Actua Ice Hockey has some nice ideas and often gets tragicomical. It simply got stomped under NHL series, for a reason.
Actua Ice Hockey is the license game of 1998 Nagano Olympics Ice Hockey tournament. The teams are here, but there is only 1 rink. As a nice touch this game is localized to support multiple languages, which even affects the announcer. Unfortunately the production values don't show farther than that. It's not enough that all the announcers sound like they don't even care about ice hockey, but there are only about 10 lines per announcer. Additionally there is only 1 generic fanfare that is repeated over and over no matter what happens and every time someone scores a goal, it will be the exact same scene playing. Atleast the modes show little effort. Other than the Olympic championship, you can make your own league or cup, and all the basic training exercises from powerplay to defence are here.
The actual gameplay also has small glimpses of hope here and there. The camera options are good, as is the more realistic speed of game compared to early NHLs, and the way fresh ice is cleaner looking than used one. However the gameplay is still a burning trainwreck. First of all there are rare, but real game breaking issues, such as that the goalie hogs the puck, but referee doesn't whistle. Fortunately you don't necessarily have to quit the match, usually just pushing the goalie around for some time is enough, which can even get sort of funny, or simply irritating. Besides the serious glitches there are more. A.I. shuts down frequently and the goalie stands in front of the goal unable to move just watching as the pucks fly past him. The A.I. is also terrible at avoiding offsides or at defence in general. Passing in offence is also a worthless tactic. Better just to go for rebounds or back away and try to go for a breakaway. The boost function is also way over the top.
There are lots of ways to get cheap (and funny) goals from tipping the puck at the face-off towards the goal 1 mph to just crossing the blue line and unleashing a golf shot that fires the puck so fast it just leaves a black trail. There is no tackle button, instead you just skate into an opponent and after some jaggy humping and gruffs you usually get the puck. As such the penalties are completely random too. Most animations are ridicilously bad and there is a lot of random stuff from puck flying 100 meters straight up in air to 2 guys fighting (more like hugging) while everyone else skates around randomly.
Summary:
Actua Ice Hockey is a bad game. However if you can get past that, you might embrace the hidden hilariousity of it. In no other game you hump other players like here, see as random bounces or goals, or hear this tragic announcer who sounds almost sarcastic. Make no mistake, Actua Ice Hockey is still trying to be a serious hockey game meaning the flaws and glitches aren't nearly as apparent or intentional as it might seem from my review. The basic gameplay however always boils down to speeding at the opponent holding the puck with any and all players, taking their puck, speeding at offence and then shooting and shooting until something happens, meanwhile humping any opponent that touches the puck. Compared to that shallow basics there's a lot happening in Actua Ice Hockey. Especially if you manage to get 2 or more human players to play it. I do find this game addictive and fun at times, but honestly I can't recommend it. NHL series simply crushed this from the beginning.
**
4/10