(Frankly, once the nostalgia and charm wear off, I jump back into “NHL ’21,” warts and all.) While I eventually enjoyed “NHL ’94 Rewind,” I’m not sure it’s something that will keep me coming back. Yes, I’d argue that people probably look back at the 16-bit era with rose-colored, anti-polygonal glasses. Scoring a goal when you’re passing with a goalie? Also fun. If you want to experience a truly frustrating phenomenon, leave offside on in “NHL ’94 Rewind.” You’ll encounter the 16-bit hockey version of herding cats.įor the first few playthroughs, I truly wondered why I missed the 16-bit-style, arcade-y titles that included the base for “NHL ’94 Rewind.” But, after a while, the old-school controls started to click, and it was clear why people still battle on emulators to this day.īreaking the glass when you miss the net with a slapshot? Fun. still isn’t there for “NHL ’21.” Go ahead, that’s fair.) (Pauses for barbs about how that teammate A.I. Naturally, teammate artificial intelligence also wasn’t all the way there decades ago. Yet, when you first jump into “NHL ’94 Rewind,” the limitations can be striking.Īfter years of polishing their skating engine - for all its faults, it can be a blast to leave defenders in the icy dust in “NHL ’21” - the herky-jerky, limited animations of the “NHL ’94” engine take quite a while to get used to. At times, the implication is that the modern version, most recently “NHL ’21,” simply isn’t up to snuff. One can imagine how tired EA Sports developers get of hearing about how great those old 16-bit games were. NHL ’94 Rewind review: the power and limits of nostalgia But it also serves as a reminder that nostalgia can sometimes warp reality. Let it be known: “NHL ’94 Rewind” showcases the power of nostalgia. This is it, folks: the NHL ’94 ROM, but with modern players (albeit with rosters that probably won’t get updated from last season). Look at that pixelated Alex Ovechkin! Marvel at those hold sound effects, and the wonderful throwback presentation, with cold streaks and Ron Barr previews.

Upon first booting up “NHL ’94 Rewind,” which began as a pre-order bonus for EA Sports’ “NHL ’21,” you get those warm-and-fuzzy feelings.

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