As the first hockey game available for the Nintendo 64 (the first sports game as well), Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey certainly has a lot riding on its shoulders. Fortunately for us, the gamers, it delivers most of what it needs to. This game is not without its flaws, though.

First off, the graphics in this game are absolutely amazing. The players and rinks are very nicely done, and if nothing else, this game proves that the Nintendo 64 can handle sports games that look FAR better than anything else on other systems, assuming of course that developers actually make some sports games for the N64. The players move very fluidly, and it's readily apparent that Midway took the time to make this a great arcade-to-Nintendo 64 port. However, it's not the graphics that are lacking in this game, it's the.....

Enemy AI. The goalies are just plain stupid! It's like pee-wee leaguers are playing goalie! Well, maybe not that bad, but you get my point. This game is definitely an arcade influenced game, as the scores can get very high very fast. Although this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it somewhat kills the sim mode of the game. Don't get me wrong, the game is a blast to play, and I personally like the high scoring affairs, but this will likely turn off the hockey purists and sim fans. Ss far as the gameplay mechanics and fun are concerned, this game is a blast.

The extras in this game are great, too. Gretzky includes both an arcade and a sim mode. Sim mode allows you to play a full 82 game season and has a plethora of stats that are kept track of throughout the year. Also, this is one of the few hockey games in which you can actually fight! The addition of fighting moves to this game is a very nice touch. Another nice touch is the flaming puck, which actually makes it a little easier to keep track of as well as just looking cool. Perhaps the best extra is the four-player mode, which really adds a lot of replay value to the game, and is great fun in itself.

So, what's the final word on this game? Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey is a great sports game and will keep all but the most diehard of fans more than happy. Considering the lack of sports games available for the Nintendo 64, I highly recommend this game. Whether you are a fan of hockey or not, this game is a blast.

Overall: 8.7