NHLPA Hockey '93

NHLPA Hockey '93 is a 1992 ice hockey video game developed by Park Place Productions and published by Electronic Arts for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the second installment of the NHL series, following NHL Hockey (1991), and the first to be released for the Super NES.

NHLPA Hockey '93
North American Genesis box art
Developer(s)	Park Place Productions
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Composer(s)	Jim Simmons
Series	NHL
Platform(s)	Sega Genesis, Super NES
Release	Genesis NA: September 1992 Super NES NA: December 1992[1] EU: April 5, 1993[citation needed]
Genre(s)	Sports (ice hockey)
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Although it is considered to be the second EA Sports NHL game, the game was not licensed by the NHL; however, it did receive licensing permission from the NHLPA. Because of this, all teams are referred to only by city (the New York Islanders were referred to as "Long Island") with no use of the team nickname itself. Additionally, no NHL team logos or NHL emblems are seen anywhere in the game.

Gameplay

The game includes a single-game exhibition mode and a playoff mode (single-elimination or best-of-7), wherein the winner collects a trophy similar to the Stanley Cup. The game includes mostly complete rosters and all 24 teams from the 1991–92 NHL season, including the expansion of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators.

The Genesis version also included EEPROM saving,^[2] which allowed one to save lines and the ongoing Playoff, while the Super NES version uses passwords to save progress.

Reception

Reception

Review scores

Publication	Score
AllGame	[3]
Mega	92%[4]
MegaTech	89%[5]
Power Unlimited	70%[6]

Computer Gaming World approved of the game's use of real NHL hockey player names and teams, and concluded that it was "just about as realistic and detailed as one could hope a cartridge game to be ... two red and blistered thumbs up".^[2] Power Unlimited gave the SNES version a score of 70% summarizing: "The action and sensation are also very much present in Electronic Arts' hockey game. Unfortunately, the sound is often very poor, and the screen is often overcrowded and therefore confusing. Thanks to the two player mode, it really becomes worthwhile."^[7]

Former video game publication AllGame also praised the realism that had been included in the game, specifically the addition of injuries and shattering glass, but expressed disappointment at the lack of a season mode. Criticism was also given to the lack of challenging AI, stating that "scoring goals is still too easy".^[8]

In 2001, Game Informer ranked it the 20th best video game ever made. The staff praised the game's depth and strategy.^[9]