Take a stroll down memory lane of past summer Olympic games?we?ve come a long way baby. We?re going back to the past two summer Olympics in this review collection.
Past Olympic games include the first Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (***1/2) on Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS. Players can get advantages from a few button mashing techniques like repeating the B button when on the running blocks before your release. As players improve on each action, game producers predictably award them with various bonuses and unlockables, but you get so much pure joy and satisfaction in playing that the bonuses seem like icing on the cake. The statistics are deep; the crowd noise gets you going and there?s a wide variety of characters and events to choose from.
Mario and Luigi are well-rounded players while Sonic and Shadow obviously has the speed advantage. Other characters have strengths in power (Bowser, Knuckles, Wario and Vector) and skill (Dr. Eggman, Waluigi, Peach and Tails). One of the best innovations was getting to see my Mii (selectable at the bottom right of the character menu), in full body graphics, alive and kicking in events!
Players choose events from a nine block grid of athletics, gymnastics, shooting, aquatics, fencing and table tennis (rowing, archery and the bonus ?dream events? appear as you progress). Individual events include fencing, long jump, pole vault, trampoline, vault and single table tennis. Other sports like weightlifting would?ve been cute, but might not get the juices flowing as much as the other physically active pursuits.
Game modes include the self-explanatory single match (one to four players participate in eight sports with 20 events) and circuit modes (you can choose your event line-up) in competitive or co-operative play. The circuit includes beginner?s, advanced or master?s classes and the points system adds a high risk, high reward element to your exploits. It includes a bonus system where you can take a gamble to double your points if you medal in that given event. The single player advantage in the circuit mode is special trophy awards, which you must achieve without choosing your events. The mission mode has a large cache of quests to conquer, which have a fair difficulty level and can double as a practice mode.
Producers really put on their public relations hats to give players the total Olympic experience in past, future and present. The gallery mode features unlockable Olympic-related trivia. Players can also unlock extra music and access their records/item caches for everyone to see. The deep statistic tracking also enhances the gameplay (e.g. bonuses for longer timed volleys in table tennis) as you earn achievements for breaking records or winning specific events under certain circumstances. Want to display your efforts? Register in the world rankings to put your results in the online leaderboards, which allow new world records (obviously the biggest aspect of the Olympics) to take the competition to a higher level.
?The more you exercise, the better you do? could be the main mantra of this title, but some strategy is involved. Sequencing and timing play important roles into the repetitive actions. For example, in running event you must learn to anticipate the gun and there?s a little trial and error with the timing on other games too like finding a calming, ideal heartbeat when skeet shooting. Players also get rests for high concentration moments like in the triple jump where you chuck you arms like crazy until the game ?locks? in your speed so you can stop and concentrate on your jump launching spots.
Game makers accurately capture the Olympic experience on both sides with crowd noise, character reaction and the objective, monotone announcers. Audiences will boo if you don?t medal and your character will consequently show their disappointment. Players can always try again immediately after the event/mission as menu immediately appears and allows you to repeat event/mission, change character or change event/mission.
Players of all ages can find success in several events, which promotes the fun, party-like multiplayer gameplay. You?ll have fun watching the other players too. The only thing that could slow down the pace is patiently waiting for less skilled players to complete the longer events. The only thing game producers could do there would be adding a ?mercy rule?-like break with the option to stop or continue. Four separate saved profiles and handicap settings help even more. Producers also stress the joy of winning with instant replays (at slower speeds) and the standard award ceremony.
Players can also experience the previous official Olympic video game Bejing 2008 (**) ? an authentic worldwide sports title is mildly entertaining, but well varied. Strong visual spectacles, online mode and event variety boost this official Olympic video game to a decent level. An omitted ?Redeem Team? men?s basketball game with the actual players would have provided more appeal (though a likely logistical nightmare for developers), but you can always count on nostalgic fun on an international scale that includes 32 nations.
This all-ages game features the competition mode where players can get a more customizable experience individually or with a group (up to four players). Select the events (try each one in training mode first) and the order. The main campaign mode, named Olympic Games Mode, features progressive play the require successful completion of certain events to advance and eventually get a shot at a medal.
The online mode (for up to eight players) has a language (seven total), voice chat, friend and maximum player options for a decent variety of modes including a marathon tournament mode. Players can check personal and friend statistics against other players on the leader boards ? a mild improvement incentive only for the super competitive.
This game offers overall incentives in a skill point system to make players go for the gold more often instead of skipping through events until they discover a cache of favs. Players improve elements like speed, stamina and agility and speed for points, but this system definitely needs more carry over to other modes, (though players are rewarded for choosing higher difficulties) and continuity (keep those stat fields filled in please).
Familiar repetitive control schemes get a little more variety beyond the button mashing mayhem that engulfed so many other past Olympic titles. This sports simulation title blends motion and rhythm in the analog stick motions with the standard X and O button mashing. No single event is too difficult though players experience varying learning curves for each. Judo, an event with large appeal, exemplifies one of the more difficult events, which leads to this title?s worst enemy ? player frustration. Eliminating the athlete?s frustration animation in the game wouldn?t really hurt. Players wouldn?t identify with this negative aspect and could quickly move on. The athlete could just come to a stop, then the next attempt (if applicable) would begin.
