NHL'94: Fight Edition

[chaos]

NHL'94: Fight Edition

"It's the same old NHL94, now with fighting!"

After working on this since mid-March of 2025, I am proud to present NHL94: Fight Edition. The ROM in this post is just that: the original NHL'94 game, with fighting added in. No changes were made to the core game other than some adjustments to a few players' Fight attribute to allow for more bruisers (more on this in a moment), addition of fighting attribute display, new title screen, and changes to the title screen credits. 

Fighting logic is almost the same as NHLPA93. I made some slight changes to it, which I will go over. For a more detailed post about how fighting works and the differences between NHLPA93 and the NHL94 patch, you can check out this post - 

 

 

Fight Options:

With the addition of @McMarkis' Menu Patch, there are 3 choices for fighting on the Main Menu. These can be selected before starting the game:

Off -  Fighting is disabled. The game will play just like old school NHL'94.

On - Fighting is enabled. "Bruisers" are the only ones who can start a fight, though they can fight most players in the game (more in a moment). In most cases, you will only get into a fight if you are looking for one.

On - Arcade Mode - Fighting is enabled, but more players can start a fight. You'll usually average around 2 fights a game in this mode, unless you are looking for blood. Players are more likely to get injured for the game if they lose a fight. Fun mode to play against friends with.

 

The chances to get into a fight depend on the number of Total Checks in the game (you can keep tabs on this by looking at the Game Stats screen while playing and adding up the Checks for each team). In most cases, in a 5 minute period game, the Total Checks needs to be around 30 (10 min and longer periods, the number is 40). Checks after the whistle do count towards this total! This Total Checks gets reset during a fight, so you won't get fights back to back. NOTE: Arcade Mode cuts this Total Checks limit in half!

"Bruisers" are players who have a 10 or higher Fight attribute rating. These are displayed on the attribute display screens as a Fight attribute of 71 or above. If you play with line changes, I have put at least 1 of these players for each team on their Chk line. There are over 60 "Bruisers" in the game, at least 1 on each team.

In Arcade mode, players who can start a fight only need a Fight attribute of 42 or above. Many usual starters in the game fall in this range.

In order to "participate" in a fight, the other player involved in the fight needs a Fight attribute of 14 or above.

Attribute Display:

If you go to the "Edit Lines" screen, or the "Team Roster" screen in the in-game menu, you can view the Fight attributes of your players. This attribute is last on the list, after Checking:

 

 

As an example, who can fight on this list?

 

Paul Ranheim - He can participate in a fight, but can't start one (14 rating)

Brent Ashton - Can participate in a fight, but can only start one if playing in Arcade Mode (42 rating)

Chris Lindberg - He can participate in a fight, but can't start one (28 rating)

Craig Berube - "Bruiser", he can start a fight in either mode (85 rating)

Theo Fleury - Can participate in a fight, but can only start one if playing in Arcade Mode (42 rating)

Sergei Makarov - He will always back down from a fight, in both modes (0 rating)

 

Fight:

Inputs:

A - Grab

B - Body Blow

C - Head Shot

Body blow and Head shot each do 1 point of damage. The Fight attribute of the player and therefore player's current energy level determine their hit points and the power of the hit (how far the opposing player moves from the hit).

After the fight is over, both players head to the penalty box to serve a 5 minute major. Occasionally, the team with the player that started the fight will receive a "Fight Instigator" penalty of 2 minutes. A player currently on the ice will serve this penalty in the box and the other team will get a Power Play.

 

Occasionally, a player will be injured for the game from a fight (bonus head bleeding). This is based on the Chk rating of the player who knocked out the other player, and some RNG. Look at Probert kick some ass here (has the highest Fight in the game):

 

When the 5 min major is over, the players will stay in the box until the next whistle.

 

 

Other Stuff:

One of the important goals of this patch was to make it compatible with ANY NHL94 ROM, including ROM hacks. I was able to add code to expand the ROM to 3MB and beyond by modifying the SRAM code. This allows the patch to be compatible with 32-team ROM hacks (space limitation in the 2MB ROM size). It is also compatible with 30-team ROM hacks. I designed a custom version of the patch that will pull the assets needed from the existing ROM hack and apply the patch, thus keeping any palette swaps and other graphical hacks intact. Also, with the extra space in the ROM now, this opens up the path to other types of hacks and adding sprite and frame animations!

 

The custom ROM author will need to make the necessary changes to the H/F values in order for players to be able to fight. That is up to them on making the changes needed to their rosters. 

 

 

Thanks:

I would like to say thank you to everyone who helped in making this possible. @McMarkis, @bcrt2000 and I spent a bunch of time reverse engineering the sprite format. Also @McMarkis provided the menu item hack.

Plenty of testers helped to iron things out:

@swos, @slapshot67, @77, @Len the Lengend, @Drezz, @jer_33, @halifax, @Mr. T, @Sean, Michael, and others.

