NHL Breakaway 99 was one of those late '90s hockey games that tried to balance arcade fun with a bit of realism—and honestly, it kinda worked. The controls are simple enough that you can pull off slick dekes and slapshots without memorizing a ton of button combos, but there’s still some depth if you want to tweak lines or mess with strategies. The graphics were decent for the N64, with players who actually looked like their real-life counterparts (well, as much as blocky polygons allowed).

First thing you’ll notice? The speed. It’s not quite NHL Hitz-level chaos, but games move fast, and checking feels satisfyingly weighty. Season mode keeps you busy, though the trade logic can be… questionable (why does the CPU keep offering me third-liners for my star goalie?). Still, if you’re dusting off the N64 and craving some old-school hockey, this one holds up better than you’d expect.