January 11, 2009

NHL 94



Sometimes, late at night, I wish I still had my Super Nintendo. I mean, don't get me wrong, NHL 09 on the XBOX 360 is sublime, but NHL 94 might be the greatest hockey game ever made.

The body checking, the slapshots, and, oh, for the first time in hockey video games, the one-timers.

I made beautiful music with a number of teams:

Toronto Maple Leafs: Doug Gilmour, Dave Andreychuk, and Nikolai Borschevsky, with Dave Ellett running shit on the point. Enough said.

Chicago Blackhawks: Jeremy Roenick was an absolute force at centre ice; he could do it all. His slapshot might have been the game's best. As a youth, I developed a man-crush on J.R. solely because of NHL 94.

Quebec Nordiques: Ah, the good old Nordiques. Joe Sakic, Mats Sundin, and Owen Nolan, with Steve Duchesne and Curtis Leschyshyn on the back end. The goaltending was weak, I think Stephane Fiset was the starter, but I always made sure to score a boat load of goals with the youthful Mats, whose NHL 94 slapshot rivaled Roenick's.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, and Kevin Stevens. Let me tell you, it was one-timer madness. And the rugged left winger Stevens was always good for a cheap wrap around goal when I needed one.

Good times.

And, for the record, I was, and still am, arguably the greatest to ever play NHL 94 on the SNES. If you've got the system and the game lying around, holla atcha boy, for old times' sake.

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

don't get ahead of yourself there buddy. bring it on. From what i remember, i used to dust you.

i'll bet all my 93' Toronto Maple Leafs autographs on it.

anytime...anywhere...come to NYC and we'll do it up.

Johnny G said...

I have one, its just unfortunately back in Nova Scotia with my family.

Anonymous said...

Weird, I was just talking about this game with my friend last night over a few beers. But it was not SNES but it's nemesis Sega Genesis.

Those were some good times.

On The Fence Sports

Ian Hunter said...

I have the same crush on Blades of Steel for the NES. Hockey Video Gaming at its finest.

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

@ ilivewithdeeandhe'sgay: First of all, best screen name. Ever. Did you really move in with Dee? And I'm going to take you up on that offer, as soon as I find the system. I gotta ask my brother if we still have ours. It needs to be done, in crazy wide-screen action.

@ Johnny: The next time you're out east, make sure you grab(ovski) it.

@ On The Fence: Sega Genesis sucked, and still sucks. That controller was for someone with freak hands.

@ Ian: You lose the fight, you go to the penalty box. Now that's how hockey should be played.

showcase29 said...

I believe it was the bleu blanc et rouge that I rocked you with EVERYTIME. And I think we still have it somewhere... we'll pull it out and run an old school tourney during the superbowl tailgate.

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

@ Showcase: The larger issue at hand is why the hell you were using the Habs, especially after they stole our Cup in 93.

We'll find it, fo sho. This Super Bowl tailgating idea just gets better and better. Good thinking, 40.

showcase29 said...

Don't hate the habs. Hate Fraser. It was his fault. And Gretzky's. But I can't hate on 99.

And I concur about Karan's screen name.

Anonymous said...

yes. and this proves that there really is a recession.

not too bad a spot, dope location, good space. only downside is dee.

lets make this happen. does SNES have something like xbox live? if not, i will have to book a flight up north for this event.

and nit, i'd like to play on a 28 inch tv. i wouldn't know what to do if the game was on a huge screen.

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

Karan, you should think about writing a book: "When I Lived with Dee." I'd buy that shit.

And I love how you flat out say it, "only downside is dee."

There's no SNES live, unfortunately. We'll have to do it up the next time you're here.

And, to be honest, now that I play NHL 09 on a normal person sized television, not some 60 inch HD monstrosity, I actually prefer the regular person TV.

Anonymous said...

this blog's pretty funny, go back and read it from the beginning...

http://iamthebestintheworldatnhl94.blogspot.com/

Down Goes Brown said...