 

Everyone here has helped make something deemed impossible, possible.

 

My GitHub link with all the code and the custom ROM patch are here - https://github.com/Chaos81/nhl94-patches

Please give me feedback on the ROM, I expect to make some tweaks here and there, and to fix any possible bugs we did not come across.

Enjoy the ROM!

 

Donations are appreciated!! Here is my link - http://buymeacoffee.com/chaosnhl94

Current Issues/Bugs:

- When opening the ROM in NOSE, you will encounter about 8 error messages. These are related to the menu hack, and you won't be able to make changes to the default menu items. Please make the menu changes in NOSE before applying the hack! After clearing the messages, you will be able to edit the ROM any other way like usual.

- In the custom ROM hack, if you need to change the text of the menu (like the period times), you will need to do this in one of the .ASM files in the menu hack folders. Once you clone my GitHub, navigate to:

94_custom_patch/scripts/menu_patch/scripts/Menu/submenuitems.asm

You can change the text in that file as needed, then apply the hack to your custom ROM.

My goal is to get these fixed in the future.

 

Current Version: 1.01 (Jan. 2, 2026)

Updates:

- Fixed bug where the game would freeze when changing shootout lineup in Shootout Mode.

 

nhl94_fight_v1.01.bin

[Don Johnson]

Just played my first game and can confirm it works on original hardware (Genesis model 1 VA3) with a Mega Everdrive Pro flash cartridge. This is so awesome. Thank you for this.

[tiltkilla]

@chaos...again...great job. Just tried the file on retroarch. Works with no problem. Thank you for the work. Great way to start the year.

[kidswasted]

awesome job all around!

[thejoek28]

OMG, this has made my year already!

Amazing work @chaos. Thank you so much. 

 

[LaTormenta]

I have not posted on this forum for absolutely ages (a combination of "life" stuff and, frankly, not having anything interesting to say!), but I have been keeping a keen eye on the yearly ROMs generally and, in particular, the progress of the "Fight Edition".

This is, without a doubt, the best news that I have seen on this site since joining yonks back.  Plus, seeing this rolled out across the various ROMs over the coming months is going to be an absolute joy.

Thanks, @chaos (and team) for making what we have all wanted for 30 years plus a reality.  "Bud of the Year"?  Christ no.  "Bud of the Decade" (century)?  You are goddamn right!

[T0LTS]

Chicago @ Detroit

Aracade Mode

1 Game

3, 5 minute periods

7 Fights

5 Players out for the game

1 player out for period

Detroit win 2-1

Bobby P - 2 Fights 2 Knockouts!

Thank You So Much!!

I'm not crying YOU are!

[von Ozbourne]

I was a little worried when Teppo Numminen took out Pat Verbeek in the first minute of the game, but the rest of the Whalers seemed to not appreciate that.

Tried Philadelphia at Detroit next on Arcade Mode. Probert and Cronin decided to set the pace with a draw only minute and a half in and it was gloriously down hill from there.

Now I'm wondering how well the patches will work with some of my previous 30 and 32-Team mods. This could get really interesting.

All of the thanks for this man.

[77]

the dream of 30 years ago has finally come true...

[77]

wheres the well deserved donate button?

[GameHead]

TOTALLY........

 

     AWESOME!!!!!

 

(does this have the eye & stick patch)????

 

 

 

 

         (hahahahaha)

 

[chaos]

2 hours ago, 77 said:

wheres the well deserved donate button?

Thanks for the reminder, I added it to the post.

[Prince of WALES]

Terrific work! I just have a question. Will there be a way to implement this into a 32 team rom in the future? Also, are the graphics in this rom compressed or decompressed, and if they are decompressed is it possible to get some screenshots (of offset numbers) in the tile graphics editor? Thanks for this awesome rom!

[chaos]

7 hours ago, Prince of WALES said:

Terrific work! I just have a question. Will there be a way to implement this into a 32 team rom in the future? Also, are the graphics in this rom compressed or decompressed, and if they are decompressed is it possible to get some screenshots (of offset numbers) in the tile graphics editor? Thanks for this awesome rom!

Thank you!

Yes, there's a custom version of the patch designed specifically for 30 and 32 team ROM hacks. This version of the ROM posted here is the original 94, the only graphics I added were the title screen (I used the 30 team ROM location for it and updated the pointers in the code). I know of a few ROM developers that will be using the patch in their custom ROMs, so stay tuned!

[thejoek28]

@chaos Any thoughts to adding the three fights in a game for an individual player as an automatic game misconduct? 

Its actually a rule, but I don't think we'll see it again in the NHL any time soon. 😊 

 

[Haus75]

Great addition to the game. The fighting is so much fun!!

[Prince of WALES]

6 hours ago, chaos said:

Thank you!

Yes, there's a custom version of the patch designed specifically for 30 and 32 team ROM hacks. This version of the ROM posted here is the original 94, the only graphics I added were the title screen (I used the 30 team ROM location for it and updated the pointers in the code). I know of a few ROM developers that will be using the patch in their custom ROMs, so stay tuned!

