NHL 98

NHL 98 features much faster and refined gameplay (four action buttons are now used instead of two, so some actions no longer need to be double-tapped). Other new features include "in-the-fly" tactics developed by Marc Crawford, then manager of the Colorado Avalanche, new commentary lines by Jim Hughson and Darryl Reaugh, and a revamped user interface. The graphics have been improved compared to the previous version: players are less angular and there are fewer pixels in the textures thanks to 3Dfx support. The in-game presentation follows a TV-like script that zooms in on the players and displays stats during stoppages in play. As for game modes, NHL 98 introduced the first true international competition in the year of the first Olympic tournament with professional players, with 18 international teams to choose from. Other game modes include the season (choice of 25 or 82 games) and the playoffs (best of 1, 3, 5 or 7 games), as well as a penalty shootout mode.