Sydney 2000
Score: 85% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: Eidos Interactive Developer: Attention To Detail Media: CD/1 Players: 1 - 4 Genre: Sports (Olympic)/ Sports (Summer Games)
Graphics & Sound: This is a harsh scenario to describe the player graphics, but I think you'll understand what I'm talking about. You know when you see somebody across the room that catches your eye, and you think about going over there to talk to them because you think they're attractive, but once you get over there, they aren't as attractive up close... in other words, "Better looking from afar?" Well, that's the best way I can describe the graphics for Sydney 2000. I'm not saying they're bad, because when you are racing around the track, or swimming laps back and forth, the graphics look very life like. But once it zooms in on their faces, I lose interest, because they just don't look good. I give props for the different appearances in stature for the different events, but I found it hard to believe that the guy from China looked exactly like the guy from New Zealand. And the Opening and Closing Ceremonies weren't too impressive graphics wise either. No, I take it back, they looked impressive for Sega... Genesis. The sounds are in a category all in their own. The commentary is quite good, and it keeps up with what actually happens, but it is the same line over and over again. I do like the characteristic sounds, as in grunts, gunshots, water splashes... things like that. The music is what depressed me. This is supposed to be the "Official Video Game of the Olympics," yet they had no Olympic Fanfare. What's up with that?
Gameplay: The last Track and Field game I played was just the one for old school Nintendo, Track and Field. By far, the times have changed and so has the gameplay. There are twelve different Olympic events for Sydney 2000. To coincide with that, you can play those events through four different modes: Arcade, Olympic, Head to Head, and Coaching. With Coaching, they will teach you how to get better at each event, where you can practice over and over with your Ghost, just so you can beat your previous best. In Head to Head, take on up to three of your friends to see who the true Olympian is out of all of you. With the Arcade mode, you go up against the computer to compete. But the best mode and greatest idea for this game, is the Olympic mode. Create an athlete, and from day one, begin training for your specific event through a series of skills and workouts. Then qualify your athlete for the next levels by doing the same, until they're ready for Sydney. You are able to do this for the Olympics with each event if you like, or just represent your country with one or two. Either way, this is very cool.
Difficulty: Hey, who ever said training for the Olympics was easy? It really just depends on how trained your athlete is and how well you can press those buttons in a rapid fashion. You can also change the computer's difficulty to your preference.
Game Mechanics: As previously mentioned, it's all about pressing A and B as fast as humanly possible. Sydney 2000 will keep up with however fast your two fingers can go. There is not much else to it. The VMU isn't totally wasted either, with only 64 blocks being used. And you're able to load up your created athlete when taking on friends, so you don't have to use to computer default. My final note: Just because the Olympics are officially over doesn't mean the fun has to end. This game is one of the best Track and Field games available. The one thing I think Eidos and Sega should have created because of this game was the Game Pad, just like Nintendo's. That way, you wouldn't have to go running around the block, you could just do it in front of your TV.
-Red Dawg, GameVortex Communications AKA Alex Redmann
NFL Blitz 2001 Test Drive V-Rally