{{Short description|1997 video game}} {{Infobox video game | title = NHL 98 | image = Image:NHL 98 Coverart.png | caption = North American PlayStation cover art featuring Peter Forsberg | developer = EA Canada<br />Electronic Arts (SNES, Genesis)<br />MBL Research (Saturn) | publisher = EA Sports<br />THQ (SNES, Genesis) | producer = Ken Sayler | composer = Jeff van Dyck (Windows)<br />David Whittaker (Genesis) | engine = Virtual Stadium | series = ''NHL'' series | platforms = SNES, Sega Saturn, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Sega Genesis | released = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|September 24, 1997}}|'''Windows, PlayStation'''{{vgrelease|NA|September 24, 1997<ref>{{Cite web |date=1998-02-07 |title=Electronic Arts - News Room, Electronic Arts Ships NHL 98 for the PlayStation and PC |url=http://www.ea.com/companyinfo/press/nhl98psxpc.html |access-date=2023-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980207170024/http://www.ea.com/companyinfo/press/nhl98psxpc.html |archive-date=1998-02-07 }}</ref>|EU|October 1997}}'''Genesis'''{{vgrelease|NA|1997}}'''Super NES'''{{vgrelease|NA|December 1997}}'''Sega Saturn'''{{vgrelease|NA|January 16, 1998<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1998-01-21 |title=Wayback Machine |magazine=Game Informer |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/news/jan98/011498b.html |access-date=2023-04-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980121110956/http://www.gameinformer.com/news/jan98/011498b.html |archive-date=1998-01-21 }}</ref>|EU|January 23, 1998<ref>{{Cite web |date=1998-12-02 |title=sega-europe.online |url=http://www.sega-europe.com/saturn/satinfo.html |access-date=2023-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981202140918/http://www.sega-europe.com/saturn/satinfo.html |archive-date=1998-12-02 }}</ref>}}}} | genre = Sports (ice hockey) | modes = Single-player, multiplayer }} '''''NHL 98''''' is an ice hockey video game developed by EA Canada. It was released in 1997 and was the successor to ''NHL 97''. It was the last installment of the NHL series to be released on the SNES, Sega Genesis, or Sega Saturn. It is based on the 1997-98 NHL season.
==Gameplay== [[File:NHL 98 gameplay.jpg|left|250px|thumb|A match in progress between Dallas Stars and Los Angeles Kings.]] ''NHL 98'' took the NHL series ahead by introducing full national teams,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=NHL 98: EA Sports' New Hockey Simulation Brings High-Resolution Hockey to the PlayStation |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |issue=99 |publisher=Ziff Davis|date=October 1997|page=187}}</ref> although EA could not get the Nagano Olympic Tournament license due to lack of IIHF license, which Gremlin Interactive acquired. The Olympic hockey license itself was acquired by Midway Home Entertainment. Jim Hughson returns for play-by-play, this time joined by Daryl Reaugh, who provided color commentary. EA Sports also introduces 3Dfx Glide support for the first time in the ''NHL'' series. Despite his career ending injury, Vladimir Konstantinov was featured in the game. The Sega Saturn version also has Mario Lemieux in it. He retired at the end of the 1996–97 NHL season, yet was still included in the game.