I played a ton of NHL 93 and 94. The one-timers were great but I never got over the loss of fighting. Sort of diminished the role of Ken Baumgartner.

By the time I got to university, NHL 95 was out. They changed everything in that game, and the ice physics was completely screwed up. But half the guys on my floor formed a league, drafted teams (yes, we held a draft) and spent more time playing, trading and arguing about the league than we did on school.

I won the championship trophy (made out of a pudding bowl stolen from the cafeteria) five years running.

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

@ Daoust: That shit is hilarious. Thanks. I need to challenge that guy to a battle.

@ DGB: A draft and everything, eh? That's amazing. But you're right, they really changed the game after 94, and I didn't like it until, what, NHL 2002 for the PS2. I hope you still have that trophy, because I think you're going to be invited to the NHL 94 tournament of champions.

blurr1974 said...

I'm with you on the JR mancrush. I loved how his slapshot in NHL94 could actually move the goalie back into the net, giving you a goal, even if the goalie made the initial save...wicked awesome as JR would say.

Anonymous said...

I am, and will remain for all time, undefeated in competitive NHL 94 games.

A couple of buddies had the game all summer a couple of years ago in Kingston. After not playing for about 7 years I beat the house champ.

Basically, I'll beat you and use Wendel against your Nordiques to make you cry.

p.s. Blades of Steel, I haz it. Best game ever.

Dare said...

I dunno, I was always a big fan of NHL'96 for SNES.

I've got two SNESes sitting at my parents' place in Toronto, but haven't had a chance to bring one out to Edmonton yet. :(

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

@ Blurr: Ah, the wonders of J.R. He was so fucking good in that game. I always hoped that one day, just one day, me might wear the blue and white.

@ PPP: Those are strong words, my friend. I challenge you, and DGB. Bring on the Wendel. It will pain me to beat him, but no one, no one, fucks with my Nordiques.

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

@ Dare: I don't know, man, for me, nothing comes close to NHL 94. Until the consoles starting getting astronomically better, know what I mean? And Can you ask your parents if I can borrow one of your systems? It's gotta be done.

Ian Hunter said...

Pension Plan Puppets, Blades of Steel is my favourite all-time hockey game. Eyebleaf mentioned one of my favourite parts of the game - you lose the fight, you go to the box. Oh, and the mini-game you can play after the 2nd period is an added bonus.

NHL94 ... also a great game. There might be a possibility that it could be available on the Wii Virtual Console, but I doubt it.

floridaLEAF said...

Well, thanks to you my laundry will not get done tonight. I will be going to the hall closet, top shelf on the left and digging out the SNES. Original box in all its glory. Although my favorite hockey game is NHL HITZ by Midway for the PS2 or XBOX. 2001-2003 only, once they went to HITZ Pro it sucked, bigtime. I know it isn't a pure hockey simulation, but c'mon, 3 skaters a side with all that open ice. Blasting someone through the glass over the boards, one timers, hot spots and you lose a fight and that player is out the REST OF THE GAME. (That's truly the way hockey should be played)

bkblades said...

While the SNES is the far superior console compared to the Sega Genesis, the NHL series were far better on the Sega. It doesn't really compare. Even the movie "Swingers" had the boys play on the Genesis.

Gretzky, down and out...brings tears to my eyes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owk4S0GGDbU

Culinarian said...

Karn, nobody has 28 inch tv's anymore, but dont worry, when u come up-u can hit up best buy and grab one, and then return it.

Bro, I gots a SNES sitting in my bassment with your name on it(actually its got DARs name on it, but he can just go to hell)
i think NHL 94 may be with it...

Take'em maaan

Andy Mc said...

you can get those games cheap on kijiji and ebay... or try a local pawn shop

kushnir said...

I got an NES with 94'...

and a nintendo with blades of steel..

Anonymous said...

