Overview and Gameplay
Choose one of eight city teams and play fast, simplified ice hockey across three accelerated periods. This NES conversion of Konami’s arcade game combines overhead rink action, sampled speech, close-up fights, and scoreboard intermissions. Exhibition supports solo or simultaneous two-player competition, while the one-player Tournament is an eight-team knockout requiring three wins for the cup.
Skate, pass, shoot, check opponents, and reposition the goalie. A moving goal arrow determines shot placement, so timing and defensive positioning matter. Icing is enforced, but offsides are omitted. Tied games proceed to penalty-style shots and sudden death.
Controls And Mechanics
- Directions: Move the active skater, aim during shootouts, and position the goalie.
- A: Shoot on offense; guard during fights.
- B: Pass, switch to the defender nearest the puck, take face-offs, punch, or shoot during penalty attempts.
- Start: Begin or pause play and skip intermissions.
- Select: Choose player mode during setup.
Repeated contact can trigger a fight. The loser enters the penalty box, creating a temporary power play. Two players compete simultaneously in Exhibition only.
Version Notes
The expanded USA cartridge adds digitized speech, the full fighting system, improved scoreboard presentation, intermission sequences, and a Tournament victory celebration absent from the earlier Japanese Famicom Disk System release, Konamic Ice Hockey.
Release And Credits
- USA release: December 1988
- Developer and publisher: Konami
- Original platform: Arcade
- Director: Shigeharu Umezaki