==Development== During the planning stages of development, EA Sports consulted with Marc Crawford (then coach of the Stanley Cup-winning Colorado Avalanche) on how to improve the realism and strategy of the gameplay.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=NHL '98 Training for a Breakaway |magazine=GamePro |issue=102|publisher=IDG |date=March 1997|page=90}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Lee|last=Nutter|title=EA Sports|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=25 |publisher=Emap International Limited|date=November 1997|page=22 |url=https://archive.org/details/Sega_Saturn_Magazine_Issue_25_1997-11_EMAP_Images_GB/page/n21 |accessdate=December 5, 2019}}</ref>
The Saturn version was developed by MBL Research.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Air Hendrix |title=NHL '98|magazine=GamePro |issue=108 |publisher=IDG |date=September 1997|page=114}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | align = right | EGM = 8.75/10 (PS1)<ref name=EGMr>{{cite magazine|title=Review Crew: NHL 98|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=101|publisher=Ziff Davis |date=December 1997 |page=204}}</ref><br />7.38/10 (SAT)<ref name=EGMSat>{{cite magazine|title=Review Crew: NHL 98|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=104|publisher=Ziff Davis |date=March 1998 |page=120}}</ref> | GSpot = 7.6/10 (PS1)<ref name=GSPS>{{cite web |last=Rubenstein |first=Glenn |authorlink=Glenn Rubenstein |title=NHL 98 Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nhl-98-review/1900-2546028/ |website=GameSpot |accessdate=10 February 2020 |archive-date=24 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324051040/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nhl-98-review/1900-2546028/ |url-status=live }}</ref><br />9.2/10 (WIN)<ref>{{cite web |last=Kaiafas |first=Tasos |title=NHL 98 Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nhl-98-review/1900-2543885/ |website=GameSpot |accessdate=10 February 2020 |archive-date=24 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324051030/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nhl-98-review/1900-2543885/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | IGN = 8/10 (PS1)<ref name=IGNPS>{{cite web |title=NHL '98 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/09/23/nhl-98 |website=IGN |accessdate=10 February 2020 |date=September 22, 1997 |archive-date=24 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324051029/https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/09/23/nhl-98 |url-status=live }}</ref> | NGen = 4/5 (PS1)<ref name=NG/> | PSM = 9/10<ref>''NHL 98 review'', ''Official UK PlayStation Magazine'', Future Publishing issue 26, October 1997</ref> | rev1 = ''Sega Saturn Magazine'' | rev1Score = 62% (SAT)<ref name=SSM29>{{cite magazine|last=Nutter |first=Lee |title=Review: NHL '98|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=29|publisher=Emap International Limited|date=March 1998|pages=70–71}}</ref> | award1Pub = ''PSM'' | award1 = Starplayer{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} | Allgame = 4.5/5 (PC)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=863&tab=review |title=NHL 98 (PC) Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116032955/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=863&tab=review |archive-date=16 November 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><br />4/5 (GEN)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7572&tab=review |title=NHL 98 (Sega Genesis) Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116032702/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7572&tab=review |archive-date=16 November 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><br />4/5 (PS)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2209&tab=review |title=NHL 98 (PlayStation) Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115235852/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2209&tab=review |archive-date=15 November 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><br />3/5 (SAT)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1906&tab=review |title=NHL 98 (Sega Saturn) Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116031834/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1906&tab=review |archive-date=16 November 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> }} In the United States, the game's Windows version sold 134,714 copies during 1997.<ref name=pcgsales1>{{cite journal| author=Staff| date=April 1998|volume=5|issue=4|title=How Did the ''PCG'' Award Winners Fare? |journal=PC Gamer US|page=45}}</ref>
The PlayStation version met with resoundingly positive reviews, with critics hailing it as a return to dominance for the ''NHL'' series after the '96 PlayStation edition was cancelled and the '97 edition was average.<ref name=EGMr/><ref name=GSPS/><ref name=IGNPS/><ref name=NG/><ref name=GProPS/> John Ricciardi of ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' went so far as to call it "the greatest hockey game ever made."<ref name=EGMr/> While ''IGN'' and ''GamePro'' both cautioned that ''NHL 98'' could not be called the best hockey of the year until ''NHL FaceOff 98'' was complete, they assessed it as "[EA Sports'] best hockey title since its 16-bit glory days" and "a board-battering good time", respectively.<ref name=IGNPS/><ref name=GProPS>{{cite magazine |author=Air Hendrix |title=NHL '98 Gets Physical in this Year's Face-Off|magazine=GamePro |issue=110 |publisher=IDG |date=November 1997|page=155}}</ref> ''Next Generation'' stated that "''NHL '98'' is a very good game and just that much better than the rest of the competition."<ref name=NG>{{cite magazine|title=Slick|magazine=Next Generation|issue=36|publisher=Imagine Media |date=December 1997|page=163}}</ref>
