NHL 99
Cover art featuring Eric Lindros
Developer(s)EA Canada (PS/PC)
MBL Research (N64)[1]
Publisher(s)EA Sports
Producer(s)Ken Sayler
SeriesNHL series
EngineVirtual Stadium
Platform(s)PlayStation, Windows, Nintendo 64
ReleasePlayStation & Windows
Nintendo 64
  • NA: October 1, 1998[3]
  • EU: November 30, 1998
Genre(s)Sports - Ice Hockey Sim
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

NHL 99 is an ice hockey video game developed by Electronic Arts Canada. It was released in September 1998 and was the successor to NHL 98. The game boasted great improvements to the game from NHL 98. However the next two editions feature small improvements from this game thus making this game similar to NHL 2000 and NHL 2001. It was the first and only installment of the NHL series to be released on Nintendo 64.

Features

Starting with NHL 99 up to NHL 2001 there were very few large 'improvements' to the game. NHL 99 for the PlayStation boasted higher-resolution graphics than NHL 98, but the framerate and unresponsive controls (especially in 2+ player modes) hindered its playability. Online leagues of the game also became more organized. Daryl Reaugh left the series as color commentator following NHL 99. In the Nintendo 64 version of NHL 99, the official NHL and NHLPA licence with all teams and players are represented, including the Nashville Predators expansion team. It has a Medium-High Resolution at 30 FP, rumble-pack support, and four player mode.[1] The commentary is done by ESPN's Bill Clement.[1]

Intro

The introduction features various highlights from the previous season accompanied by "Heroes" by David Bowie.

Reception

The game received "favorable" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4][5][6] AllGame gave the PlayStation version four stars out of five, saying that it "isn't a Stanley Cup winner yet, but there is still an undeniable amount of fun to be had if you're willing to except [sic] a few flaws."[34] Likewise, Official UK PlayStation Magazine gave it a similar score of eight out of ten, saying that the game "manages to succeed in bettering its predecessor. But, be warned, you have to really play it to get the most out of it. Patience is key."[35] Hyper gave the Nintendo 64 version 81%, saying, "while NHL 99's controls aren't executed quite as well as they could have been, the hard-hitting action combined with glossy NHL logos and statistics makes it a worthwhile purchase for any recreational follower of the sport."[36] N64 Magazine gave the same console version 74%, saying that it was "by no means dire."[26] Jeff Lackey of Computer Games Strategy Plus gave the Windows version three stars out of five, saying, "By making the goalies behave in the way they do, a player has two choices when playing NHL 99: play at Rookie level and quickly learn to win every game by a wide margin, or play at Pro level and accept the inability of your players to score standard NHL style goals against computer super-goalies. Perhaps the great graphics and sounds will be enough for some to overcome this deficiency; however, it's unlikely this will be the case for anyone who actually follows the NHL and wants a real hockey simulation."[37]

Next Generation said of the PlayStation version in its January 1999 issue, "What EA has given us this year is more of an attempt at a purist hockey game rather than the intense hockey experience they have delivered before. While a purist hockey game is certainly not a bad thing, it's just not that much fun to play, and that's the bottom line."[28] One issue later, however, the magazine changed its tune and called the Windows version "the best-looking hockey game on the PC."[27] In the same issue, the magazine listed the same Windows version as well as the N64 version at #40 on its list of the Fifty Best Games of All Time, saying, "The control is fantastic and the company has managed to balance the gameplay perfectly between arcade and simulation. It feels real, but it is never tedious, as realistic simulations tend to be."[38]

The Electric Playground nominated the Windows version for their 1998 "Best Computer Game" award, which ultimately went to Half-Life.[39] The game won the "Best Hockey Game" award as well;[40] the Official Broadcast Overlays and Up To The Minute Stats were nominated for "Best Easter Eggs or Extras", which ultimately went to the Batmobile from Need for Speed 3.[41] It was also nominated for PC PowerPlay's "Best Sports" award, which went to FIFA 99,[42] and for the "Best Sports Game of the Year" award at IGN's Best of 1998 Awards, which ultimately went to NFL Blitz.[43]

