EA Hockey on the Sega Genesis is one of those games that just feels right the second you start playing. The controls are snappy—passing, shooting, and checking all respond exactly how you’d want them to, which is rare for early sports games. The first thing you’ll notice is how fast it moves; no sluggish animations here, just pure arcade-style hockey chaos.

Body checks send players flying, slapshots actually feel powerful, and the AI isn’t afraid to play dirty. I remember my first game—picked the Rangers, got absolutely wrecked by the Bruins within minutes. The crowd noise and organ music in the background? Perfect 90s nostalgia. And yeah, the graphics are pixelated by today’s standards, but there’s something charming about those little digitized players sliding around.

It’s simple enough to pick up for a quick match with friends, but there’s a surprising amount of strategy if you dig into the deeper mechanics. Just don’t expect fancy modern modes—this is straight-up, no-frills hockey at its best. Still holds up better than it has any right to.