[4] The game allowed the creation of profiles and would keep track of important individual and team stats, including goals, assists, and wins, among others.

He also noted that the "Burst" button prevents situations where the puck gets out of reach for extended periods of time, ensuring continuous action.

[15][20][23] For some critics this was the game's key problem; GamePro, for example, concluded, "If fast, simple hockey appeals to you and your buds, Gretzky's there with all the right bells and whistles.

"[23] Next Generation similarly said, "Fanatical hockey fans will be disappointed, as more realistic and finer-tuned hockey games on other systems easily outdo this one ... but more action-hungry players will find Gretzky worth the money, if only because its multiplayer capabilities are a blast, the arcade mode is fast, and the fights, well, they just come with the territory.

"[20] However, GameSpot's Tom Ham did not consider the lack of a true simulation option to be a problem at all, and concluded, "No more slower frame rates, small players, and limited perspectives: 64-bit action is here and boy what fun it is.