"Half-Time"

GRAPHICS SOUND CONTROL FRUSTRATION FUN FACTOR OVERALL

NES 2 Player Sports People often ask the same, demanding question of "Why are you still playing ancient games on the original Nintendo?" "Eight-bit compared to today's standard of 128-bit consoles cannot even come close to comprehending a simple task for the modern console such as a character dropping a douche." Well boys and girls, the REAL reason why gamers play games isn't because of how it looks (aside from some of the new 'gamers' that don't know any better--God save 'em), but instead for how it plays and the fun you have playing. Otherwise you would not be here. You would instead be a flaming XBOX idiot looking for a new Halo game and declaring victory of the console wars. Fun is the ONE word to best describe Ice Hockey. Fights often occur by heated battles for turn-overs and the whole team will get in on the action before a ref breaks it up and sends someone to the penalty box. Another fun thing to mention is during the second and third quarters (read: half-time) when zambonis come sweeping out covering the screen to the quirky background music. ......In the sound department, the kinky title screen beat and half time jig is good but nothing close to being revolutionary in video games (heh..nice nonetheless). All other sounds heard are the NES note-worthy beeps, found in such events as fights and slap shots. ......Controlling your team can take a bit of time to master but once you feel comfortable with the system of moving the whole team at once, you wouldn't want it any other way. The feeling of slick ice under you is shown due to the some what slippery feel of the control, but this never gets annoying. All in all, Ice Hockey is an excellent and must-have game just for the sheer fun of the thing. ......BOTTOM LINE: Although nothing else of the game is really worthy to take note about, simply because of the fun factor, I love it! Have I said fun enough times in this review? No? Well, then: fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, and fun. And you'll just keep coming back for more again and again and again.... -Mike