Another popular hockey game released during that time was Konami\u2019s Blades of Steel<\/strong>, which featured a slower and more hybrid simulation\/arcade hockey experience which, again, continues to receive more positive reception from gamers than the opposite, albeit even if enjoyed with nostalgic rose-coloured glasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But then there\u2019s Wayne Gretzky Hockey, which I had dubbed \u2018stinky\u2019 a few years back <\/a>and I\u2019ll admit that\u2019s being kind. After playing the aforementioned NES games and being a huge hockey fan, I was more than excited to play a game that dedicated it\u2019s namesake to hockey\u2019s biggest star.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 35 years later, I\u2019m still unimpressed. And that\u2019s putting it mildly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the record, the fact that this game was licensed by the National Hockey League and NHL Players Association is a big deal. Authentic rosters of players and teams certainly helps to add realism, but I don\u2019t want to overstate it like it\u2019s a really good thing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lipstick on a pig, and all that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of sport, regardless of genre, the biggest element of any video game is the fun factor; do you\/did you enjoy it? Was it a memorable, positive experience? These are what most people look forward to after they play a video game of any stature and that\u2019s a big fat NOPE<\/em> when it comes to Gretzky\u2019s NES experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It should also be mentioned that Wayne Gretzky Hockey was developed for home computers first (developed by Bethesda, if you can believe it) and then ported to the NES. Whether that has anything to do with how the game plays I\u2019m not 100% sure, but when looking at footage of the PC release<\/a>, it\u2019s clear that porting it across \u2018as is\u2019 was the full intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The game is ugly, let\u2019s be frank. The overhead perspective doesn\u2019t do it any favours and while I understand where technology was at the time, it definitely doesn\u2019t look great. The overhead was certainly a popular perspective for many sports games of the era, but in this instance, it looks extremely dated, especially next to its counterparts on the same system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s clear, with the associated licenses, that Wayne Gretzky Hockey is attempting more of a simulated NHL experience, but again, authenticity doesn\u2019t make this game any better. The gameplay is clunky and honestly, just boring. There\u2019s nothing about it that makes it enjoyable. The control might be the worst aspect of the game, and that\u2019s really hard to look past. If a game can\u2019t control well, it\u2019s hard to enjoy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I could expand on this a little bit further, but the boys over at Drink a Beer and Play a Game<\/strong><\/a> put their own unique spin on this game over on YouTube. (NSFW)<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wallywallcakes.files.wordpress.com\/2021\/08\/wayne_gretzky_hockey_gameplay2-3.png?w=964\")