Not only are the NHL players represented by name in NHL '99, they also have skins that actually look like the real players. Lookin' good Jaromir. NHL 99 opens with a broadcast-quality video of intense hockey action. 4x CD-ROM Hard checks are part of the game. That one's going to hurt tomorrow.
Realistic skins make virtual players look like the real thing.
Say hello to Blackhawk's Captain Chris Chelios. Before the game you are treated to a video fly-in featuring the city skyline and ending with a zoomed shot of the arena. In Chicago, you can even make out the John Hancock building in the background, which I'm still convinced is used to communicate with aliens. On the rink, the ice reflects all of the action and skates kick up a little ice spray when players come to a sudden stop or change direction. EA motion captured actual NHL players and laid skins over the captures to recreate extremely realistic hockey moves.