Ice Hockey (video game)

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Ice Hockey
Image:Icehockeyvideogame.jpg
Developer(s)Nintendo
Publisher(s)Nintendo
ReleasedNES version
Image:Flag of Japan.svg January 21, 1988
Image:Flag of the United States.svg March 1988
Image:Flag of Europe.svg April 15, 1988
Virtual Console version
Image:Flag of Japan.svg December 2, 2006
Image:Flag of the United States.svgImage:Flag of Canada.svg December 12, 2006
Image:Flag of Australia.svg December 29, 2006
Image:Flag of Europe.svg December 29, 2006
GenreSports game
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer
Platform(s)NES, Virtual Console
Media320-kilobit cartridge
Input methodsNES controller

Ice Hockey is an NES video game developed by Nintendo and published in 1988, based on the sport ice hockey (as the name implies). In the game's 1 player and 2 player modes, there are 6 playable teams, each based on countries:

Image:Flag of the United States.svgUnited States, Image:Flag of Sweden.svgSweden, Image:Flag of Poland.svgPoland, Image:Flag of Canada.svgCanada, Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svgSoviet Union, and Image:Flag of Czechoslovakia.svgCzechoslovakia.

Besides differing uniform colors, the teams are all statistically identical. Games can be played at five different speeds, and period length can be 7, 10 or 15 "minutes."

Each game consists of two teams in 5 on 5 matches (one on each team being a goaltender). The four players on offense and defense may be in one of three different weight classes (determined pre-game): thin players (skinny-minis), ordinary players, and stocky players (fats). Thin players are the quickest of the three and therefore most adept at face-offs, although they take weak shots and can be knocked down easily by heavier players. The stocky player is the exact opposite; he moves the slowest, but has the best shooting strength, and can bodycheck smaller players with ease. Ordinary players are a statistical balance between the other two.

Before the face-off at the beginning of the match, the four players on each team take on a diamond formation, with one member of each team taking one spot. At this time the face-off formation can be altered by pressing the d-pad. After the face-off, the game begins. Depending on the period time, each period lasts 7, 10, or 15 minutes with an accelerated clock; at the end of the game, the team with the highest score wins. In the case of a tie, penalty shots are taken, and if there is a tie after that, one period of overtime is played without goalkeepers. This sequence is repeated until a clear winner emerges.

On December 2, 2006, the game was re-released for the Wii Virtual Console in Japan. It was then re-released in North America on December 12, and in Europe, Australia and New Zealand on December 29, 2006.

[edit] Gameplay

The basic rules of hockey are used in the game, but several rules have been changed. For instance, even though there is a center red line and two blue lines, the referee (who is invisible outside of faceoffs and penalties) will not call offsides, essentially making the game wide open. Icing is enforced, however. Also, the teams in the game have four skaters and one goaltender, whereas traditional ice-hockey is played with five skaters and a goaltender.

Other rules that are omitted are virtually all penalties; the game does not penalize players for any type of bodycheck or for scuffling. The only time a penalty is called is when a fight breaks out. Fights happen when two players scuffle for so long that the other teammates jump in and a brawl ensues. The players merge into a sort of violent pile, and periodically a player will be knocked out, only to rejoin as soon as he gets up. The fight continues for about five seconds before the referee breaks it up. The team that was more violent (in this case, knocked out more players from the opposing side) is penalized, although only for a two-minute minor. In fights, it benefits the player to rapidly hit the buttons, as this causes more of his own players to be knocked out.

Teams cannot have more than two players in the penalty box at any given time. If the opposition scores a goal on the powerplay, as in real hockey, the penalized player returns to the ice.

Unlike real hockey, the goalie plays an extremely limited role. He is forced to remain inside the crease at all times, however he also is technically the fastest player on the ice, making it easier to save the puck. However, unlike Blades of Steel where an arrow assists the goalie in making saves, goaltending in Ice Hockey relies solely on reflexes and angling. The player maintains control over the goalie at all times, even when controlling a skater, which forces the player to choose between defending (also known as "chasing") and goaltending, depending on the situation. Unlike other players, the goalie cannot be scuffled with or checked, only bumped, and will automatically check down any player that he touches. The goalie does not participate in fights.

Furthermore, the goalie is unable to freeze the puck when he holds onto it long enough. Instead, after five seconds, he automatically passes it out (the same applies to players who are in the wind-up of their shot). The goalie cannot be changed out for an extra skater, either.

In between the second and third periods, the ice is resurfaced by a brief zamboni show.

[edit] Trivia

[edit] External links

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