I also have kept my nintendo just so I could play Blades of Steel.

Makes a pass! Makes a pass!

Eyebeleaf: you are so full of rule breaking goodness. Rule # 1: When playing sports games you play with your favourite team. If your buddy's favourite team is better than you just have to get better at the game.

Playing with the Nordiques = cheering for Mats with the Canucks: Wrong.

kushnir said...

is anything better then the 2nd period centipede game!?! or was it the first period?...

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

@ Ian: Have you tried NHL 2K9 on the Wii? I heard it's pretty good.

@ FloridaLeaf: I hope you enjoyed your night of reuniting with your SNES. And I think I remember NHL HITZ...

@ BKBlades: I still think the series on the SNES is better, but I'm bias. And, bro, that clip was fucking awesome. First J.R. scores, and then Gretzky gets killed. "Mikey, look, his head's bleeding. Mikey, look!" Awesome.

@ Culinarian: Buying TVs from Best Buy in Washinton really helped us out of a jam. Bro, if you do have Dar the Douche's SNES and NHL 94, I'm seriously going to have to take it man, just like Barkley. Respect.

@ Andy: That's a good idea. I like the way you think.

@ Kushnir: You're invited to the tournament.

@ PPP: "Makes a pass!" Dude, that's golden. And one day, bro, I hope to not be such a disappointment in your eyes. My glory days of NHL 94 were when Mats was the face of the Leafs, hence my infatuation with the Nordiques. But don't get it twisted, I can beat you with either team, the Leafs or Nords. I might even just let you pick my team.

Anonymous said...

... and Bure was on the Canucks! a onetimermachine! oh, the memories of the cup run.... now i know what i'm gonna do with da young 'uns this weekend. time 4 an NHL94 tourney! thanks EYE!

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

@ woodpeck: Bure on the Canucks was pretty dangerous. And, man, everyone is talking about playing now. I gotta find my system!

kushnir said...

i feel so loved ^_^

ps. ill wreck you all, but i must be hammered first. somehow alcohol brings out the old school gamer in me..

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

Kushnir, you are loved. But you, and everyone else, is sadly mistaken if you think you can beat me.

If I could have made a career out of video games, trust me, I would have. I'm not great at many things in life, but trust me, video games is one of them. If there was a Video Games Hall of Fame, the five-year waiting period would be waved for me, and I'd be inducted unanimously. My number would be retired.

This is not cockiness, this is just reality. I'm good at video games. It's a shame, because it's a skill that is good for absolutely nothing, other than bragging about it like a 12-year-old bitch.

But I digress.

I'm going to make this tournament happen, if it's the last thing I do...

Ian Hunter said...

PPP - I always thought the guy in Blades of Steel was saying "hit the post". I guess "hit the pass" makes much more sense.

Eyebleaf - haven't yet graduated to the next gen consoles. I'm still stuck in the previous generation with 2K7, which will suffice for the time being.

Anonymous said...

i have the game and the system for the tourney. keep me posted!

Anonymous said...

I have my SNES but its not hooked up, and I of course have the game.

I still play it from time to time at work actually via emulation.

So good...

Love Toronto in it, but Quebec was my team of choice!

Justin
(The Hockey Card Show)

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

@ Ian: I rocked the PS2 for a long time. But when I played NHL 08 on the XBox 360, I won't lie, there were tears in my eyes.

@ Woodpeck: I will keep you informed, mate. Cheers!

@ Justin: Thanks for coming around these parts, mate. What is this emulation you speak of? Are you telling me I can play NHL 94 on my computer?

And, obviously, you're a smart man. The Nordiques? I respect you already.

Anonymous said...

You can play nhl94 over the net @ nhl94online.com.

Both genesis and SNES versions.

They have plenty of leagues.

They hacked the rom so some leagues you can draft players from the game to form your own team....or play in a league using updated rosters from 2009-10 season.

The best players play online.