Blades of Steel (version L)
Inside Blades of Steel (version L)
Blades of Steel is an arcade ice hockey game that hit North American arcades in 1987, courtesy of Konami. It later traveled to Japan under the name Konamic Ice Hockey and was ported to home consoles like the NES. This version L is an arcade revision of that original release, keeping the same over-the-top, fast-paced gameplay that made it a cabinet favorite. If you grew up playing sports games in the late 80s, this one probably took a lot of your quarters.
The action is straightforward: you pick one of several fictional teams based out of real Canadian and US cities, then choose a difficulty level - Junior, College, or Pro. Each team has three forwards, two defensemen, and a goalie. You skate, pass, shoot, and check, but the real draw is the fighting. When a scuffle breaks out, the game switches to a first-person punch‑out sequence that feels totally divorced from the hockey but is absurdly fun. The core loop is playing a timed period, trying to outscore the opponent while brawling your way through.
What makes Blades of Steel worth revisiting today is how it captures the arcade spirit of the era - simple to pick up but deeply satisfying once you learn to chain passes and time your fights. Compared to more simulation‑heavy hockey games that followed, this one is pure arcade chaos. It holds up because it doesn't take itself seriously, and the fighting mechanic gives it an identity that still stands out in the sports genre. If you want a quick, energetic hockey fix without any simulation baggage, this is your game.
How to Play Blades of Steel (version L) Online
When you boot up Blades of Steel, the first thing you see is a title screen. Press Start to move to the team select screen - use the D‑pad to cycle through teams and confirm with X. After picking your team, you choose a difficulty: Junior (easiest), College (medium), or Pro (hard). In single‑player mode you face the computer; the game also supports two‑player head‑to‑head.
The core gameplay is five‑on‑five ice hockey with simplified rules. You use the D‑pad to skate and the A button (X) to pass or shoot depending on puck possession. The B button (S) performs a body check - hit an opponent to knock them off the puck. When a fight starts, the camera shifts to a first‑person view where you must punch your opponent by pressing the A button repeatedly. Win the fight and your team gets a boost; lose and you might end up in the penalty box.
A few things to keep in mind: the goalie is automatic, so you only control skaters. Passing to open teammates is crucial because the computer defense is aggressive. Fighting happens after hard body checks or near the boards - embrace it, because it's part of the game's identity. Matches are timed with two periods; the team with the most goals wins. Simple, fast, and addictive.
Blades of Steel (version L) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: Joystick / Movement
- X: Button 1
- S: Button 2
- Z: Button 3
- A: Button 4
- Q: Button 5
- E: Button 6
- Enter: Start / 1P
- V: Coin / Insert
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