NHLPA Hockey 93 SNES
NHLPA Hockey ’93 is a 1992 ice hockey video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and Sega Genesis, published by EA Sports. As a second-hand retro title, its availability depends on private sellers and specialty game stores. The SNES version was developed by Park Place Productions.
Gameplay features
NHLPA Hockey ’93 features single-player and multiplayer modes, along with season and playoff modes that conclude with a trophy presentation. The SNES version uses a password system to save progress in playoff mode.
- Player licensing: The game includes real player names from the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) license. It does not, however, have the NHL license, so teams are referred to only by their city, and official logos are absent.
- Detailed rosters: The game includes the complete rosters for all 24 teams from the 1991–92 NHL season.
- Physics: A highlight of the game is the instant replay feature that lets you rewatch memorable goals or a shattered pane of glass from a particularly hard slap shot.
- Fights: Unlike later games in the series, NHLPA Hockey ’93 includes on-ice fights, which was the last EA NHL game to do so for a time.
- Penalty options: You can toggle penalties on or off to adjust the game’s realism.
- Review summaryNHLPA Hockey ’93 is considered a mixed entry in the series, especially compared to its more celebrated sequel. Reviewers at the time appreciated the licensed players and inclusion of fights, but criticized the gameplay for being slower and buggier than the Genesis version.
- SNES version: Some reviewers found the SNES port’s animation and gameplay to be choppy and unpolished compared to the version released on the Sega Genesis.
- Bugs: The game is known for certain exploits, including a “cheap goal” glitch that allows players to score almost every time by wrapping around the net.
- Legacy: While it has its flaws, NHLPA Hockey ’93 was a step toward the more realistic hockey games that would follow, particularly the beloved NHL ’94.
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