Reviews especially praised the advanced AI,<ref name=EGMr/><ref name=GSPS/><ref name=NG/><ref name=GProPS/> fast gameplay,<ref name=EGMr/><ref name=IGNPS/><ref name=NG/><ref name=GProPS/> and the ability to change team strategies on the fly, without going to a pause menu.<ref name=EGMr/><ref name=GSPS/><ref name=IGNPS/><ref name=GProPS/> ''IGN'' pointed out that thanks to this last feature, "It only takes a little while for those who don't even care about strategy to experiment with new offenses and defenses that match their playing style. This changes the whole way hockey strategy is used."<ref name=IGNPS/> Glenn Rubenstein added in ''GameSpot'', "Features like these make the game move faster than any other hockey title out there, and they also give the game a thrilling edge that others lack."<ref name=GSPS/> Critics also praised the sound effects<ref name=IGNPS/><ref name=NG/><ref name=GProPS/> and the graphics, especially the player animations.<ref name=EGMr/><ref name=GSPS/><ref name=IGNPS/><ref name=NG/><ref name=GProPS/> While some criticized that the controls are a bit loose,<ref name=EGMr/><ref name=GProPS/> most critics praised the controls,<ref name=GSPS/><ref name=IGNPS/><ref name=NG/> with ''Next Generation'' arguing that "since the players are on ice, EA's slippery control is actually quite accurate."<ref name=NG/>
Later console versions received comparatively little attention. Lee Nutter of ''Sega Saturn Magazine'' and Dan Hsu of ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' both razed the Saturn port as a slipshod conversion which lacks the elements that made the PlayStation and PC versions so highly regarded. They noted that the high resolution textures, translucent and reflective effects, scoreboard, names on jerseys, goal celebrations, and referee were all cut from the Saturn version, which nonetheless runs at a frame rate so choppy that it is almost unplayable.<ref name=EGMSat/><ref name=SSM29/> With his sole praise being for the play-by-play commentary and sound effects, Nutter dubbed the port "A shambling mockery of its former self" and recommended Saturn owners get ''NHL All-Star Hockey '98'' instead.<ref name=SSM29/> However, Hsu's three co-reviewers, while acknowledging the port's faults, still felt ''NHL 98'' to be by far the best hockey game for the Saturn, and even Hsu said it was not nearly as bad as ''NHL All-Star Hockey '98''.<ref name=EGMSat/>
''NHL 98'' was a runner-up for ''Computer Gaming World''{{'}}s 1997 "Sports Game of the Year" award, which ultimately went to ''Baseball Mogul'' and ''CART Precision Racing'' (tie). The editors called ''NHL 98'' "the latest and best [...] in EA's awesome action-oriented" series.<ref name=cgwpremier1997>{{cite magazine | author=Staff | magazine=Computer Gaming World | title=''CGW'' Presents The Best & Worst of 1997 |date=March 1998 | issue=164 | pages=74–77, 80, 84, 88, 89 }}</ref>
During the AIAS' inaugural Interactive Achievement Awards, ''NHL 98'' was a nominee for "PC Sports Game of the Year",<ref name=aias1997-2>{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980615090128/http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardupdate.htm |url=http://www.interactive.org:80/html/award/awardupdate.htm |title=The Award; Award Updates |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |archivedate=June 15, 1998 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which ultimately went to ''FIFA: Road to World Cup 98''.<ref name=aias1997>{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980615090115/http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardwin98.htm |url=http://www.interactive.org:80/html/award/awardwin98.htm |title=The Award; Award Updates |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |archivedate=June 15, 1998 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1998, ''PC Gamer'' declared it the 17th best computer game ever released, and the editors called it "quite simply the most entertaining sports game around".<ref name=pcgtop50>{{cite journal | author=The ''PC Gamer'' Editors | title=The 50 Best Games Ever | date=October 1998 | volume=5 | number=10 | journal=PC Gamer US | pages=86, 87, 89, 90, 92, 98, 101, 102, 109, 110, 113, 114, 117, 118, 125, 126, 129, 130 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{moby game|id=/windows/nhl-98}} *{{moby game|id=/playstation/nhl-98|name=''NHL 98'' (PlayStation)}} {{NHL series}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nhl 98}} Category:1997 video games Category:EA Sports games Category:Electronic Arts games Category:MBL Research games Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:NHL (video game series) Category:PlayStation (console) games Category:Sega Genesis games Category:Sega Saturn games Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System games Category:THQ games Category:Video games developed in Canada Category:Video games scored by David Whittaker Category:Video games scored by Jeff van Dyck Category:Video games scored by Saki Kaskas Category:Video games set in 1997 Category:Video games set in 1998 Category:Video games set in Canada Category:Video games set in the United States Category:Windows games