NHL Breakaway '99

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a game by Sculptured Software
Genre: Sports
Platform: Nintendo 64Nintendo 64
Editor Rating: 7/10, based on 3 reviews, 5 reviews are shown
User Rating: 9.0/10 - 2 votes
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See also: Sport Games, NHL Games
NHL Breakaway '99
NHL Breakaway '99
NHL Breakaway '99
NHL Breakaway '99

People say:

4

Uh-oh. Did someone from Midway get a job over at Acclaim? Breakaway 99 suffers from the same problem that Midway's Gretzky '98 and Olympic Hockey '98 did: It's EXACTLY the same as its predecessor. A year ago, Breakaway was definitely solid, and since EA's NHL series hadn't arrived on the N64 yet, it was actually the best choice for hockey fans. Well, this simply isn't the case anymore. Breakaway 99 is still plagued with the same amateur sh problems it had last year (floaty puck physics, questionable control, shoddy goalie Al, etc.), and it doesn't even come close to competing with EA's far superior NHL 99. It's literally the exact same game as last year, except for the slightly revised menu screens, the adjusting of the crease and the addition of the Nashville Predators (they also updated the All-Star teams so they're no longer Eastern and Western, but rather North America and the World). Heck, even the manual is exactly the same, save for a few font changes and some new screen-shots. Talk about a rip-off. My window for recommendation on this game is extremely small: If you've never played Breakaway 98, AND you have no interest in the much better NHL99 from EA, then, well, give this one a try. Otherwise do yourself a favor and stay far away from this.

4

It's deja vu all over again. I thought this game was pretty good last year but not enough to go a whole year unchanged! It's not entirely the same, though. Stats are updated and the expansion Nashville team is present. After that it looks and plays just tike Breakaway 98. Midway pulled this same stunt the Gretzky games. Definitely lame. There's no reason to buy this edition if you have .Breakaway 98. Buy NHL 99 instead.

4

I didn't review last year's Breakaway 98, so when I pulled it out of the closet to compare it with this year's game. I was shocked to find that the two games are virtually identical. You call this a sequel? Aside from some really minor changes, there's absolutely nothing new here, and to top it off, EA's NHL 99 is a much better game anyway. Breakaway 99 isn't terriole, but I can't think of a single good reason wny I'd recommend it.

4

It's amazing how a game can be average one year and the follow-up can be just as average a whole year later. Breakaway 99 suffers from sluggish play controls and a choppy frame-rate. The Al is pretty poor with the goalies being especially easy to walk all over. The graphics aren't bad, but pale in comparison with EA's NHL 99. What you have left is a game that needs a lot more fixed. It's not all bad, but there's so much better.

Download NHL Breakaway '99

Nintendo 64

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

Game Reviews

Last year's NHL Breakaway '98 had one fundamental difference this year's outing NHL Breakaway '99. It was set a year ago. This trend for software companies to release their old games under new names is staggering, but considering the amount of cold hard dosh they pull in, who can blame them!

NHL Breakaway '99 features every major league American ice hockey team available in the '98 version, along with a few national squads thrown in for good measure. Every team remains faithful to the real NHL line up and has been updated to correspond with the 1999 stats. There are even mug shots of every NHL player so you can see just who you're shoving up against the reinforced perspex and just who you're playing with! This helps maintain the feeling of realism that Acclaim are striving for, but considering it is one of the very few changes added, is it really worth paying out for? Mmm... we think not!

...And On, And On..

Every player is depicted in sumptuous hi-res complete with ice gliding antics akin to Robin Cousins... well, a bit better I than that actually. The detail paid to their physical appearance also goes a long way to add the feeling of realism that Acclaim is after. The lineup of usualI game modes is also present and correct, I so those looking for a touch of practice I before entering a friendly, tournament or I world championship will gladly find it amongst the user friendly menu system.

When it comes down to the nitty-gritty of whether NHL Breakaway '99 is I any good though, it has to be said that I within the year it has taken to be re-released a few new top-notch ice hockey! games have taken its glory. Breakaway I no longer seems the silky smooth responsive beast it was with the analogue stick, especially since NHL '99 has proved its worth. Nor does the player animation look anywhere near as I impressive as the ultra-realistic movement of NHL '99. In fact, within a mere year, the wrinkles are already starting to show through and if we were to unleash that mean streak of ours we'd have to say it was looking tatty... oops, we said it. The words 'money' and 'old rope'spring to mind.

...And On, And...