Notes

  1. ↑ GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version two 5/5 scores for graphics and overall fun factor, 4/5 for sound, and 4.5/5 for control.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the PC version two 3.5/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 4.5/5 scores for control and overall fun factor.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and overall fun factor, and two 5/5 scores for sound and control.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Harris, Craig (October 14, 1998). "NHL '99 (N64)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  2. ↑ "GameSpot: PC News: New Releases". Archived from the original on 2001-11-06. Retrieved 2023-04-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ↑ I. G. N. Staff (1998-10-02). "EA Ships NHL 99". IGN. Archived from the original on 2023-04-30. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  4. 1 2 "NHL 99 for Nintendo 64". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  5. 1 2 "NHL 99 for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  6. 1 2 "NHL 99 for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  7. ↑ Brumley, Doug (January 12, 1999). "NHL 99 (N64)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  8. ↑ Cirulis, Martin E. (October 20, 1998). "NHL 99 (PC)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  9. ↑ Goble, Gordon (February 1999). "Hockey Heaven (NHL 99 Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 175. Ziff Davis. pp. 220–21. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  10. ↑ EGM staff (1998). "NHL 99 (N64)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Ziff Davis.
  11. ↑ "NHL 99 (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Ziff Davis. 1998.
  12. ↑ Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew; Storm, Jon (November 1998). "NHL 99 - Nintendo 64". Game Informer. No. 67. FuncoLand. p. 50. Archived from the original on September 9, 1999. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  13. ↑ Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew; Storm, Jon (November 1998). "NHL 99 - PlayStation". Game Informer. No. 67. FuncoLand. p. 69. Archived from the original on September 20, 1999. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  14. ↑ Higgins, Geoff "El Nino"; Mowatt, Todd "Video Cowboy" (January 1999). "NHL 99 (PS)". GameFan. Vol. 7, no. 1. Shinno Media. p. 88. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  15. ↑ Air Hendrix (1998). "NHL '99 Review for N64 on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 31, 2005. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  16. ↑ Ryan, Mike (1998). "NHL 99 Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  17. ↑ Air Hendrix (December 1998). "NHL '99 Rules the PlayStation Rink". GamePro. No. 123. IDG Entertainment. p. 221. Archived from the original on December 26, 2004. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  18. ↑ Dick, Kevin (October 1998). "NHL '99 Review (N64)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  19. ↑ Cooke, Mark (November 1998). "NHL '99 - PC Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on February 20, 2004. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  20. ↑ Zimring, Jason (October 1998). "NHL '99 - PS". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on February 5, 2004. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  21. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (October 15, 1998). "NHL 99 Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  22. ↑ Poole, Stephen (October 22, 1998). "NHL 99 Review (PC)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 28, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  23. ↑ MacDonald, Ryan (October 1, 1998). "NHL 99 Review (PS)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  24. ↑ Blevins, Tal (October 27, 1998). "NHL '99 (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  25. ↑ Harris, Craig (September 29, 1998). "NHL '99 (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  26. 1 2 Price, James (December 1998). "NHL 99". N64 Magazine. No. 22. Future Publishing. pp. 92–93. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  27. 1 2 "NHL 99 (PC)". Next Generation. No. 50. Imagine Media. February 1999. p. 99. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  28. 1 2 "NHL 99 (PS)". Next Generation. No. 49. Imagine Media. January 1999. p. 105. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  29. ↑ "NHL '99". Nintendo Power. Vol. 114. Nintendo of America. November 1998. p. 126. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  30. ↑ "NHL 99". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 2, no. 3. Ziff Davis. December 1998.
  31. ↑ "NHL 99". PC Accelerator. No. 4. Imagine Media. December 1998. p. 108. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  32. ↑ Smolka, Rob (December 1998). "NHL 99". PC Gamer. Vol. 5, no. 12. Imagine Media. p. 187. Archived from the original on March 11, 2000. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  33. ↑ Bottorff, James (1998). "NHL 99 shoots, scores (PC)". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on November 28, 1999. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  34. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "NHL 99 (PS) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  35. ↑ Weaver, Tim (December 1998). "NHL '99". Official UK PlayStation Magazine. No. 39. Future Publishing. p. 121. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  36. ↑ Cheung, Kevin (January 1999). "NHL 99 (N64)". Hyper. No. 63. Next Media Pty Ltd. p. 93. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  37. ↑ Lackey, Jeff (November 10, 1998). "NHL 99". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on July 9, 2003. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  38. ↑ Next Generation staff (February 1999). "The Fifty Best Games of All Time (#40)". Next Generation. No. 50. Imagine Media. p. 74. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  39. ↑ EP staff (1999). "The Best of 1998: The Blister Award (Best Computer Game)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions. Archived from the original on August 19, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  40. ↑ EP staff (1999). "The Best of 1998: The Blister Award (Best Hockey Game)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions. Archived from the original on August 19, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  41. ↑ EP staff (1999). "The Best of 1998: The Blister Award (Best Easter Eggs or Extras)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions. Archived from the original on August 19, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  42. ↑ "Game of the Year 1999 (Part 3)". PC PowerPlay. No. 47. Next Media Pty Ltd. April 2000. p. 30. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  43. ↑ IGN staff (January 29, 1999). "IGNPC's Best of 1998 Awards". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 27, 1999. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
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