Classic Games Database
ClassicGames DB

Blades of Steel

Review
Also known as
Konamic Ice Hockey コナミックアイスホッケー

This arcade hockey game features fast fights and simple, responsive controls for quick matches.

Blades of Steel was originally released in arcades in 1987 (as Konamic Ice Hockey in Japan). The NES version was released in North America in December 1988, with the European release following in 1990. The legacy year 1988 matches the earliest NES release.

About Blades of Steel

Blades of Steel is a hockey arcade action game adapted from an arcade original. Its design focuses on immediate action rather than team management or statistical depth.

Matches support either a single player against the computer or direct competition between two human players. For solo play, options include a single game or a tournament mode. The referee enforces rules like icing and will intervene to stop fights if they last too long.

A distinctive feature is the occasional on-ice fight, which triggers a separate, close-up mini-game where players directly control the combatants. The loser of this exchange is sent to the penalty box. The presentation includes brief samples of digitized speech.

Blades of Steel Screenshots

7 images
Title Screen
Warm up
Face Off!
Penalty Shot
Celebration
Fight!
Lining up