<s>
NHL	B-Device
96	I-Device
is	O
a	O
1995	O
sports	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
EA	O
Tiburon	O
for	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
,	O
High	O
Score	O
Productions	O
for	O
the	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Genesis	I-Operating_System
,	O
EA	O
Canada	O
for	O
DOS	B-Device
,	O
and	O
Probe	O
Entertainment	O
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
EA	O
Sports	O
published	O
all	O
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
except	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
version	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
published	O
by	O
THQ	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
sport	O
of	O
ice	B-Application
hockey	I-Application
and	O
puts	O
the	O
player	O
in	O
control	O
of	O
a	O
hockey	O
team	O
in	O
modes	O
of	O
play	O
such	O
as	O
exhibitions	O
,	O
seasons	O
and	O
playoffs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
NHL	B-Device
96	I-Device
is	O
the	O
first	O
entry	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
to	O
feature	O
real-time	O
three-dimensional	O
graphics	O
through	O
the	O
DOS	B-Device
version	O
's	O
"	O
Virtual	O
Stadium	O
"	O
technology	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
also	O
features	O
improved	O
and	O
adjustable	O
opponent	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
,	O
a	O
previously-barred	O
ability	O
to	O
engage	O
in	O
physical	O
fights	O
,	O
new	O
moves	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
spin-o-rama	O
,	O
and	O
general	O
enhancements	O
to	O
the	O
visual	O
animations	O
and	O
audio	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
NHL	B-Device
96	I-Device
was	O
met	O
with	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
,	O
with	O
reviewers	O
commending	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
improved	O
opponent	O
AI	B-Application
,	O
fluid	O
graphics	O
,	O
and	O
added	O
gameplay	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
NHL	B-Device
96	I-Device
puts	O
the	O
player	O
in	O
control	O
of	O
either	O
accurate	O
real-life	O
hockey	O
team	O
rosters	O
from	O
the	O
1994	O
–	O
95	O
NHL	O
season	O
or	O
customized	O
teams	O
and	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Along	O
with	O
reviewing	O
basic	O
ongoing	O
game	O
information	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
view	O
instant	B-Application
replays	I-Application
,	O
change	O
their	O
goalie	O
,	O
edit	O
their	O
winger	O
lines	O
,	O
call	O
a	O
time-out	O
(	O
this	O
option	O
is	O
only	O
available	O
once	O
per	O
game	O
)	O
,	O
or	O
abort	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
progress	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
NHL	B-Device
96	I-Device
features	O
six	O
modes	O
of	O
gameplay	O
:	O
Regular	O
Game	O
,	O
Playoffs	O
,	O
Playoffs	O
Best	O
of	O
7	O
,	O
Season	O
,	O
Shootout	O
,	O
and	O
Transactions	O
;	O
the	O
Playoffs	O
,	O
Playoffs	O
Best	O
of	O
7	O
and	O
Shootout	O
modes	O
are	O
absent	O
from	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
version	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Genesis	O
version	O
was	O
programmed	O
by	O
Mark	O
Lesser	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
previously	O
programmed	O
John	B-Device
Madden	I-Device
Football	I-Device
'	I-Device
93	I-Device
,	O
NHL	B-Application
'	I-Application
94	I-Application
and	O
NHL	B-Application
95	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
SNES	B-Application
version	O
was	O
programmed	O
by	O
Jason	O
Andersen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
NHL	B-Device
96	I-Device
is	O
the	O
first	O
entry	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
to	O
include	O
physical	O
fights	O
between	O
players	O
following	O
an	O
absence	O
of	O
the	O
feature	O
in	O
previous	O
installments	O
that	O
was	O
enforced	O
by	O
the	O
NHL	O
to	O
promote	O
a	O
more	O
wholesome	O
image	O
of	O
the	O
sport	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
also	O
the	O
first	O
