off you want. Unlike other games where you need to time your shot by guessing how long you have pressed the button.

The sound is somewhat bland when you compare it against the PC version of the game but that is to be expected with the N64 rather lame storage capacity. Mind you, what they did squeeze in is very impressive none the less.The music in almost non existent, after all this is a sports game so you get the occasional organ song. Nothing more really.

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Nice stop!

Slapshot!

The gameplay is the key to any good sports game and in NHL 99 it is pretty much what you would expect. Everything is up to the high watermark set by NHL 98 and fans of that game will feel right at home almost at once.

One ODD thing I noticed while playing the game ( I found this completely by accident) is if you stop while you have the puck, nobody will try to take it from you. I found this a little strange since you would think the OTHER team would like to have a puck to score with but they don't seem to be very interested. Of course of the higher levels of play all this changes. Still odd.

The options are many. Almost too many really. The amount of options makes sure that this game will have a long life time of pliability.

I have never been a fan of the 64 controller (I think my hands are too big) so some may find the control not all that nice but it is purely a manner of opinion. Other people I asked said they liked the control just fine. A lot of teams are offered including all the world teams. It is fun to match your team against other teams like say the NHL All Star team against the Italian team. Not often you get to see a 20 to 0 game.

Hockey does not come any better on the Nintendo 64. This game will be on every hockey fans wish list..

Company:
EA Sports
www.easports.com

Category:
Hockey

NOTES:

Interest: 90%
Control: 95%
Graphics: 95%
Sound: 90%
Originality: 80%

TOTAL : 94%

Requirements:

Nintendio 64

Matthew Dussault