ESPN National Hockey Night

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • Mega Drive
  • Mega-CD

ESPNNationalHockeyNight MD title.png

ESPNNationalHockeyNight title.png

ESPN National Hockey Night
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD
Publisher: Sony Imagesoft
Developer:
Licensor: ESPN, National Hockey League, National Hockey League Players' Association
Sound driver: GEMS
Peripherals supported: Team Player
Genre: Sports (ice hockey)

















Number of players: 1-4
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
T-93176
Videogame Rating Council: GA
Sega Mega-CD
US
T-93215
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Non-Sega versions

ESPN National Hockey Night is a ice hockey game for the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Mega-CD, named after the ESPN television program of the same name. It was only released in North America.

The game was licensed by the NHL, so real team names and logos are present. The Mega-CD version additionally carries a license by the NHLPA, so real player names and portrait are present as well. The Mega Drive version lacks this license, so players are unnamed but have the same jersey numbers and statistics.

The game features commentary by sports analyst and former professional hockey player Bill Clement, through digitized voice samples in the Mega Drive version and full-motion video clips in the Mega-CD version.

Gameplay

The game is an NHL hockey game including all of the teams from the 1993-94 NHL season. It can be played by one to four players, who can be assigned to either or neither team before the start of the match. The game uses a side view by default, but it can be changed to a vertical view before or during a match.

Before a match, players can view the match-up to compare the strength of each team in several categories or view the line-up of players on each team. There are options to set the difficulty of computer opponents (Beginner, Amateur, and Pro), toggle penalties or only allow offsides (the most common penalty), change the length of each period (5, 10, or 20 minutes, with a default of 10 minutes), or toggle manual line changes. The Mega-CD version also has an option to decrease the frequency of FMV, which is shown on certain plays, or to disable it entirely.

ESPN National Hockey Night CD, Face-Off.png

Face-Off
A player from each team tries to hit the puck by pressing B when the referee drops it onto the ice. A face-off is played at the start of the game, after a team scores, and after a penalty.

ESPN National Hockey Night CD, Defense, Poke.png

ESPN National Hockey Night CD, Defense, Goalie.png

  • ESPN National Hockey Night CD, Defense, Poke.png

  • ESPN National Hockey Night CD, Defense, Goalie.png

Defense
When the player's team does not have possession of the puck, the player skates with the D-Pad. Holding C provides a boost of speed but tires the player out faster, so it can only be done a limited number of times per player and per game. The player can poke or check by pressing B when near an opposing player to try to take the puck (or trip the other player). The active player is indicated by a circle around him and can be changed by pressing B when not near an opposing player.

When the goalie has the puck, press B while aiming with the D-Pad to pass the puck to a player. Holding the puck for too long is a penalty and results in a face-off.

ESPN National Hockey Night CD, Offense, Pass.png

ESPN National Hockey Night CD, Offense, Shoot.png

  • ESPN National Hockey Night CD, Offense, Pass.png

  • ESPN National Hockey Night CD, Offense, Shoot.png

Offense
When the player's team has possession of the puck, the player skates using the D-Pad. The player can pass the puck with B while aiming the D-Pad toward a nearby teammate. If there is no teammate in the direction chosen, the puck is shot into the distance. The player always controls the player with possession of the puck, who is indicated by a circle around him.

The player shoots the puck with C, which is automatically shot toward the goal and does not need to be aimed. Pressing and releasing the button quickly performs a wrist shot, while holding the button performs a slap shot (which takes longer to perform but causes the puck to travel faster). The player can flip the puck with A, which shoots it with greater height and distance.

Line changes can be done by holding A, which brings up a box in the upper left corner showing the lines and their strength, then pressing A, B, or C to switch to a given line.

ESPN National Hockey Night CD, Fastest Man.png

Fastest Man
One of the two challenge modes. A player from each team skates around the rink to try to get the fastest time. The player skates by pressing A and B alternately and using the D-Pad. The player skates faster if the player presses the buttons faster or falls over if the player fails to press them alternately.

ESPN National Hockey Night CD, Shootout.png

Shootout
One of the two challenge modes. A player from each team tries to hit all of the targets on a goal within a time limit. The player shoots the puck with C and aims using the D-Pad.

Modes

The game has the following modes, which can be played by one to four players:

  • Exhibition: A single match between any two teams (which can be the same team).
  • Challenge: Plays one of the two contest modes, the Fastest Man or the Shootout.
  • Playoffs: An abbreviated season that skips to the Stanley Cup playoffs, an elimination tournament played to the Best of 1 (win a single game to eliminate a team) or a Best of 7 series (win four games to eliminate a team).
  • Season: Plays a full season of 84 games. Progress is saved to a battery backup in the Mega Drive version or the console's internal memory in the Mega-CD version. Games are selected from a calendar; the player can skip ahead to later games, with the computer simulating the outcomes of skipped games. If the player's team ranks high enough at the end of the season, the player proceeds to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Teams

  • Anaheim Mighty Ducks Anaheim Mighty Ducks
  • Boston Bruins Boston Bruins
  • Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres
  • Calgary Flames Calgary Flames
  • Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Blackhawks
  • Dallas Stars Dallas Stars
  • Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings
  • Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers
  • Florida Panthers Florida Panthers
  • Hartford Whalers Hartford Whalers
  • Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings
  • Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens
  • New Jersey Devils New Jersey Devils
  • New York Islanders New York Islanders
  • New York Rangers New York Rangers
  • Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators
  • Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Flyers
  • Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Quebec Nordiques Quebec Nordiques
  • San Jose Sharks San Jose Sharks
  • St. Louis Blues St. Louis Blues
  • Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay Lightning
  • Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks
  • Washington Capitals Washington Capitals
  • Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg Jets

