"Best game ever"

Wow.. That about sums this game up. I just recently purchased this game from my friend for $30 and I have not been let down! I know it may be a little old, considering it's from '95 and it's now 2002, but you really have to play this game to fully take into consideration all it has to offer. Not only are the graphics absolutely stunning, but the game play is amazing! The teams, and current rosters, are perfect, I couldn't have asked for more. The Quebec Nordiques, Winnipeg Jets, the Whalers.. The list goes on. I don't really follow sports, nor have I been able to check out NHL 2002, but I am SURE that everything is still the same. The controls for NHL '95 are great. If you have a joystick, or in some occasions, a game-pad, you'll find it very easy to play and master NHL '95. Pass, shoot, body check (crunching body checks I should add), and directional skating. This is the basic outline for the controls, it's very easy to get used to. As I said before, the graphics were stunning! The skaters were drawn to the very last detail, and the animations made me feel like I was skating with the pro's! Hitting players through glass, scoring in OT, and getting abuse penalties for knocking over the ref were just a few of the exhilarating moments in NHL '95. There was one flaw I caught while playing this game. If you win the initial face-off skate quickly directly towards your opponents goal, do so in a straight line. Once you're close to the goal press your 'pass' button. The puck should shoot forward in a straight line and directly into the net without the goalie having a chance to stop it. I've scored over 299 with one player in my career season! This game is amazing, if you don't take the time to check it out you either need to be shot or molested by a 400 pound Mexican named ''Mojo the Hobo''.

Graphics: 10/10 -- Stunning! Absolutely brilliant! I could go on, I really enjoyed the detail put into the players and the rink surroundings. The menu screens and into were also very well done, EA definitely put some artistic talent and time into this project.

Sound: 8/10 -- The sound was perfect for this game, although at points the SFX sounded a bit off. Some of the effects don't quite match what I've heard on TV, but they're surprisingly close! I don't know how they did it, but they did. There were a few moments when I found myself questioning the timing of certain sounds, but other than that I have no complaints.

Game play: 10/10 -- I was up for 52 hours playing this game, no lie. I actually ended up skipping school so I could finish the playoffs. This game gripped me with a tyrannical claw, and it wouldn't let me go! I'm so tempted to load it back up, but I've got to let it go.. It's like a drug, so intoxicating and stimulating..

Overall Enjoyment: 10/10 -- I think I've already mentioned everything there is to mention, if it was possible I would give this game a 11/10.

Replay Value: 9/10 -- At the moment I still can't put it down, but as most sports games i know at one point or another I will grow tired of it.

Difficulty: 7/10 -- The face-off flaw really brings down the difficulty, seeing you can get up 10 goals in a few minutes. For the most part this game is very difficult, if you don't cheat off the face-off.

Originality: 8/10 -- Been done, but not as well as this!

Overall: 10/10 -- Absolutely amazing, this game did not let me down in any specific area. Unless you are being held hostage, check out NHL Hockey '95.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 05/18/02, Updated 05/18/02