NHL 96 came up to the SNES following the massive successes of the previous two games and the starting point of NHLPA Hockey 93. To say the NHL franchise had been booming since the release of NHL 94 (Another game that I will review in time) is an understatement. This series was more highly acclaimed than Madden at the time (and to be fair, is probably well acclaimed more than Madden at current again) and it was due to the success of NHL 94, 95 and to hit the peak, NHL 96. This is one of the best, if not the best, sports game on the SNES. What makes it so good? Come along friends and see why.
Positives
1. Pacing: The games pacing is really, really good. It is fast paced but the camera stays with the player. The game is fast paced but it is made to last really well. In fact, if EA saw how Tecmo Super Bowl did their pacing and decided that is what they needed, I wouldn't be surprised because it is done exactly just like that.
2. Options: Yes you have exhibition and season mode (Sorry guys, dynasty wasn't a thing until games in the last years of the decade and beyond) but you have so many options if you wanted otherwise. You have shootout mode, playoffs as a regular at the time, playoffs best-of-7 (since the opening round was five games) all just to go through if you didn't want to do just season mode. The vast array of options were there, but none was more important than..
3. Transactions: Yep you can sign, cut, build a super team, whatever you felt like. If you wanted to trade three players for three players, sure go ahead. You can also create players and then assign them to the team you want. This was ahead of its time and really built NHL into what it was today for the gaming franchise overall.
4. Graphics: I know it is a bit weird but this game actually has good graphics. The sprites are very good, the feel of hockey is evident in the graphics and it is something that garners a huge plus.
5. Entertainment value: The value of this cannot be denied, from the opening with the crowd essentially doing the stomping to "We Will Rock You" to the NHL on FOX presentation (Yes there was a time the NHL was on FOX) there is significant entertainment value. Yes there is no game commentator but I feel that is good for this due to the noise of the crowd and the entertainment of playing the game itself.
Negatives
Oh boy, honestly there isn't one to be fair. If you are really, really nit-picking it okay maybe the no commentator hurts. Maybe the fact that some games you can score at will and the next you are barely able to score may turn off viewers but that's just realistic hockey in today's age as well so they made it very realistic in that accord.
Overall Rating/Rank
This game is the best sports game on the Super Nintendo. It's ability to be so good with pacing, it's realism, graphics, and just ability to be so open on its modes are fantastic. The fact you can create players is great, same with any major transaction. It really opened the door to the next gen consoles at the time for the NHL franchise (Though NHL 97 and 98 are also pretty good on the SNES.) Overall if I were to rate it, I'd have to give it a 10/10. Yes a sports title is perfect, and while it isn't in the top 10 of games, it is in the top 20. It is one of those sports titles that does everything amazing (Note, when I review NHL 94 and 95 those games will be in the Top 100 as well.) If I were to rate it, it's 16th in the top 20 of SNES games.
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