After 10 days of gameplay, EA's NHL '98 is not old- as a matter of fact-
it keeps getting better!

Let me put the overall score up first:

Overall 9/10-
Right now NHL '98 represents the best hockey game available for the
playstation.  It is my opinion that it breaks new playstation ground in
that EA finally brings the excitement from the genesis' nhl series along

with the fancy graphics!

Intro Sequence: 10/10
I usually skip the intros in most games after I've seen them a few
times.  This intro is definitely the exception.  Even after several
boots of the game, I will more often than not sit and watch the intro-
it is that good.

Here is what I thought when I first saw the intro: "Its so good that I
actually thought of lacing 'em up! There are a few moments that if you
have a dolby surround system,
especially with a good sub, that you'll feel the intro!"
I still feel this way.

Sound: 9/10
NHL '98 has the highest sound output levels I've ever heard from a
playstation game.  This is not bad- and so far it hasn't done any damage
to my system.  The game is mastered in Dolby Surround- and this is
utilized somewhat effectively.  For example, during several crowd
moments, I would hit "mute" on my system to make sure the noise was not
emanating from outside.

Sound effects seem a lot more real than in NHL '97.  Checks are sounded
with a thud, as are changes made at the menu level of the game.

The biggest change in terms of implementation is the running
commentary.  It takes about five minutes to get used to.  I think this
is a step forward for hockey games, although I am certain that others
will find it tiresome or annoying.  This is user controllable, so while
I left this option on, anyone wishing to "free" themselves of the
commentary may do so.

The organ music and crowd noise are also done well.  In a few situations
I've noticed the fans cheering the home team on, "lets go (put a team
name in here)."  At first I thought it was just for the big market
teams, like the Rangers or Canadians, but now I've heard this enough
times to safely say that every home crowd will cheer its team on.
Unfortunately, this does not happen quite enough- it's fairly rare.

The only knock against the sound is that wrist shots and slap shots all
sound the same.  This being said, I'd describe the sonic experience of
NHL '98 as adding to the gameplay- especially if you have a dolby
surround processor and a sub woofer.

Graphics: 9/10
Originally I wondered if this "is this a 3d accelerated pc- or the
playstation?!"  And I'm still mightily impressed with the graphics.

Well, the graphics are not quite up to 3dfx standards, but they are the
most stunning graphics I've seen in a playstation hockey game to date!
There is some break-up of the polygons- especially when the players are
celebrating goals (look above the players wastes, where the uniform
would have to stretch if a player raises his arms, and all you see is
white).  I don't consider this a major flaw since I've only seen it
happen during scoring celebrations, and not during gameplay.

The uniforms are all very realistic looking, and there are the "third"
jerseys.

There are a wide variety of camera angles to chose from.  And the hockey

puck is closer to what a hockey puck should look like, as opposed to
several other games where it looks way too large.  However, there is a
"glow" around the puck, like on FOX.  This cannot be disabled (at least
I cant figure out how to disable it).  I find that it does make the puck
easy to see and that it does not affect gameplay negatively.
Fortunately, there are no "streaks"- like on FOX.

Attention to detail is evident.  For example at the Nassau Veterans
Memorial Coliseum (home of the Islanders) there are the familiar rows
upon rows of championship banners.  Perhaps, with my assistance, they
could add some more!  And in Detroit, there is good old number 9 hanging
up there.  There are real ads on the scoreboard and on the boards from
Coke and others.

Also important to note, players have the proper numbers.

In addition to the above referenced polygon breakups during
celebrations, after fights, when players are not wearing gloves, it
seems as if they have stubs for hands, and each player has the same,
partially- shaven face.  Some players sport helmets with visors.

For these reasons graphics gets a 9/10- EA really illustrates what the
playstation can do, and if they had more time, they might have produced
graphics worthy of a 10.

Game play: 9/10
Originally I felt that "this has got to be the best hockey game for any
platform."

And I still feel that way.

The action is fast, but not hyper-space fast and the timing seems
about right on most plays.  And its certainly not molasses slow, as was
the case with some of last years games.  You can chose different
"on-the-fly" strategies via a menu that is presented when you press the
r1 button.

Im not going to run down the list, but there are more than enough stats
available, and I view the color commentary as adding to the game play.
Basically, its like watching a broadcast of a game, but a game that you
control!

I found player control to be intuitive and fairly similar to other games

and past nhl titles.  I did not notice any really glaring difficulties
in the control department.  However, control takes a little getting used
to, because players react as if they are actually on ice.  So, if you
speed up too close to the boards, your player will crash into them and
fall down.  Players also don't just turn on a dime for the same reason.
EA does achieve a fairly nice balance between the video-game fun and
realism in terms of skating.  You can move the players fairly easily.

There are 3 difficulty modes- "all-star," "pro," and "rookie."
Unfortuntely, once you start a season in one mode, you are forever stuck
in that mode.  I tried playing a season on "pro" mode.  I found that I
could not score goals and in several games I went winless.  This was
fairly discouraging.  I switched to a new season in "rookie" mode.  This
made the game easier.  Unfortunately, I've won every game I've played in
this mode.  It is possible that I'm ready to move up to "pro" but as I
mentioned, you can't switch mid season.  My recommendation is to play a
25 game season, this way you can complete a season without too huge a
time commitment.

- jerry levy
levyj@idt.net