OS Roundtable: Best 16-bit Sports Game

[jyoung]

Re: OS Roundtable: Best 16-bit Sports Game

NHL 95 was actually a huge step back for the series.

The goalie AI got messed up to the point that you could score a goal literally every time down the ice with a simple forehand/backhand deke.

[jyoung]

Re: OS Roundtable: Best 16-bit Sports Game

And for the record, the Genesis versions of EA sports games were almost universally better than their SNES counterparts, reason being, EA had two separate development teams for the two systems, each working on their own version of the game.

Aside from a shared set of features, Madden/NHL/Live etc. were all completely different games back then on the gameplay and presentations fronts depending on which system you were playing them on.

[KillRoy]

And for the record, the Genesis versions of EA sports games were almost universally better than their SNES counterparts, reason being, EA had two separate development teams for the two systems, each working on their own version of the game.

Aside from a shared set of features, Madden/NHL/Live etc. were all completely different games back then on the gameplay and presentations fronts depending on which system you were playing them on.

I think the SNES versions were always better in the graphics department. But even in the gamplay department, I really liked Madden 95 and 96 on the SNES a lot more than Madden 95 and 96 on the Genesis.

[josh_b]

Some great games mentioned so far. I think NHL 94 and NBA JAM are definitely in my top 5 sports games ever made.

One game I think deserves honorable mention is Super Baseball 2020. Although originally a NeoGeo title, that game was amazing for Genesis/SNES.

The Mutant League series (Football/Hockey) was kind of crap from a development standpoint, but I had a lot of fun with it, especially hockey.

[SDwinder]

Are we talking only consoles, or computers too? If we include computers I would have to say Earl Weaver Baseball on the Commodore Amiga, not the PC version. Groundbreaking sports game that ruled all the baseball games from 1987 to 1992.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: OS Roundtable: Best 16-bit Sports Game

Are we talking only consoles, or computers too? If we include computers I would have to say Earl Weaver Baseball on the Commodore Amiga, not the PC version. Groundbreaking sports game that ruled all the baseball games from 1987 to 1992.

There were some truly great Olympics games on the Commodore 64. Almost wonder why we don't get better games now a days.

[Money99]

Re: OS Roundtable: Best 16-bit Sports Game

Was NHL 95 better than 94 though?

Not in my opinion.
Like others have stated, '95 was a step back. If NHL94 had season stats I don't know if I would have bought another hockey game until the PS2 came out.

NHL94 is still the king in relation to it's era.
Out of all the hockey games I played NHL94 and 2K3 the most. Both are tops for their generations.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: OS Roundtable: Best 16-bit Sports Game

Not in my opinion.
Like others have stated, '95 was a step back. If NHL94 had season stats I don't know if I would have bought another hockey game until the PS2 came out.

NHL94 is still the king in relation to it's era.
Out of all the hockey games I played NHL94 and 2K3 the most. Both are tops for their generations.

NHL 95 was a big step back. I remember how close I was to just buying the game only to be able to get a rental the day of the release. Popped that game in and thought, "What the heck is this garbage?" Saved us some money.

[bmore7]

Without a doubt, NBA Jam, NHL 94' and Joe Montana football had the voodoo on me.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: OS Roundtable: Best 16-bit Sports Game

I never thought Joe Montana football was that good but that was the first game to do commentary I believe. It was choppy but I still thought it was fantastic.

[jyoung]

Re: OS Roundtable: Best 16-bit Sports Game

I think you can seriously make a case for Sega's Sports Talk announcer being better than Madden's Tom Hammond.

[superstarshad]

Tecmo Super Bowl on Super Nintendo was a blast. And who could forget Live 95! Starks for 3.....the assist was by (PA voice)

[sheredia]

hmm. let's see.....my list goes like this:
all games for (snes)
tecmo super bowl
ken griffey jr's winning run
nba jam te
nba live 96
tecmo super nba basketball
tecmo super bowl 3: final edition
super punch-out!!

games back then had to rely on GAMEPLAY over graphics due to limitations at the time. i bought a super nes last year just for these classic games....i guess now i need to add nhl 94 to my collection.

[sheredia]

This was a great time. A time where you could just enjoy a game for what it is - a game. Not endless adjusting sliders, and longing for patches that would never come. I miss those days.

i agree......it was all about the GAMEPLAY not fancy graphics.

[sroz39]

God, my list is so long....

NHL 94
Madden 95 (first season with player names, I believe)
Montana 94
Sports Talk Baseball (underrated)
Cal Ripken Baseball (diamond in the rough)
Nolan Ryan/Roger Clemens baseball games (simple, fun)
NBA Live 95/96
NBA Action 95 (another hidden gem. The game had putbacks!!)
NBA Jam
Ken Griffey (both)
Triple Play 96
Baseball Simulator 1000 (created my whole team lol)
World Series 95 (still the most realistic baseball sim, IMO)
Coach K
Bill Walsh Football
Tecmo Baseball (SNES version. Fielder cam was cool gimmick)
Prime Time 96 (so many money plays but I didn't care lol)
Mutant League games
F-1 Pole Position

The authors of this article were right...this era is unrivaled when it comes to the quantity and quality of sports games for a generation. I'd even say the PS2/Xbox/Dreamcast era can't really compete either, aside from introducing us to the 2K Sports brand.

Man, I gotta find some of these games....