NHL Powerplay 98

NHL Powerplay 98 is a sports video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Virgin Interactive and Sega for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, and Sega Saturn in 1997. It is the sequel to NHL Powerplay '96; there was no "'97" entry in the NHL Powerplay series.[3] After Virgin opted not to release the game for the Sega Saturn, Sega acquired the rights and published the Saturn version under the title NHL All-Star Hockey 98 so as to make it a continuation of Sega's own NHL All-Star Hockey series.[4]

NHL Powerplay 98
NHL All-Star Hockey 98
Developer(s)Radical Entertainment
Publisher(s)Virgin Interactive
Sega (Saturn)
Composer(s)Graig Robertson
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Sega Saturn
ReleaseWindows, PlayStation
  • NA: October 9, 1997[1]
  • EU: May 1998 (PS)
Sega Saturn
  • NA: October 31, 1997[2]
  • EU: January 1998
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Development

The game was showcased at E3 1997.[5][6]

Reception

NHL Powerplay 98 received a variety of reviews, with critics expressing differing opinions on a number of points. For example, while IGN, GamePro, and John Ricciardi of Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) all praised the player animations for their fluid movements and variety of realistic moves,[13][19][22][23] Kraig Kujawa and Dean Hager (also of EGM), as well as Ryan MacDonald of GameSpot, complained that the animations are too choppy.[12][3] Likewise, while Dan Hsu of EGM and MacDonald both considered the graphics to be bottom tier,[13][3] Kujawa, Hager, IGN, GamePro, and Glenn Rubenstein all found them exceptionally good, especially the player models.[12][4][19][22]

Reviewers widely complimented the player A.I.,[12][13][3][4] while the most strongly emphasized criticism of the game was the slow play speed.[12][13][4][19] EGM were particularly vehement about this in their review of the Saturn version, characterizing it as a fatal flaw in an otherwise well-made game; Ricciardi said that "it almost seems like the game is running in some sort of slow motion."[13] McDonald (reviewing the PlayStation version) and GamePro (reviewing the Saturn version) instead argued that the game fails to excel in any category and, while an overall solid outing, would not compete well against upcoming hockey games such as NHL 98.[3][22][lower-alpha 5] However, GamePro's review of the PlayStation version gave it a positive recommendation, saying it "brings a fast and fluid game to the rink with nice graphics, solid control, and authentic sounds", even though the reviews were both written by the same critic and did not note any differences between the two versions.[23][lower-alpha 6]

Rubenstein (reviewing the Saturn version) also gave the game a positive assessment, though a more reserved one: "If you like the sport, you'll enjoy this game; the 3D graphics are smooth (although there is a noticeable slowdown at times), the play control is solid, and the laundry list of features adds to the realism."[4] IGN's recommendation was still more tentative: "The link between polygons and gameplay has yet to be made, but NHL Powerplay '98 makes a nice attempt. If you really want a hockey game for your PlayStation, this one is probably your best bet for now."[19]

The PC version held a 71% on the review aggregation website GameRankings based on four reviews,[7] and the PlayStation version held a 69% based on five reviews.[8]

Notes
  1. Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation version each a score of 7/10 and 6.5/10.
  2. Four critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Saturn version each a score of 5/10, 5.5/10, 3.5/10, and 4.5/10.
  3. In GameFan's early viewpoint of the PlayStation version, one critic gave it 70, and another 80.
  4. In GameFan's early viewpoint of the Saturn version, one critic gave it 81, and another 83.
  5. GamePro gave the PlayStation version 3.5/5 for graphics, and 4/5 for sound, control, and fun factor.
  6. GamePro gave the Saturn version 3.5/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 3/5 for sound, and 4/5 for control.

References
  1. "Now Shipping…". PC Gamer. Imagine Media. October 8, 1997. Archived from the original on February 18, 1998. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  2. GameSpot staff (October 31, 1997). "VGS Game Calendar [date mislabeled as "April 26, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 22, 1999. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  3. MacDonald, Ryan (October 13, 1997). "NHL Powerplay '98 Review [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 12, 2004. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  4. Rubenstein, Glenn (January 30, 1998). "NHL All-Star Hockey 98 Review [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  5. "Virgin Interactive announces more than 25 games in development for console and PC platforms in 1997/1998; leading international interactive entertainment publisher will showcase titles at industry's Electronic Entertainment Expo in June". Business Wire. April 16, 1997. Archived from the original on April 3, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2021 – via The Free Dictionary.
  6. Johnston, Chris (June 10, 1997). "Virgin Showcases New Titles for E3". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 11, 1999. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  7. "NHL Powerplay 98 for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019.
  8. "NHL Powerplay 98 for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019.
  9. Marriott, Scott Alan. "NHL Powerplay 98 - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  10. Lackey, Jeff (1997). "NHL PowerPlay 98 [sic]". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on July 5, 2003. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  11. Goble, Gordon (February 1998). "Hockey Faceoff '98 (NHL Powerplay 98)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 163. Ziff Davis. pp. 182–83, 186. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  12. Kujawa, Kraig; Hager, Dean (October 1997). "NHL Powerplay 98". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 99. Ziff Davis.
  13. Ricciardi, John; Kujawa, Kraig; Hsu, Dan; Rickards, Kelly (February 1998). "NHL All-Star Hockey '98". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 103. Ziff Davis. p. 107. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  14. "NHL Powerplay '98 - PlayStation". Game Informer. No. 53. FuncoLand. September 1997. Archived from the original on September 30, 1999. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  15. Joe Kidd; Jacques Strap (August 1997). "NHL PowerPlay 98 [sic]". GameFan. Vol. 5, no. 8. Metropolis Media. p. 96. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  16. Joe Kidd; The Rookie (October 1997). "All Star Hockey [sic]". GameFan. Vol. 5, no. 10. Metropolis Media. p. 124. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  17. Tennenbaum, Jon (November 1997). "NHL Powerplay '98 Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on February 20, 2004. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  18. Poole, Stephen (January 5, 1998). "NHL Powerplay '98 Review [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  19. "NHL Powerplay '98". IGN. Ziff Davis. August 28, 1997. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  20. Smolka, Rob (February 1998). "NHL PowerPlay 98 [sic]". PC Gamer. Vol. 5, no. 2. Imagine Media. Archived from the original on March 5, 2000. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  21. "NHL Powerplay '98". PSM. No. 1. Imagine Media. September 1997. p. 25. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  22. The Rookie (September 1997). "NHL Powerplay '98 Makes a Run for the Cup (PS)". GamePro. No. 108. IDG. p. 105. Archived from the original on January 13, 2005. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  23. The Rookie (January 1998). "NHL All-Star Hockey '98". GamePro. No. 112. IDG. p. 116. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
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