Superstar Ice Hockey

Superstar Ice Hockey is the only ice hockey sport sim available for the IIGS.

After the title screens, you can then configure your input devices, keyboard or joystick and what keys you would like to use. Hitting escape will finish loading the game. Default key controls are keypad and shift as the fire button. This is the only IIGS game, that I'm aware, that allows use of two joysticks, one being used from the gameport, and the other to be used from the 16 pin internal game connector found on the motherboard. I'll note that Bernie ][ the Rescue features the use of both game ports just to support full 2 player joystick control for this game!

The games are played out in a league, where you name and colourise your team. When a new game starts, a screen appears with options to change your team colours and allow for one player to take control as a team player, another to take control as goalie or as coach (and decide on what strategies to use) by clicking on the input device used underneath them (all are default computer except normal team player).

Control of game play is fairly straightforward, the fire button will see you slashing away at the puck and if you're lucky you can pass the puck to another player if you move up or downwards when hitting it. Making best use of these controls is somewhat difficult, as I still haven't developed a tactic by which I can score against the computer.

The game looks and sounds so-so. The graphics are relatively well drawn but seem washed out. The sound is a little better, with the crowd constantly being heard throughout the game. The highlight of the game: is busting knee caps!