NHL FaceOff 98

NHL FaceOff 98 is a video game developed by Killer Game and published by Sony Computer Entertainment of America for the PlayStation. It's part of the NHL FaceOff series, and was the first installment to use polygonal players. The music was done by Tommy Tallarico.
Reception.
Reviews for "NHL FaceOff 98" were wildly divergent, with critics expressing contradicting opinions on numerous aspects of the game. Kraig Kujawa and John Ricciardi of "Electronic Gaming Monthly" found the A.I. too easy even on the hardest setting, but their co-reviewer Kelly Rickards complained that it is frustratingly difficult. While "GameSpot"s Jeff Gerstmann and "GamePro" said the on-ice sound effects were well done, Kujawa and "IGN" both said they lack excitement and atmosphere. Though "Next Generation" said the game "doesn't control very well", and "GameSpot" and "IGN" found the control configuration overcomplicated and confusing even when icon passing is enabled, Kujawa and "IGN" actually praised the control as tight, responsive, and realistic. And though most reviews praised the lifelike animation of the players, "GameSpot" and "GamePro" complained at the stiff animation when the players are skating around (as opposed to shooting or checking).
The one point most critics agreed upon was that "NHL FaceOff 98" came in second to "NHL 98". Electric Playground's Tommy Tallarico (who disclosed in his review that he had done the sound for the game) was an exception, calling it the best hockey game of the season and giving it a 9.7, while co-host Victor Lucas gave it a 9 and also said "NHL 98" was better. "GamePro" summarized, "A roster of strong improvements nicely tunes up this year's outing, but "NHL '98" still outclasses it in almost every category." "Next Generation" stated that "The gameplay features and stats are nearly identical to all of the other hockey games coming out, but "NHL Face Off" is a game that doesn't have enough life or personality of its own to separate itself from the pack, meaning once again that it's the second-best hockey game on PlayStation." Kujawa likewise concluded that ""NHL Face Off 98" is a great hockey game, but only good enough to rank second best to EA's "NHL 98"." Gerstmann gave a more dismal assessment, calling the game "simply average".