NHL FaceOff 98
{{Short description|1997 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}{{Infobox video game
| image = NHL FaceOff 98 cover.png
| developer = Killer Game
| publisher = Sony Computer Entertainment
| platforms = PlayStation
| release = {{vgrelease|NA|October 31, 1997{{cite web |author=GameSpot staff |date=October 31, 1997 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/vgs-game-calendar/1100-2467411/ |title=VGS Game Calendar [date mislabeled as "April 26, 2000"] |website=GameSpot |publisher=Red Ventures |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990422091838/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_10/31_vcal/index.html |archivedate=April 22, 1999 |url-status=live |accessdate=July 16, 2021}}|EU|April 1998}}
| composer = Joey Kuras{{Cite web |title=NHL FaceOff '98 (1997) PlayStation credits |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/playstation/nhl-faceoff-98/credits |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=MobyGames}}
| series = NHL FaceOff
| genre = Sports video game
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
}}
NHL FaceOff 98 is an ice hockey video game developed by Killer Game and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is part of the NHL FaceOff series, and was the first installment to use polygonal players.{{cite magazine |author=EGM staff |title=NHL Face Off 98: Sony's Hockey Goes 3-D |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=100 |date=November 1997 |page=80}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| align = left
| GR = 74%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/198186-nhl-faceoff-98/index.html |title=NHL FaceOff 98 for PlayStation |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521212922/https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/198186-nhl-faceoff-98/index.html |archivedate=May 21, 2019 |accessdate=July 16, 2021}}
| Allgame = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2211&tab=review |title=NHL FaceOff 98 - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114204613/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2211&tab=review |archivedate=November 14, 2014 |accessdate=July 17, 2021}}
| GI = 8.25/10{{cite magazine |last1=Anderson |first1=Paul |last2=Reiner |first2=Andrew |last3=Storm |first3=Jon |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/nov97/nhlfo.html |title=NHL 98 and NHL Face Off '98 [sic] |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=55 |date=November 1997 |pages=58–59 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980121112048/http://www.gameinformer.com/nov97/nhlfo.html |archive-date=January 21, 1998 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 16, 2021}}
| GameFan = 93%{{cite magazine |author1=Joe Kidd |author2=Jacques Strap |url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_5_Issue_11/page/n141/mode/2up |title=NHL FaceOff '98 |magazine=GameFan |publisher=Metropolis Media |volume=5 |issue=11 |date=November 1997 |page=140 |accessdate=July 16, 2021}}{{efn|Two critics of GameFan gave the game a score of 93 each.}}
| GameRev = C+{{cite web |author=Dr. Moo |date=October 1997 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33879-nhl-faceoff-98-review |title=NFL Faceoff '98 [sic] Review |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980613222901/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/sony/faceoff98.htm |archivedate=June 13, 1998 |url-status=live |accessdate=July 16, 2021}}
| Hyper = 79%{{cite magazine |last=Fish |first=Eliot |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/f/ff/Hyper_AU_053.pdf |title=NHL Face Off [sic] |magazine=Hyper |publisher=Next Media Pty Ltd |issue=53 |date=March 1998 |page=72 |accessdate=July 17, 2021}}
| IGN = 8/10{{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=September 24, 1997 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/09/25/nhl-faceoff-98 |title=NHL FaceOff '98 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |accessdate=April 24, 2020}}
| NGen = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_36/page/n163/mode/2up |title=NHL Face Off '98 [sic] |magazine=Next Generation |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=36 |date=December 1997 |page=163 |accessdate=July 16, 2021}}
| OPM = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Rybicki |first=Joe |url=https://archive.org/details/official-u.-s.-play-station-magazine-volume-1-issue-02-november-1997/page/n113/mode/2up |title=NHL FaceOff 98 |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |volume=1 |issue=2 |date=November 1997 |page=112 |accessdate=October 29, 2021}}
}}
Reviews for NHL FaceOff 98 were wildly divergent, with critics expressing contradicting opinions on numerous aspects of the game. Kraig Kujawa and John Ricciardi of Electronic Gaming Monthly found the A.I. too easy even on the hardest setting, but their co-reviewer Kelly Rickards complained that it is frustratingly difficult. While GameSpot{{'}}s Jeff Gerstmann and GamePro said the on-ice sound effects were well done, Kujawa and IGN{{'}}s early review both said they lack excitement and atmosphere. Though Next Generation said the game "doesn't control very well", and GameSpot and IGN found the control configuration overcomplicated and confusing even when icon passing is enabled, Kujawa and IGN actually praised the control as tight, responsive, and realistic. And though most reviews praised the lifelike animation of the players, GameSpot and GamePro complained at the stiff animation when the players are skating around (as opposed to shooting or checking).
The one point most critics agreed upon was that NHL FaceOff 98 came in second to NHL 98. The Electric Playground{{'}}s Tommy Tallarico (whose studio had done the sound for the game) was an exception, calling it the best hockey game of the season and giving it a 9.7, while co-host Victor Lucas gave it a 9 and also said NHL 98 was better.{{cite web |author=EPNdotTV |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cT-Mg_pAkM |title=Tomb Raider Visit to Core - S1:E4 - Electric Playground |date=January 25, 2016 |website=YouTube |publisher=Google |accessdate=August 26, 2018}} Event occurs at 16:27-19:45. GamePro summarized, "A roster of strong improvements nicely tunes up this year's outing, but NHL '98 still outclasses it in almost every category."{{cite magazine |author=Air Hendrix |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_111_Volume_09_Number_12_1997-12_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n189/mode/2up |title=Face Off '98 Demoted to the Second Line |magazine=GamePro |issue=111 |date=December 1997 |page=188 |accessdate=July 16, 2021}}{{efn|GamePro gave the game two 4/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 3.5/5 scores for control and overall fun factor.}} Next Generation stated that "The gameplay features and stats are nearly identical to all of the other hockey games coming out, but NHL Face Off is a game that doesn't have enough life or personality of its own to separate itself from the pack, meaning once again that it's the second-best hockey game on PlayStation." Kujawa likewise concluded that "NHL Face Off 98 is a great hockey game, but only good enough to rank second best to EA's NHL 98." Gerstmann gave a more dismal assessment, calling the game "simply average".
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Notes
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References
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External links
- {{moby game|id=/playstation/nhl-faceoff-98}}
{{NHL FaceOff}}
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:PlayStation (console) games
Category:PlayStation (console)-only games