Thanks! When the patch is released will it be announced here or in a separate thread? I can't wait to start editing the graphics for this!

[Maitrefun]

A Dream Come True

Supporting This Amazing NHL 94 Revival 🙌

 

Hey everyone,

 

Just wanted to drop a quick note to say how incredibly happy I am to see this NHL 94 project come to life. What you’ve accomplished is nothing short of amazing bringing back the magic of this legendary game and making it even better. You’ve made a dream come true for so many of us.

 

To show my appreciation, I’ll be promoting this project for free across all my social media platforms:

 

- TikTok: 55K followers  

- Facebook: 22K followers 

- YouTube: 6.5K followers 

- Instagram: 10K followers 

 

I’ll also be adding a link to the game on my website: philthepoete.com

 

I’ll be supporting this from my French-speaking hockey creator side, sharing content, reactions, and love for what you’ve built. You deserve all the recognition for the hard work and passion you’ve poured into this.

 

Let’s keep this momentum going thank you again to everyone involved!

 

Cheers,  

Phil The Poète 

[floating]

Sick!! Gotta try this soon.
 

Quote

Also, with the extra space in the ROM now, this opens up the path to other types of hacks and adding sprite and frame animations!

frame animations? Like new player animations in the game? Would that be something happening in new kind of situations or alternative animations to existing? 

[smozoma]

1 hour ago, Maitrefun said:

 

 

I’ll also be adding a link to the game on my website: philthepoete.com

 

Nice, thanks for getting the word out

 

P.S. I can't read the site though, white on green/yellow is basically invisible to me..

 

[ninja_94]

really enjoying this patched version!

just wanted to mention this random bug I found that caused an access error

if you go into shootout mode, then go to shootout setup and try to switch a player it crashed for me with random text on the screen

Edited January 3 by ninja_94

[chaos]

2 hours ago, ninja_94 said:

really enjoying this patched version!

just wanted to mention this random bug I found that caused an access error

if you go into shootout mode, then go to shootout setup and try to switch a player it crashed for me with random text on the screen

Thanks for the feedback!! I got the same crash when I tested right now, I will work on fixing it.

[Maitrefun]

3 hours ago, smozoma said:

Nice, thanks for getting the word out

 

P.S. I can't read the site though, white on green/yellow is basically invisible to me..

 

I made a change

[chaos]

3 hours ago, ninja_94 said:

really enjoying this patched version!

just wanted to mention this random bug I found that caused an access error

if you go into shootout mode, then go to shootout setup and try to switch a player it crashed for me with random text on the screen

Thanks again!!!

I updated the original post with Version 1.01 that fixes this bug.

[LetsPlaymaker]

just had to create an account here to say "THANK YOU" - modders are my heroes. this is awesome.

[UNHolyBLunTs]

Thank you Chaos and all those who contributed to this !!!! This is a great way to start off the New Year. Again thank you for all your hard work. This is truly legendary🏒

[Evan]

@chaos Amazing work and dedication making this monumental change to NHL'94.  This is something many of us only dreamed of decades ago, so to see you were able to bring it back (and seamlessly into the gameplay!) needs to be commended.

I just played a couple games with @halifax and was a blast.  Thank you so much for putting the effort into this and getting a great result.  This is a game changer for the community and just making sure this gets the proper acknowledgement.

-Evan

 

[von Ozbourne]

Just had to share a story.

I frequently get modding suggestions from my brother [some interesting, some too silly to explore] and will give him works in progress to get feedback on.

I made a version of a previous mod that he had seen already, with this patch applied, but almost every player had a fighting rating over 60 and I set the default to "Arcade".

He was giving me a hard time because "Yeah I've seen this already. What am I supposed to be looking for." and started a game.

Five seconds in, a pair of 100 players dropped the gloves and he dropped his controller.

"I'm done." followed by a pause and a "What the hell is this?" and some other mutterings that I don't recall because I was laughing too hard.

 

I did end up playing a couple of games where the fights got so out of hand that only three players were on the ice because the rest were in the penalty box or injured, so some scaling back is definitely required, but I feel the gravity of the situation was not missed.

[kikrusher99]

As someone new here that's played updated rosters of this game for a few years, will the fighting edition work with the current NHL 26 94 mod? If so, can anybody point me in the direction of how to patch 26 to have fighting? 

[chaos]

5 hours ago, kikrusher99 said:

As someone new here that's played updated rosters of this game for a few years, will the fighting edition work with the current NHL 26 94 mod? If so, can anybody point me in the direction of how to patch 26 to have fighting? 

It is designed to work on custom ROMs as well, but the ROM developer will need to do the extra work modifying player attributes to make them fight. Also, there's a lot of custom graphics hacks that I'm not accounting for, so they will have to most likely reapply them. I would wait until the developer releases a version of their ROM with the fighting.