Development

Development likely began at Park Place Productions, but finished at Sony Imagesoft, as the latter hired a number of former Park Place employees during production.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

  • Programming: Craig Broadbooks, Paula Willman, Scott Murray
  • Additional Programming: Eric Hagstrom
  • Lead Artist: David Estus
  • Artists: Andy Jaros, Steve Mitchell, Ted Robertson, Scott Rogers, Brian O'Hara, Katy Roe, Dave Fenderson, Chris Meland, Joe Brisbois, Kevin Toft
  • Additional Art: Paul Willman, Craig Broadbooks
  • Producers: John Smedley, Daniel Meade
  • Associate Producer: Greg Oberle
  • Assistant Producer: Dennis Quinn
  • Sound and Music: Joe Hight, Rex Baca
Source:
Instruction manual
ESPN NHL National Hockey Night GRN Manual.pdf
[2]

Mega-CD version

  • Programming: Eric Hagstrom, Craig Broadbooks, Paula Willman, Scott Murray
  • Lead Artist: David Estus
  • Artists: Andy Jaros, Steve Mitchell, Ted Robertson, Scott Rogers, Brian O'Hara, Katy Roe, Dave Fenderson, Chris Meland, Joe Brisbois, Kevin Toft
  • Additional Art: Paul Willman, Craig Broadbooks
  • Producers: John Smedley
  • Associate Producer: Greg Oberle
  • Assistant Producer: Dennis Quinn
  • Sound and Music: Joe Hight, Rex Baca
  • Testing Coordinator: Brian Wiklem
  • Testing: Dennis Quinn, Greg Kaine, Fred Wigand, Justin Busch, Robert Baumsteiger, Martha Williams, Jody Kelsey, Kurt Schwengel, Bruce Cochrane, C J Connoy, Andre Leighton, Seth Luisi, Jose Cruz, Tobin Russell
  • Sony Executive Producer: Richard Robinson
  • Executive Producers: Steve Bornstein, Ed Durso, Dick Glover, Tom Hagopian, Jim Noel, John Wildack, Howie Schwab
  • Special Thanks To: Andy Zaffron, Bill Clement
Source:
Instruction manual
Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/gs: Permission denied convert: no decode delegate for this image format `' @ error/constitute.c/ReadImage/587. convert: no images defined `/home/sonicret/domains/segaretro.org/public_html/images/temp/transform_7ea44999278c.jpg' @ error/convert.c/ConvertImageCommand/3229.
[3]

Magazine articles

Main article: ESPN National Hockey Night/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in GamePro (US) #64: "November 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
also published in:
  • EGM² (US) #5: "November 1994" (1994-1x-xx)[4]
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
45
[5]
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[6]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
63
[7]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
75
[8]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
70
[9]
Sega Mega Drive
61
Based on
5 reviews

ESPN National Hockey Night

Mega Drive, US
ESPNNHN MD US Box.jpg
Cover
ESPNNHN MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
ESPN NHL National Hockey Night GRN Manual.pdf
Manual
ESPNNHN MD US Poster Back.jpgESPNNHN MD US Poster Front.jpg
Poster
ESPNNHN MD US pcb.jpg
PCB

Mega-CD version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
40
[10]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
50
[11]
Sega Mega-CD
45
Based on
2 reviews

ESPN National Hockey Night

Mega-CD, US
ESPNNHN MCD US Box Back.jpgESPNNHN MCD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
ESPNNHN MCD US Disc.jpg
Disc
Espnnationalhockeynight mcd us manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

Main article: ESPN National Hockey Night/Technical information.

References


ESPN National Hockey Night

ESPNNationalHockeyNight MD title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Region coding | Technical information


Sega Mega Drive
Prototypes: 1994-07



ESPN-branded games for Sega systems or published by Sega
Sega Mega Drive
ESPN Baseball Tonight (1994) | ESPN National Hockey Night (1994) ESPN Sunday Night NFL (1994) | ESPN Speedworld (1994)
Sega Mega-CD
ESPN Baseball Tonight (1994) | ESPN National Hockey Night (1994) ESPN Sunday Night NFL (1994) | ESPN NBA Hangtime '95 (1994)
Sega Dreamcast
ESPN International Track & Field (2000) | ESPN NBA 2Night (2000) | ESPN Baseball Tonight (unreleased) | ESPN Links Golf (unreleased)
Sony PlayStation 2
ESPN College Hoops (2003) | ESPN NBA Basketball (2003) | ESPN NFL Football (2003) | ESPN NHL Hockey (2003) | ESPN College Hoops 2K5 (2004) | ESPN Major League Baseball (2004) | ESPN NBA 2K5 (2004) | ESPN NFL 2K5 (2004) | ESPN NHL 2K5 (2004)
Xbox
ESPN College Hoops (2003) | ESPN NBA Basketball (2003) | ESPN NFL Football (2003) | ESPN NHL Hockey (2003) | ESPN College Hoops 2K5 (2004) | ESPN Major League Baseball (2004) | ESPN NBA 2K5 (2004) | ESPN NFL 2K5 (2004) | ESPN NHL 2K5 (2004)
Book
Prima's Official Strategy Guide: ESPN NFL Football (2003) | Prima's Official Strategy Guide: ESPN NBA Basketball (2003) | ESPN NFL 2K5 Official Strategy Guide (2004) | ESPN NBA 2K5 Official Strategy Guide (2004)