entry	O
to	O
feature	O
real-time	O
3D	O
graphics	O
;	O
the	O
DOS	B-Device
version	O
incorporates	O
the	O
"	O
Virtual	O
Stadium	O
"	O
technology	O
previously	O
used	O
in	O
FIFA	B-Application
Soccer	I-Application
96	I-Application
,	O
which	O
allows	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
be	O
seen	O
from	O
11	O
different	O
angles	O
and	O
to	O
feature	O
such	O
details	O
as	O
reflections	O
in	O
the	O
ice	O
,	O
corporate	O
logos	O
on	O
the	O
sideboards	O
and	O
more	O
accurate	O
team	O
logos	O
and	O
jersey	O
colors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DOS	B-Device
version	O
includes	O
668	O
printable	O
high-resolution	O
color	O
photographs	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
players	O
made	O
in	O
collaboration	O
with	O
sports	O
card	O
manufacturer	O
Donruss	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
video	O
interviews	O
of	O
NHL	O
players	O
and	O
video	O
highlights	O
from	O
the	O
1994	O
–	O
95	O
NHL	O
season	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Genesis	O
,	O
SNES	B-Application
and	O
DOS	B-Device
versions	O
of	O
NHL	B-Device
96	I-Device
were	O
shipped	O
to	O
stores	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
on	O
September	O
30	O
,	O
1995	O
and	O
released	O
on	O
October	O
6	O
,	O
1995	O
to	O
coincide	O
with	O
the	O
opening	O
of	O
the	O
1995	O
–	O
96	O
NHL	O
season	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
version	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
on	O
November	O
and	O
carries	O
the	O
NHL	O
league	O
license	O
,	O
but	O
not	O
an	O
NHL	O
player	O
's	O
license	O
;	O
as	O
a	O
result	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
features	O
official	O
team	O
names	O
and	O
logos	O
,	O
but	O
no	O
existing	O
player	O
rosters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
version	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
was	O
announced	O
the	O
same	O
month	O
,	O
but	O
later	O
cancelled	O
because	O
it	O
did	O
not	O
meet	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
 '	O
quality	O
standards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
version	O
for	O
the	O
3DO	B-Device
was	O
also	O
planned	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Genesis	O
version	O
of	O
NHL	B-Device
96	I-Device
received	O
highly	O
positive	O
reviews	O
and	O
is	O
widely	O
considered	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
best	O
installment	O
in	O
the	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
critic	O
for	O
Next	O
Generation	O
commented	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
took	O
the	O
basics	O
of	O
NHL	B-Application
95	I-Application
,	O
"	O
arguably	O
the	O
best	O
sports	O
simulation	O
product	O
ever	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
added	O
new	O
features	O
which	O
served	O
to	O
only	O
improve	O
upon	O
the	O
gameplay	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
added	O
that	O
the	O
opponent	O
AI	B-Application
had	O
been	O
improved	O
,	O
and	O
were	O
also	O
pleased	O
with	O
the	O
more	O
detailed	O
player	O
graphics	O
,	O
new	O
sound	O
effects	O
,	O
greater	O
strategy	O
with	O
new	O
ways	O
to	O
score	O
,	O
ability	O
to	O
create	O
players	O
,	O
and	O
more	O
complex	O
fighting	O
mechanics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mike	O
Salmon	O
of	O
Game	B-Device
Players	I-Device
declared	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
superb	O
gameplay	O
of	O
the	O
'	O
95	O
version	O
has	O
only	O
gotten	O
better	O
with	O
time	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
commended	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
sharp	O
graphics	O
,	O
enhanced	O
audio	O
,	O
tougher	O
AI	B-Application
,	O
and	O
added	O
techniques	O
and	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Air	O
Hendrix	O
of	O
GamePro	O
gave	O
the	O
Genesis	O
version	O
a	O
resoundingly	O
positive	O
review	O
,	O
applauding	O
the	O
new	O
moves	O
,	O
the	O
return	O
of	O
the	O
fighting	O
feature	O
,	O
the	O
improved	O
