NHL 98 (PC)

CNET editors' rating: 4.5 stars Outstanding
Detailed editors' rating
Overall score: 9.2 (4.5 stars)
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Gamespot editors' review

• Reviewed by: Tasos Kaiafas
• Reviewed on: 10/24/1997
• Updated on:05/02/2000
• Released on: 09/30/1997

The level of realism in this year's crop of sports games is both frightening and exciting. Even without taking the unbelievable graphics you get with a 3D card into consideration, 1997 is shaping up to be a breakout year for the genre. Computer-controlled players are smarter, physics are better, and gameplay is more exciting than ever. Throw in awesome graphics and audio, and sports games are finally coming into their own.

NHL 98 is one of the front-runners in this bumper crop of sports games. Each year, this game gets so good, it's hard to fathom how it could get better; not that past versions of the game were perfect, but compared to other sports games, this hockey series has consistently been one of the best.

The major improvement in the '98 edition comes in the area of control. It's about time EA Sports got around to supporting more than a two-button control scheme. You can do a lot more with a couple more buttons, and all EA needed to do was take a look at console sports games. With just this one simple addition, as well as a few other improvements, EA's NHL series once again ups the bar, not only for hockey games but for all sports games.

The four-button control scheme makes doing some moves easier than before. The designers removed the need for double clicking on the gamepad, and some of the moves that previously relied on double clicks, like speed burst, are now assigned to a single button. Maybe someday EA will decide to include full eight-button support for the aging Gravis GrIP or the Gravis GamePad Pro.

Finally, the game includes some strategic elements, although not many. You can choose among four different offensive and defensive strategies - and you can select these from the ice instead of always having to exit to the menu. The game is still a bit shallow on the coaching side, but the inclusion of any options at all is a welcome improvement.

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