NHL Open Ice

Jack Haeger was lead game designer and an avid hockey player. The lead programmer was Mark Penacho, assisted by Bill Dabelstein. Sound design and music was by Jon Hey. The skating sounds were recorded by Jon Hey at the Chicago Park District's only indoor ice rink, McFetridge Sports Center, which is just a block north of what was once Midway's Chicago studios. The announcer in the game is the famous voice of the Chicago Blackhawks Pat Foley. If a team achieves "On-Fire" status (made famous initially by Midway's NBA Jam), Pat Foley's voice will occasionally announce: "Toasty", a reference to Mortal Kombat. A version of NHL Open Ice for Panasonic M2 was in development and slated to be one of the launch titles but it never occurred due to the system's cancellation.{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/3DO_Magazine_Issue_12_1996-07_Paragon_Publishing_GB/page/n3/mode/2up|title=News - E3 '96: 3DO? - M2 Dream List|magazine=3DO Magazine|publisher=Paragon Publishing|issue=12|date=July 1996|page=4}}

{{Video game reviews

|align = left

|ARC = true

|PC = true

|PS = true

|na = true

|Allgame_ARC = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Cook|first=Brad|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=10648&tab=review|title=Open Ice (Arcade) - Review|website=AllGame|publisher=All Media Network|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116111335/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=10648&tab=review|archivedate=November 16, 2014|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}

|Allgame_PC = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Whittleton|first=Kasey|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=5902&tab=review|title=NHL Open Ice (PC) - Review|website=AllGame|publisher=All Media Network|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116110927/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=5902&tab=review|archivedate=November 16, 2014|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}

|Allgame_PS = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Marriott|first=Scott Alan|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2212&tab=review|title=NHL Open Ice (PS) - Review|website=AllGame|publisher=All Media Network|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115234144/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2212&tab=review|archivedate=November 15, 2014|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}

|CNG_PC = 7/10{{cite web|last=Mahood|first=Andy|date=August 26, 1997|url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0%2C6%2C0-1076%2C00.html|title=[NHL] Open Ice (PC)|website=Gamecenter|publisher=CNET|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816100736/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-1076,00.html|archivedate=August 16, 2000|accessdate=October 5, 2023}}

|CGSP_PC = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Lackey|first=Jeff|year=1997|url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/005/100/open_ice_review.html|title=NHL Open Ice [2 on 2 Challenge]|website=Computer Games Strategy Plus|publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc.|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030523194338/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/005/100/open_ice_review.html|archivedate=May 23, 2003|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}

|CGW_PC = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Goble|first=Gordon|url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_163.pdf|title=Hockey Faceoff '98 (NHL Open Ice)|magazine=Computer Gaming World|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=163|date=February 1998|page=187|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220094517/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_163.pdf|archivedate=December 20, 2022|url-status=live|accessdate=October 5, 2023}}

|EGM_PS = 6.25/10{{cite magazine|last1=Kujawa|first1=Kraig|last2=Hager|first2=Dean|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/b/b2/EGM_US_091.pdf|title=NHL Open Ice [2 on 2 Challenge] (PS)|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=91|date=February 1997|page=151|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330082734/https://retrocdn.net/images/b/b2/EGM_US_091.pdf|archivedate=March 30, 2023|url-status=live|accessdate=October 5, 2023}}{{efn|In Electronic Gaming Monthly{{'}}s review of the PlayStation version, one critic gave it a score of 5/10, and the other gave it 7.5/10.}}

|GI_PS = 7.5/10{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/feb97/openice.htm|title=[NHL] Open Ice: 2 on 2 Challenge - PlayStation|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=FuncoLand|issue=46|date=February 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19971021144047/http://www.gameinformer.com/feb97/openice.htm|archive-date=October 21, 1997|url-status=dead|access-date=December 28, 2020}}

|GameFan_PS = 79%{{cite magazine|author1=Jacques Strap|author2=Joe Kidd|url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_5_Issue_02/page/n93/mode/2up|title=[NHL] Open Ice (PS)|magazine=GameFan|publisher=Metropolis Media|volume=5|issue=2|date=February 1997|page=92|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}{{efn|In GameFan{{'}}s viewpoint of the PlayStation version, one critic gave it 73, and the other 85.}}

|GSpot_PC = 7/10{{cite web|last=Poole|first=Stephen|date=September 17, 1997|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nhl-open-ice-2-on-2-challenge-review/1900-2543530/|title=NHL Open Ice 2 on 2 Challenge Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]|website=GameSpot|publisher=Fandom|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050104075239/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/nhlopenice2on2challenge/review.html|archivedate=January 4, 2005|url-status=live|accessdate=October 5, 2023}}

