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Sega of America has set the
new standard in realistic hockey games. Sega announced today the release of
the newest title from its SEGA SPORTS brand -- "NHL All-Star Hockey
'98" -- available exclusively for Sega Saturn. The game's advanced
Artificial Intelligence (AI) gives gamers true on-the-ice action with 3D
players that act and react as real hockey pros would in specific game
situations. This is not just a game, it is an authentic NHL experience.
This is real professional hockey, with every team in the NHL, complex coaching strategies, realistic player responses and smooth 3D gameplay that ices the competition. "NHL All-Star Hockey '98" features full stats for the entire '96-'97 season and every one of the NHL's 26 teams -- more than 650 hard-nosed players rendered in full 3D and created using motion capture technology to simulate the real hockey moves of the pros. Gamers experience all of the NHL's great play in vivid 32,000 color graphics, versus the limited 256 color palette of most other hockey games. And "NHL All-Star Hockey" goes one step further. It features a unique, dynamic AI engine developed in conjunction with professional hockey players and coaches. The AI gives players more humanistic gameplay skills, resulting in smarter responses to real hockey situations. For example, in a powerplay, defensive strategies will change (i.e. defense will switch from man-to-man to zone) to better protect the goal. Of course, no professional team would take to the ice without a good coach and a great play book. In "NHL All-Star Hockey '98," players get both. The game features the most complete listing of actual NHL coaching strategies, including three different powerplay styles and three different penalty killing styles, all of which can be changed on the fly. For the real enthusiast, the game features advanced hockey action such as deflections, hooking, fakes, backwards skating and dump-ins. Don't like the teammates the NHL has put together for you? Make your own. "NHL All-Star Hockey '98" has a "Create-A-Player" option that allows gamers to create the ultimate player based on height, weight, ability and several other categories. Players can even be left- or right-handed, creating more shooting and strategy combinations. Also new for this year, players can fight, taking off the gloves and going one-on-one throwing punches, ducking and spinning in circles. All the action is viewed through five playable camera angles. "We want to put the player in the game," said Brad Hogan, product manager, SEGA SPORTS. "The best way to do that is give gamers complete control over coaching strategies and playing styles, along with all the professional players, stats, options and plays they would have if they were on a real NHL team." Fall 1997 titles from SEGA SPORTS for Sega Saturn and PC include "World Series Baseball '98," "NBA Action '98," "NHL All-Star Hockey '98," "Worldwide Soccer '98" and "Steep Slope Sliders." Games from the Sega Racing division of SEGA SPORTS include "Sega Touring Car Championship," "Manx TT SuperBike" and "Daytona USA Deluxe."
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