EA Sports revealed today that its highly-anticipated NHL 14 will feature a nostalgic NHL ‘94 Anniversary Mode. Gamers will tell you that NHL ‘94 is arguably the best game of the 16-bit era of video games. The blue ice, the retro organ music – it really brings back the memories.
While most current NHLPA members were toddlers when NHL ’94 was released, there are three players who were on roster 20 years ago: Jaromir Jagr, Teemu Selanne, and Roman Hamrlik. At the time, Jaromir Jagr was playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Teemu Selanne was part of the Winnipeg Jets, and Roman Hamrlik played for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Twenty plus years - that’s before than many young players like Nail Yakupov, Dougie Hamilton, and Alex Galchenyuk were even born!
Goaltender, Martin Brodeur, who was voted NHL 14’s cover athlete this year, through the EA Sports NHL 14 Cover Vote, first graced the series in NHL ’95. Of course, he was a member of the New Jersey Devils then, and still is today.
The Anniversary Mode won’t revert back fully to NHL ‘94’s graphics and gameplay, but rather incorporates those celebrated elements that made the game so enjoyable – like indicator stars under active players with their number and position in that great pixelated font, creating the opportunity for big hits, goals, and fights (no blood), and a real pull-back on rules. For instance, icing and offside calls will be non-existent. You’ll be seeing old team sweaters too.
NHL 14 hits stores September 10th or you can pre-order the game through the EA Sports website.