NHL Face Off '97 - SCEA (Sony)

"The best hockey game *ever*" wouldn't be stretching it as a
description of this fine game, newly updated on last years great
first effort by Sony.  The folks that worked on this game have
done great work, and have taken an already very good product (NHL
Face Off original) and improved upon it to come out with this new
version.

The game in many ways isn't a new game, and definitely is more of
an update to last years game than a totally new creation, but it
has had some tinkering done under the hood, and some new features
have been added to make the game better than before, and worth
spending money on to either "upgrade" from last year, or just get
this game as an excellent addition to your video game collection.


Whats been added?

First, the graphics haven't been majorly changed, and look pretty
much just as they did in last year's original Face Off.  This
isn't a bad thing, since last year's version featured great
graphics, down to showing a shadow of the player on the ice that
properly tags along with the players as they skate around the
ice.  

There are great camera angles that can be used, including a very
slick "ice level" camera view that follows the players as they
stake up the ice.  There's also an overhead view, side view, and
diagonal view.  All have advantages and disadvantages, but you
can freely choose between them, even once a game has started (you
must pause the game to do it).

Options are abundant, including a new "FIGHTING" option for folks
that want to be able to drop the gloves when the game starts
getting out of hand!  It's definetly cool seeing your guys get
tangled up with your opponents, then letting the goons have it
with a couple across the bow!

New strategy controls have been included, and there's even a
newly created ICON passing scheme that can be used once you get
good at the game play.


Can I practice the game?

You betcha!  Practice modes, exhibition play, season play,
playoffs, Stanley Cup, and All-Star Games can be played.  You can
play either exhibition mode or practice mode, and give yourself
an opportunity to get used to the game play.  Soon enough you'll
be hearing the announcer yell "Goal!!!" and enjoying the
celebration that goes on after a goal is scored.


Is the action realistic?

Oh yeah!! The producers have added new moves including hip
checks, drop passes, fake shots, give & go's, backwards skating,
butterfly saves, stock pads & even cover the puck.  Even more
important to real hockey enthusiasts is the injury mode which can
take out a player for a period, a game, several games, or an
entire season.  Just imagine yourself making a run at the cup and
losing your all-star Winger to an injury.  Can you over come it,
or will you be crying about how an injury cost you your season?

The players are also realistically simulated in the game.  The
players carry their real abilities into the games, based on their
own real NHL stats and accomplishments.  This is also carried
over into the most comprehensive statistics system to date in a
hocky game.  If you can track it, there's a category for it, and
this game keeps track of all of it for you!

All of the arenas have been included in the game, though that's
somewhat a misnomer since in reality all of the arenas look the
same, with the team logos on the ice the only thing different in
the arenas.


How does it sound?

Somewhere back there an announcer was mentioned.  This is a nice
addition to last year, and is very well done.  The announcer is
there to tell you who scored, or about important events (such as
penalties) in the game,  but the announcer doesn't intrude on the
game, or stop the game play to get his words in.  Just like the
real game, the announcer may take a few moments to catch up with
what happened, but the players start playing again immediately,
and don't stop to wait for the announcement.

There's also the requisite booing when the visiting team scores,
or cheers when the home team puts the bisquit in the basket. 
And, as with last year, there's the traditional organ music in
the background to help fire up the crowd during the game.


What's the final score?

The documentation for the game is a bit weak, and doesn't explain
all of the options for instance.  This is somewhat understandable
with the smaller packaging, but still a bit disappointing for
folks that want to have everything explained in the instructions.

In all other areas this game rules.  The game play is nothing
short of excellent.  The AI has been mildly tweaked (it's better
than last year, which wasn't bad at all), and playing short
handed will be tougher now than it ever was, while playing on the
power play is more aggressive this year than last.

As someone not normally high on Hockey games, this game is one
that was hard to write a review of -- it's so good, and so much
fun, I didn't want to stop playing long enough to type this up!!!
(smile) :^]

2 minutes in the penalty box if you don't go find this game at a
retailer near you, and get it!! You won't be sorry you did.


Rating: 8 - 9/10 


Barry C. Dowell


Vital Statistics

Genre:  Sports/Hockey
Game Format: 1 CD for Sony Playstation
Publisher: SCEA (Sony)
Audience: K-A (Kids to Adults)
Players: 1 or 8 (multi-tap adaptable)
Memory card: 1 - 4 blocks
Street price: $59.95