NHL Blades of Steel Game by Konami Reviewed by The Avardancer Size: 8 megabits Save: Battery Released: 1999 Works with: Game Boy Color ONLY! **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: To be perfectly honest with you, the reader, I have no to little actual knowledge of the NHLl I just know a little about Hockey from playing it in real life. I know that it's like "soccer" with sticks. And you get to beat up people; while wearin American Football gear. I also know that people get hurt in it and a lot of dentists recommend this sport to spoiled rich kids. It was $15 at the local store; so I got it. although I have read mixed opinon on the game from various reviews here at DMG Ice; I decided to see for my self. **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: It's an "arcade" hockey; and to tell you the truth; it lacks here. It lacks the "O" word.. no.. not "Originality"; but "Options". I will get into the importance of some options in a little while. Here is what a basic game plays like. You pick your game mode from the usual suspects; which are Seasons, Exhibition, and Practice. In practice, you can practice the "fights" and "Penalty" deviations of play. But the meat of the game is in the actual games; which have a very serious problem.. they play too fast; it is like watching bees; the action is fast and furious. VERY fast. Sonic the Hedgehog couldn't keep up with those little Hockey Buggers. If Wayne and Mario moved that fast.. they would be the fastest people alive. They move like bullets; it is chaotic, crowded and there is NO option to slow it down whatsoever. You can create players, and play through a season; but this game is too fast for decent Season Simulation. It's best on Exhibition; and it excels in ONE category especially. Not since NBA Jam for the SNES has playing another person been this chaotic. It is in the TWO PLAYER mode that it cleans up. You can trade a custom player; and play against your buddy in this VERY fast game... it's frantic and fun; but not always "fair". No, it's still very fast.. and I wish I could slow the player speeds down a little. Just a little. Liked: It has a varied engine; it's fun, and it really only has ONE problem. Hated: See.. Methanphetamine can do that to you. Don't do drugs. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: Aside from the somewhat bothersome legal information that you must endure to see the title screen; the game looks great! It has a bright color scheme that makes it seem like an early Sega Genesis game; although the title screen had me thinking "NES". Something about the graphics awakens that weird feelignm I get when play Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, or a game like Final Fantasy 6 on the SNES.. it's that feeling that the graphics are more "complete". Polgons, rendered graphics, and more just seem to lack a "character" in all those modern games; but this game has some character. The close-up shots are not as varied as I would like; but they are gorgeous and short. The length allows them to be shown over and over again; and not become tedious. The animation is fairly good; but it moves TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO fast for it's own good. The fight screens look nice; as does everything in the game; lots of colors for us and no slowdown (A bad thing..?) and no clipping. You can see that the GBC ONLY nature of the game was needed. Liked: Very nice! Very detailed! Very colorful! Hated: VERY FAST!!! **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: The audio, is for the most part, rather clear and accurate. No real crowd noises, no option to turn off the music, or sounds and no use of cached sounds. the music is clear and pretty nice. It's not at all "memorable"; but it is long, varied, and above par for a GBC game. I do wish I could "kill" the music and hust have sounds though. Liked: For the most part, clear and well done. Hated: No "off" option. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: This game suffers from "Head Rush". That means that the head of a company or the head of a project decided that the game needed to be finished "NOW". So, I see a game that was well thought out; but around the last month or so... someone said "NOW!" and they hurried it along and did not put many options in it. The Play Control IS responsive... it's just that the animation speed was not set lower for it to SEEM responsive. Sometimes, you must "button mash". Liked: Good game design.. Hated: That got rushed out the door before it was done. **************************************************************************** Improve: OPTIONS! OPTIONS! OPTIONS! OPTIONS! RIYL: Hockey, playing Soccer with sticks, trying to control a swarm of mad, African Bees. **************************************************************************** Final Words: Skip this and buy what ever update Konami puts out.. unless you see it cheap... then if you see it cheap... get it. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: *** Graphics: ***** Sound/Music: ***** Play Control/Game Design: *** Personal Opinion: *** Total: 19 out of 25 Final Score: 76% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: If you hate the legal information.. hold the START button as you turn on your Game Boy Color.