NHL Breakaway 98 was one of those N64 hockey games that actually made you feel like you were on the ice—well, as much as a polygonal Wayne Gretzky could in '98. The controls are simple enough that you can pull off a slap shot without fumbling, but there's some sneaky depth if you dig into the dekes and passes. The AI isn't just brainless—they'll actually poke-check you if you try to skate straight through the defense.

First thing you'll notice? The animations. Players stumble after big hits, goalies flop around desperately, and yeah, the graphics are blocky by today's standards, but back then, seeing the ice spray up when you stopped felt legit. Play a few games and you start picking up little tricks, like how wrapping around the net works way better with certain teams. It's not perfect—some of the collision physics are janky—but for a late '90s hockey sim, it holds up better than most.

If you're into retro sports games, this one's still a blast with a friend on the couch.