Genre: Sports
Developer: APh Technological Consulting
Publisher: Mattel Electronics
Year: 1979
Platform: Intellivision
Released in 1979, NHL Hockey for the Intellivision was one of the earliest hockey video games. Developed by APh Technological Consulting and published by Mattel Electronics, it was the first hockey game to carry the NHL license. Despite the official license, the game did not include real NHL teams or players; teams were represented only by color, with red for the home team and green for the visiting team.
The game was designed for one or two players, each controlling three players on the ice at a time, while the remaining players were managed by the computer. Gameplay consisted of three periods, and a 30-second penalty was enforced for certain infractions. Players could pass, shoot, and check opponents, but there were no power plays or fights. The rink layout attempted to simulate a regulation hockey rink.
Graphically, the game used a top-down perspective, with simple animations for skating, passing, and shooting. Key rink markings such as the blue lines and red line were included. In case of a tie at the end of regulation, an overtime period was played.
NHL Hockey received mixed reviews. It was praised for introducing more realistic hockey mechanics and for utilizing the Intellivision keypad to allow precise player control. However, some reviewers noted that the controls were complex and could be challenging for beginners. The game is recognized as an early step in the development of licensed sports video games.
