- NA release: 23rd February 1998
- PAL release: April 1998
- JP release: July 1998
- Developer: Software Creations
- Publisher: Midway (NA), GT (PAL), Konami (JP)
- N64 Magazine Score: 60%
In December 1997, Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey ’98, offering no notable improvement over the first (pretty solid) game. Two months later, Olympic Hockey ’98 is just another version of Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey, just with the American teams replaced with those from the Olympics (although most of the players are generic and not based on real ones). IGN had a particularly scathing review, giving it a 0/10 and saying “We’ll post a new review when Midway releases a new game.” (that’s not a quote, that’s the entire review).
The biggest difference between Olympic Hockey and Wayne Gretzky are the default settings, with Olympic Hockey having everything set to simulation and strict. I realised I hated strict hockey, especially the ball going behind the goal resulting in a penalty, but change some settings and you can have fun again.
This isn’t a terrible game, it’s just a cheap cash-in.
Fun
So you get a couple of minor changes to the commentary, Nagano logos around the rink and under the ice, and the teams of the Olympic tournament. All 14 of them. Everything else is identical to the original.
Martin Kitts, N64 Magazine #15
Remake or Remaster?
This game is pointless.
Official Ways to get the game
There’s no official way to play Olympic Hockey 98
Europe
Japan
North America
N64 Games by Date
1997: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
1998: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
1999: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2000: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
I love that description haha
People complain now about how sports games are “just roster updates” but just take a peek back a few more years and find shite like this
What made this one stand out even more was that it came out a mere two months after the previous one. It’s a shame as the original game was great, it could have been even better with a few improvements.
That timeline is insane and a clear money grab. A shame indeed!
So, this might be a good time to mention that I don’t really like videogames about team sports. Don’t like footie games, no Rugby, even Basketball I find “meh”. I know this, because a friend of mine likes playing these sort of games (mostly on the PS1 & PS2), and I sadly never shared the appeal.
Hockey is one of the few exceptions. Don’t know why, there’s something about the intended jank of the puck’s behaviour that makes me enjoy the gameplay. Not enough to buy a game for myself, mind you, just enough to have an enjoyable afternoon with a good friend.
Why do I bring this up?
Because the fact that you didn’t call it a “puck” unlocked some memories of that same friend getting angry at me for calling it a ball as well :p To think that now, I am the one to notice such things.