NHL 99

Starting with NHL 99 up to NHL 2001, there were very few large improvements to the game. NHL 99 for the PlayStation boasted higher-resolution graphics than NHL 98, but the framerate and unresponsive controls (especially in 2+ player modes) hindered its playability. Online leagues of the game also became more organized. Daryl Reaugh left the series as color commentator following NHL 99.

In the Nintendo 64 version of NHL 99, the official NHL and NHLPA license with all teams and players are represented, including the Nashville Predators expansion team. It has a medium-high resolution at 30 FP, rumble-pack support, and four player mode. The commentary is done by ESPN's Bill Clement.

The game received "favorable" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. AllGame gave the PlayStation version four stars out of five, saying that it "isn't a Stanley Cup winner yet, but there is still an undeniable amount of fun to be had if you're willing to except [sic] a few flaws." Likewise, Official UK PlayStation Magazine gave it a similar score of eight out of ten, saying that the game "manages to succeed in bettering its predecessor. But, be warned, you have to really play it to get the most out of it.

Patience is key." Hyper gave the Nintendo 64 version 81%, saying, "while NHL 99's controls aren't executed quite as well as they could have been, the hard-hitting action combined with glossy NHL logos and statistics makes it a worthwhile purchase for any recreational follower of the sport." N64 Magazine gave the same console version 74%, saying that it was "by no means dire." Jeff Lackey of Computer Games Strategy Plus gave the Windows version three stars out of five, saying, "By making the goalies behave in the way they do, a player has two choices when playing NHL 99: play at Rookie level and quickly learn to win every game by a wide margin, or play at Pro level and accept the inability of your players to score standard NHL style goals against computer super-goalies.