Ice Hockey (video game)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ice Hockey | |
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| Developer(s) | Nintendo R&D3 |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Designer(s) | Genyo Takeda (designer) Kōji Kondō & Soyo Oka (music and sounds) |
| Platform(s) | NES, Famicom Disk System, Virtual Console |
| Release date | NES version January 21, 1988
March 1988 |
| Genre(s) | Sports game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Media | 320-kilobit cartridge (NES), Floppy disk (FDS) |
| Input methods | NES controller |
Ice Hockey is an NES video game developed by Nintendo and published in 1988, based on the sport ice hockey (as the name implies). In the game's 1 player and 2 player modes, there are 6 playable teams, each based on countries.
Besides differing uniform colors, the teams are all statistically identical. Games can be played at five different speeds, and period length can be 7, 10 or 15 "minutes."
Each game consists of two teams in 5 on 5 matches (one on each team being a goaltender). The four players on offense and defense may be in one of three different weight classes (determined pre-game): thin players (skinnies), ordinary players, and stocky players (fats). Thin players are the fastest skaters but take weak shots and can be knocked down easily by heavier players. The stocky player is the exact opposite; he moves the slowest, but has the best shooting strength, and can bodycheck smaller players with ease. It was often most advantageous for the player to select the fat hockey player at the beginning to execute the faceoff, as he stood the best chance of capturing the puck for the player's team. Ordinary players are a statistical balance between the other two.
Before the face-off at the beginning of the match, the four players on each team take on a diamond formation, with one member of each team taking one spot. At this time the face-off formation can be altered by pressing the d-pad. After the face-off, the game begins. Depending on the period time, each period lasts 7, 10, or 15 minutes with an accelerated clock; at the end of the game, the team with the highest score wins. In the case of a tie, penalty shots are taken, and if there is a tie after that, one period of overtime is played without goalkeepers. This sequence is repeated until a clear winner emerges.
On December 2, 2006, the game was re-released for the Wii Virtual Console in Japan. It was then re-released in North America on December 12, and in Europe, Australia and New Zealand on December 29, 2006.
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[edit] Gameplay
The basic rules of hockey are used in the game, but several rules have been changed. For instance, even though there is a center red line and two blue lines, the referee (who is invisible outside of faceoffs and penalties) will not call offsides, essentially making the game wide open. Icing is enforced, however. Also, the teams in the game have four skaters and one goaltender, whereas traditional ice-hockey is played with five skaters and a goaltender.
Other rules that are omitted are virtually all penalties; the game does not penalize players for any type of bodycheck or for scuffling. The only time a penalty is called is when a fight breaks out. Fights happen when two players scuffle for so long that the other teammates jump in and a brawl ensues. The players merge into a sort of violent pile, and periodically a player will be knocked out, only to rejoin as soon as he gets up. The fight continues for about five seconds before the referee breaks it up. The team that was more violent (in this case, knocked out more players from the opposing side) is penalized, although only for a two-minute minor. In fights, it benefits the player to rapidly hit the buttons, as this causes more of his own players to be knocked out.
Teams cannot have more than two players in the penalty box at any given time. If the opposition scores a goal on the powerplay, as in real hockey, the penalized player returns to the ice.
Unlike real hockey, the goalie plays an extremely limited role. He is forced to remain inside the crease at all times, however he also is technically the fastest player on the ice, making it easier to save the puck. However, unlike Blades of Steel where an arrow assists the goalie in making saves, goaltending in Ice Hockey relies solely on reflexes and angling. The player maintains control over the goalie at all times, even when controlling a skater, which forces the player to choose between defending (also known as "chasing") and goaltending, depending on the situation. Unlike other players, the goalie cannot be scuffled with or checked, only bumped, and will automatically check down any player that he touches. The goalie does not participate in fights and cannot be substituted for another skater.
In between the second and third periods, the ice is resurfaced by a brief zamboni show.
[edit] Reception and legacy
Ice Hockey was rated the 142nd best game made on a Nintendo System in Nintendo Power's Top 200 Games list.[1]
In WarioWare: Twisted!, one of 9-Volt and 18-Volt's microgames is Ice Hockey
[edit] References
- ^ “NP Top 200”, Nintendo Power 200: 58-66, February 2006.
[edit] External links
- Ice Hockey at MobyGames
- Ice Hockey 68k Port to TI-89/Titanium, TI-92/Plus, and Voyage 200 calculators located at ticalc.org
- Ice Hockey Stadium An Ice Hockey fan site