Many events create an actual physical endurance test for your fingers while almost each event requires some finesse timing with the controls. Strong events like diving and gymnastics provide more mental stimulation. More two player match-ups, like in the track and field events, would be nice. A new slow motion mode (L1 or R1) helps, but only appears in Olympic Games section. The slow motion really helps players with the control timing and definitely should be expanded in future games.
Players can skip the cut scenes, but might miss out on some nice graphics and expanded, authentic venue views of the Aquatics Center (a.k.a. Water Cube) and the ?Bird Nest? stadium. Overly familiar player reactions rule the roost here and they can get repetitive like the common sense commentary does not offer significant enhancement to the game. Bob Costas would be nice here. Tutorials are available, but again no real enhancement, especially for novice players new to the Olympic game genre (go with the training mode instead). Experienced Olympic players may find the familiar control schemes and overall gameplay frustrating while the somewhat satisfying memories of Olympic games past (Apple IIc, Commodore 64, etc.) remain.
Athens 2004 (**) is available on PlayStation 2 and PC and offer one to four player support. This Olympic video games incorporates some timed techniques to reduce your frustration. The biggest advance is the optional dance pad option (other peripheral game pads like The Fightmaster also work). The pad works best on the gymnastic events and reduces the hand stress of a standard controller.
The competition mode represents most of the formal games which include the medals and world records, while you have no rules and smaller crowds for the practice modes. Events include track, field, swim, gymnastics, jumping, weight lifting, archery and shooting. Players can choose to participate in existing event formats or customize their own.
The colorful environments include solid figure animation and a mascot looks like an alteration of Ziggy. Great graphics replay options and sound, but the limited options do not offer a language choice or all the national anthems.
New International Track & Field?this Konami game series made its first appearance on the Nintendo DS in 2008 as an exclusive title celebrating the 25th anniversary of the arcade game, which then moved to the Nintendo console, then Game Boy and Playstation. This series even had an ESPN tie-in. As always, the series continues to expand with worldwide play, more events, classic characters and several unique interactions.
Players can use the touch screen or button controls with some consequences for each. First, rubbing the stylus back and forth requires a fast and light touch otherwise the screen will scratch. It even helps to turn the console sideways a bit in some events to ease the stress. Next, the buttons work for left or right-handed players by offering the directional pad or face buttons, but both require some stressful button mashing. Both methods respond well ? a big plus since they require considerable physical demands on the hands.
Players learn each event control scheme with visual tutorials during the events, so practice individually first before trying to qualify. Seasoned veterans could probably qualify the first two event sets, but the challenges and complexity gradually increase to make that gold medal all the more satisfying. Running events take a musical turn by requiring movement matching certain rhythms running then the familiar fast back and forth movements for the last leg. Voice capability is also used as players improve performance more with loud yells of whatever a player chooses (hopefully encouragement or the just standard AAGGHH!).
The single player career mode has unlockables (costumes, items) while the single event make very good practice. The challenge mode, classic mode and expert modes provide more variety. Don?t go all out to qualify ? it?s moderately challenging, plus the comprehensive scoring helps players really shine in their strong events, which make up for any lags. Breaking records requires more effort, though.
Icons help distinguish the 24 events which include the 100 meter dash, javelin throw, hammer throw, long jump, 110m hurdles, high jump, rowing, archery, weightlifting and cycling. Each event requires varying learning curves (practicing in single events first is highly recommended). The skeet shooting event gets pretty fun while higher challenges await in the discus and diving. Gymnastics challenge on many levels while leaving some wiggle room for error. For example, player can land on their head, but can score high with six flips. Plus it?s fun to hear the athlete?s verbal reaction to their snafu. Even some outside events like swimming (the breaststroke and backstroke) even make their way into this track and field cache. Medaling in a set of events (six sets total) unlocks the next set.
Classic track and field characters embody athleticism (even some gigantism) with a good mix of male, female and fan favorites (unlockable in challenge mode) like Solid Snake and a few animal characters. Even the referee gets into the action. Players can also enjoy playing online through Wi-Fi connection in single and multicard competitions, which include game sharing from up to four players. Downloadable content, worldwide rankings (viewable at www.newtrackandfield.com) and online tournaments really opens up the competition as players improve in each event allowing for challenges and even team banding. Just be careful with the avatar choices ? players who upload three inappropriate images lose their uploading privileges. Online players can also look forward to the upcoming Konami Cup.
Extra touches like the cheering fans, Chariots of Fire music theme remix and economical price make this retrospective title hard to resist. Some of the stereotypical characters reflect some negative aspects of the past, but the core gameplay gives players so much entertainment.
Enjoy the Olympics!
Source: http://www.geardiary.com/2012/07/18/past-summer-olympic-video-game-review-roundup/
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