More Articles on ESPN International Track & Field
ESPN International Track & FieldESPN International Track & FieldLatest Reviews
FIFA 09Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhoodde Blob Brothers In Arms: Hell's HighwayWipeout HDUser Reviews
There are currently 1 User Reviews for ESPN International Track & FieldWrite your own review for this game today and you will receive 100 Gamer Points.
Click here to register
ESPN International Track & Field Review
Jon Lenaway
00/12/0000
Button bashing classic sports action.
There comes a time when every gamer must ask themselves: Do I like button-mashing games or do I not? Track and Field games since Decathlon (Activision) for the Atari 2600 have featured speed and endurance tests in the form of button pressing or joystick wiggling. Here in the year 2000, the graphics have seriously improved but the core gameplay remains mostly unchanged. You still need to be able to tap the fastest to win most of the events.
In the graphics department, there isnât a track and field game around that can touch the quality here. Maurice Greene, Ato Bolden, and a few other Olympic athletes have been motion captured to create some of the most realistic character animations youâll see in a game anywhere. Add to that some of the most detailed character models you can find, and youâre in for quite a visual treat. Characters change their facial expressions to show strain, disappointment, and joy. Overall, the athletes look and move very convincingly. The backgrounds also look quite good, but diagonal lines suffer from the stair-stepping syndrome that has enraged so many people.
The replays look great as well. TV-style camera angles and a cool motion blur effect make them stand out. On the subject of âTV-styleâ, most of the camera work and graphic overlays remind me of the ESPN sports broadcasts. One thing missing, however, to complete the ESPN TV package is the commentary. Some of ESPNâs personalities are every bit as popular as some of the athletes they cover. This license would seem to be an ideal way to incorporate some of that talent. While in-game play-by-play might not fit as well, I expected to see some sort of commentary before or after the events to sell the ESPN TV experience.
While fast button tapping is still a staple in events such as running, hurdles, swimming, weight lifting, javelin, long jump, and pole vault there are a few events that rely more on accurate timing. In the horizontal bar competition, you have to stop a meter in the correct spot then input a group of directional commands. The rhythmic gymnastics competition even brings in a taste of some of Konamiâs music games, as you have to hit your buttons in rhythm to the music and in the correct combinations. Fans of Beat Mania, Drum Mania, or other music games might find this event quite a bit of fun. There are however only four songs to master, but still this event is a nice change of pace.
Will you enjoy this game? Again, which category are you in? If you have enjoyed Track and Field games in the past, you will find everything that you have grown to love with better graphics and a few new extras. If you think that button tapping is mindless and boring, you probably want to look for a different game to spend your time with. As for myself, I am somewhat in between the two sides. On the one hand, I like the gaming version of a test of speed or strength, which is rare in games. You simply need to be faster than your opponent to win, not just âgoodâ at the game. On the other hand, playing a game like this for too long may lead to wrist soreness or maybe even carpal tunnel syndrome. The game can be quite a bit of fun, but once you master all the events, it does not get much deeper than that. Overall, I enjoyed the game but wouldnât play it all the time.