For the plus points, Breakaway still remains the most realistic ice hockey sim around compared to NHL's arcade atmosphere -- this doesn't mean it gives the most enjoyment, though. The player editor is superb, dealing with the important aspects of player stats like aggression and marking rather than how much facial hair they have. The crackling of the Tannoy system, alive with ice hockey themes such as Queen's We Will Rock You also gives a dynamic rush of realism to suck you into the middle of the action. It helps, but it doesn't detract from the fact that this is still 1998's version repackaged.

For hardcore fans (and we mean hardcore) Breakaway will appeal due to its up-to-date accuracy. For anyone else though, they'll feel sorely cheated when they realise it's just a blatant re-release of an already surpassed game.

And so the mill of Ice hockey games churns on... and on... and on...

Last year's NHL Breakaway '98 had one fundamental difference to this year's outing NHL Breakaway '99. It was set a year ago. This trend for software companies to release their old games under new names is staggering, but considering the amount of cold hard dosh they pull in, who can blame them!

NHL Breakaway '99 features every major league American ice hockey team available in the '98 version, along with a few national squads thrown in for good measure. Every team remains faithful to the real NHL line up and has been updated to correspond with the 1999 stats. There are even mug shots of every NHL player so you can see just who you're shoving up against the reinforced perspex and just who you're playing with! This helps maintain the feeling of realism that Acclaim are striving for, but considering it is one of the very few changes added, is it really worth paying out for? Mmm... we think not!

And on, And On...

Every player is depicted in sumptuous hi-res complete with ice gliding antics akin to Robin Cousins... well, a bit better than that actually. The detail paid to their physical appearance also goes a long way to add the feeling of realism that Acclaim is after. The lineup of usual game modes is also present and correct, so those looking for a touch of practice before entering a friendly, tournament or world championship will gladly find it amongst the user friendly menu system.

When it comes down to the nitty-gritty of whether NHL Breakaway '99 is any good though, it has to be said that within the year it has taken to be re-released a few new top-notch ice hockey games have taken its glory. Breakaway no longer seems the silky smooth responsive beast it was with the analogue stick, especially since NHL '99 has proved its worth. Nor does the player animation look anywhere near as impressive as the ultra-realistic movement of NHL '99. In fact, within a mere year, the wrinkles are already starting to show through and if we were to unleash that mean streak of ours we'd have to say it was looking tatty... oops, we said it. The words 'money' and 'old rope' spring to mind.

...And On, And On...

For the plus points. Breakaway still remains the most realistic ice hockey sim around compared to NHL's arcade atmosphere - this doesn't mean it gives the most enjoyment, though. The player editor is superb, dealing with the important aspects of player stats like aggression and marking rather than how much facial hair they have. The crackling of the Tannoy system, alive with ice hockey themes such as Queen's We Will Rock You also gives a dynamic rush of realism to suck you into the middle of the action. It helps, but it doesn't detract from the fact that this is still 1998's version repackaged.

For hardcore fans (and we mean hardcore) Breakaway will appeal due to Its up-to-date accuracy. For anyone else though, they'll feel sorely cheated when they realise it's just a blatant re-release of an already surpassed game.

2nd rating opinion

Not as quick and accessible as the fluid Wayne Gretzky games, but any fan of the real sport will notice some authentic attention to detail. However, that's no reason to part with the necessary cash for a rebadged version of an old hockey title.

NHL Breakaway returns to the rink lor another round of N64 hockey. At the top of the roster. gamers will find Total Team Management (a points-based system for developing players, treating injuries, and such), trades, player creation, icon passing, and (of course) all the pro players and teams. At this early stage, Breakaway Ws graphics and features seem a lot like the original's. If Acclaim hopes to compete with NHL '99, it has a lot of work ahead.

Last YEAR, NHL Breakaway Rebated fairly strongly as the only N64 hockey game in town. But now that NHL '99 reigns supreme, NHL Breakaway '99 is so out of its league you'll wonder why Acclaim even bothered to let it slink onto the ice.

The features are the only good part of this game. Breakaway sports all the pro teams and players, international teams, trades, player creation, a full roster of modes, and a very interesting points-based team-management system that lets you hire coaches, trairi players, and so on. But the gameplay face-plants with slow, muddled,.unrealistic action that's just not fun to play.

The litany of woes continues with the sluggish, unresponsive controls, which are a chore.The cheesy sounds and rudimentary graphics fare little better. All told. Breakaway looks .like a hasty, barely improved update of the original, and NHL '99 just dusts it Don't even bother to rent this loser.

ProTips:

  • As In most hockey games, the easiest way to score is to pass from the wings to the center for a one timer past the goalie.
  • Start jamming on the A button right when the ref drops the puck-ff you Jump the gun, your player will get waved out of the face-off circle.

Snapshots and Media

Nintendo 64/N64 Screenshots

See Also

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