opponent	O
AI	B-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
fluidly	O
animated	O
player	O
sprites	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Video	O
Cowboy	O
and	O
the	O
Iceman	O
of	O
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthly	O
also	O
gave	O
their	O
approval	O
of	O
the	O
Genesis	O
version	O
,	O
particularly	O
praising	O
the	O
improved	O
opponent	O
AI	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
SNES	B-Application
version	O
was	O
also	O
received	O
positively	O
,	O
though	O
less	O
so	O
than	O
its	O
Genesis	O
counterpart	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Next	O
Generation	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
version	O
has	O
sharper	O
graphics	O
and	O
more	O
animation	O
than	O
the	O
Genesis	O
version	O
,	O
but	O
determined	O
it	O
to	O
be	O
slightly	O
inferior	O
overall	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
rougher	O
gameplay	O
and	O
AI	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Salmon	O
stated	O
that	O
while	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
entry	O
had	O
sharper	O
graphics	O
and	O
gameplay	O
than	O
its	O
predecessors	O
,	O
the	O
combination	O
of	O
a	O
less	O
solid	O
AI	B-Application
and	O
faster	O
gameplay	O
pace	O
led	O
to	O
a	O
lower	O
amount	O
of	O
challenge	O
and	O
capacity	O
for	O
strategy	O
than	O
the	O
Genesis	O
version	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	B-Device
Players	I-Device
subsequently	O
referred	O
to	O
NHL	B-Device
96	I-Device
as	O
"	O
far	O
and	O
away	O
the	O
best	O
Super	B-Application
NES	I-Application
sports	O
title	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Quick-Draw	O
McGraw	O
of	O
GamePro	O
remarked	O
that	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
version	O
had	O
muddier	O
graphics	O
and	O
less	O
content	O
than	O
the	O
Genesis	O
version	O
,	O
the	O
fights	O
were	O
dull	O
and	O
hard	O
to	O
control	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
"	O
weak	O
"	O
audio	O
was	O
comparable	O
to	O
"	O
listening	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
from	O
the	O
parking	O
lot	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewing	O
the	O
DOS	B-Device
version	O
,	O
Todd	O
Vaughn	O
of	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
praised	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
detailed	O
graphics	O
(	O
particularly	O
when	O
higher	O
resolutions	O
are	O
enabled	O
)	O
,	O
realistic	O
and	O
challenging	O
gameplay	O
,	O
and	O
modem-enabled	O
multiplayer	O
capability	O
,	O
though	O
noted	O
that	O
not	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
camera	O
angles	O
were	O
optimal	O
for	O
gameplay	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
the	O
system	O
requirements	O
were	O
steep	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Next	O
Generations	O
reviewer	O
was	O
less	O
enthusiastic	O
about	O
the	O
DOS	B-Device
version	O
than	O
the	O
console	O
versions	O
,	O
but	O
their	O
complaint	O
was	O
with	O
the	O
graphics	O
and	O
extreme	O
slowness	O
of	O
the	O
SVGA	O
mode	O
"	O
on	O
even	O
high-end	O
486s.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
NHL	B-Device
96	I-Device
was	O
the	O
9th	O
highest-renting	O
SNES	B-Application
title	O
and	O
the	O
6th	O
highest-renting	O
Genesis	O
title	O
at	O
Blockbuster	O
Video	O
in	O
its	O
opening	O
month	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	B-Device
Players	I-Device
named	O
NHL	B-Device
96	I-Device
the	O
best	O
Genesis	O
game	O
of	O
1995	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Computer	O
Games	O
Strategy	O
Plus	O
named	O
NHL	B-Device
96	I-Device
the	O
best	O
computer	O
sports	O
game	O
of	O
1995	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
NPD	O
Group	O
analyst	O
Mat	O
Piscatella	O
reported	O
that	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
version	O
of	O
NHL	B-Device
96	I-Device
was	O
the	O
third	O
highest-selling	O
retro	O
title	O
of	O
April	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