|GSpot_PS = 7.1/10{{cite web|last=Kitts|first=Jeff|date=January 3, 1997|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nhl-open-ice-review/1900-2548809/|title=NHL Open Ice Review (PS)|website=GameSpot|publisher=Fandom|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210062143/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nhl-open-ice-review/1900-2548809/|archivedate=February 10, 2018|url-status=live|accessdate=October 5, 2023}}

|NGen_ARC = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_12/page/n207/mode/2up|title=NHL Open Ice Hockey [sic] (Arcade)|magazine=Next Generation|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=12|date=December 1995|page=206|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}

|NGen_PS = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_28/page/n121/mode/2up|title=Open Ice Challenge [sic] (PS)|magazine=Next Generation|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=28|date=April 1997|page=120|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}

|OPMUK_PS = 3/10{{cite magazine|author=OPMUK staff|title=NHL Open Ice|magazine=Official UK PlayStation Magazine|publisher=Future Publishing|issue=29|date=January 1997|page=116}}

}}

Reviewing the arcade version, Next Generation called the game "NBA Jam on ice", and said it would be particularly appreciated since arcade hockey games were almost unheard of at the time. They applauded the game's full NHL licensing and player rosters, flaming pucks, two-on-two mode, commentary, and overall depth and playability of its hockey action, and concluded that "Williams rarely makes a bad move, and Open Ice is testament to its conservative but consistent quality games." Bruised Lee of GamePro similarly said the game "proves that Midway will continue to dominate the arcade sports market long after the success of NBA Jam." He praised the numerous Easter eggs, sharp graphics, fluid animation, and variety of moves.{{cite magazine|author=Bruised Lee|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_079_February_1996/page/n47/mode/2up|title=Hot at the Arcades: 2 on 2 Open Ice Challenge|magazine=GamePro|publisher=IDG|issue=89|date=February 1996|page=46|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}{{efn|GamePro gave the arcade version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and control, 4/5 for sound, and 5/5 for fun factor.}} Brad Cook of AllGame called the same game "a must play for any hockey fan."

In 1996 the arcade version was placed on display in the Hockey Hall of Fame.{{cite magazine|author=EGM staff|title=Tidbits|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=91|date=February 1997|page=26}}

The PlayStation and PC versions divided reviewers. Jeff Kitts of GameSpot, The Rookie of GamePro, and Dean Hager of Electronic Gaming Monthly all agreed that it offered fun and fast NBA Jam-style hockey and was a faithful translation of the arcade version. Kitts acknowledged problems with the animations but praised the inclusion of novelty power-up codes, and judged the game an overall refreshing break from realistic hockey sims. The Rookie went so far as to say that it "shoots and scores at every level."{{cite magazine|author=The Rookie|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_102_Volume_09_Number_03_1997-03_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n91/mode/2up|title=NHL Open Ice (PS)|magazine=GamePro|publisher=IDG|issue=102|date=March 1997|page=91|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}{{efn|GamePro gave the PlayStation version 4/5 for graphics, two 4.5/5 scores for sound and fun factor, and 5/5 for control.}} In contrast, Hager's co-reviewer Kraig Kujawa said it "doesn't seem to capture the magic that made [NBA Jam] so popular", and that it compares poorly to its similar contemporary, Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey for the Nintendo 64. Next Generation agreed that it simply lacked the spark of NBA Jam, and also "fails to capture the coin-op's flashy essence", citing smaller characters, missing frames of animation, a weaker color palette, and missing audio effects compared to the arcade version. Official UK PlayStation Magazine said that players should "avoid the game at all costs."

Stephen Poole of GameSpot said of the PC version, "NHL Open Ice isn't the kind of game you'll play for hours on end, but it is the kind that you can fire up just about any time for 20 or 30 minutes of fun, or leave running at your next party for your guests to enjoy. Except for the graphics in the full-screen mode, they'll think they're at the arcade - and with a game like this, you can't ask any more than that."

{{clear}}

• Hit the Ice
• NHL Hitz (disambiguation)

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{portal|Video games}}

• {{moby game|id=/40620/nhl-open-ice-2-on-2-challenge/}}
• {{KLOV game|id=6774}}
• {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20230610001257/https://www.avalanchesoftware.com/games/nhl-open-ice-2-on-2-challenge/}} (archived)

{{Midway sports games}}

{{Avalanche Software}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2 On 2 Open Ice Challenge}}

Category:1995 video games

Category:Arcade video games

Category:Avalanche Software games

Category:Cancelled Panasonic M2 games

Category:Windows games

Category:PlayStation (console) games

Category:Midway video games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:National Hockey League video games

Category:Video games developed in the United States

Category:Video games scored by Jonathan Hey

Category:Video games set in 1995

Category:Video games set in 1996