From: ter5424@ritvax.isc.rit.edu (T-Dub - SGP '92)
Subject: Re: NHLPA Hockey '93
Reply-To: ter5424@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 08:51:21 GMT

Well, I was able to rent this game this Tuesday and have just finished playing
it (literally!).  I warmed up by playing six regular season games (I beat San
Jose, Ottawa, Tampa Bay & Vancouver, Lost to Chicago & Pittsburgh) before I
dove into the playoffs.  Well, since having it Tuesday afternoon and getting
most of my playing time in at night, I have just won 'The Trophy' by beating
Chicago 4 games to 1.  I have been eagarly anticipating this game after owning
NHL Hockey and my opinions are:

At first, there was initial disappointment.  The graphics seemed a shade bit
worse than NHL. The ice or something was not as dark.  Maybe it was just my
tiredness, but whatever, I got over that quick.  The goalies are improved, but
not by much.  That zig-zag type move people have been talking about works very
well for scoring, as do some good long or short slapshots.  I'd say the only
improvements are the extra motions the goalies have.  I like the fact they come
out to handle the puck.  Otherwise?  They just look better; they don't play it.

Fighting is a little more difficult (no hit, move back, hit again methods) and
rarer, which is cool.  But, this is no big aspect of the game, so, big deal.

Having real players was really nice and made up for not have the team logos. 
It was nice seeing Mogilny's name up there after scoring.  BUT, that 63 bug
really kills the fun of that.  Puppa was in goal and after 63 shots faced, for
every goal he was beat on, they subtracted from the saves column.  He ended up
with a 24% save percentage.  And my two best to scorers got stuck at 63 Shots
On Goal (SOG).  It kind of made the accumulative playoff statistics irrelevent. 
But, on the subject of stats, these are much improved.  I especially like the
team stats during the game.  They were very helpful in my success.  Also, I
like having more than two goalies on my roster.  I played all three of mine one
game!  And having the computer use different goalies made it more fun too.

Were there any more improvements?!?  On a whole, I am disappointed.  Not enough
improvements and too easily beat.  It is, by far the best video hockey game
ever made and if you do not own NHL Hockey, run out and get this game
immeadiately!!!  If you do own NHL, I'd suggest you rent this game first. 
Since I beat it as a rental, I see no real reason in buying it now. 
Improvements (not bug fixes) I'd still like to see:

Being able to play *any* team in you divison in the playoffs.  It gets boring
playing Boston or Montreal all the time in the first round when I'm Buffalo. 
Being able to run the goalie when he comes out of the crease.  I got so many
interference penalties from collisions with the goalie in the corner, it was
ridiculious.  Being able to see accumulative stats for the oppsing team for the
current playoff series.  I'd like to be sure if Jeremy Roenick is the one really
killing my team.  Also, cumulative stats at the end of a playoff series for
both teams, inorder to assess my strenghths & weaknesses.  There are other
things (like when is EA going to save regular season play?), but this game is
still a must if you own no hockey game for your system!

                                               Theron

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