PlayStation 1
Released in 1997 by EA Sports
Grade: C
NHL 98 is a huge step in the NHL series’ development, but only a dork like me would want to play it in 2017. It’s jumpy and choppy and really shows its age.
Where it falls in the series
This game is 10 times better than NHL 97, which was EA’s first crack at 32-bit hockey. It’s also worse than NHL 99, so NHL 98 isn’t exactly a cherished game. PS1 versions lasted until 2001. The 98 edition is also the last NHL on Sega Genesis.
Praises
The action is fast and unpredictable. Basically everything is vastly improved from 97. Passing, shooting, checking, speed bursting, it’s all very user-friendly. The controls are dumbed down from 97, which is a good thing.
CPU defenders are relentless, and it causes a lot of havoc. Good havoc. The offense needs to move quickly and pass a lot. One-timers and getting a lot of shots on net are the keys to the game, and it’s a good mix. The gameplay is smartly designed.
The sound is solid, especially the play-by-play, which was impressive back in the day.
Gripes
The skating control feels ridiculously jumpy. Your player often moves like a jitterbug, or a football player who’s constantly juking. In small spaces, it’s almost impossible to make swift moves.
The camera is also jumpy (although nothing like 97’s awful camera). It’s dumb because EA’s games on Genesis have a smooth, vertically locked viewpoint, which is good. Here, the camera moves up and down and side to side with the puck, and it’s not good.
The graphics are rough on the eyes. The framerate is slow, so it not only looks choppy, but it’s hard to tell what’s going on sometimes.