NHL Breakaway 98 on N64 is one of those hockey games that just feels right when you pick up the controller. The skating’s smooth, the checks are satisfyingly crunchy, and the AI actually puts up a decent fight—none of that brain-dead goalie nonsense. First thing you’ll notice? The players move with weight, like they’re really digging into the ice, but it never slows the game down.

It’s got that late-90s charm where the graphics are just realistic enough to impress your friends, but the jerseys still look like they’re made of plastic. And yeah, the controls are simple—slapshot, deke, pass—but there’s a weird depth to it once you start figuring out how to bait the defense. Played it for hours with my cousin back in the day, and we still argue about whether the one-timer glitch was intentional.

If you’re into hockey games that balance arcade fun with actual strategy, this one’s a solid pick.