ESPN International Track & Field
- November 24, 2000 14:47 PM PST
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Konami's classic is back on the PS2! ESPN International Track & Field runs, jumps, and throws.
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Konami's illustrious history in virtual track & ?eld and their newly formed partnership with ESPN has hatched an excellent game for the PlayStation 2. The exceptional graphics and realistic motion-capture make ESPN International Track & Field an even better spectator sport than day-old tape-delayed Olympics.
Athletic Bless
Maurice Green-the current world record-holder and 2000 Sydney Olympics gold medalist for the 100-meter dash-states in one of the "making of" video segments (you gotta love games on DVD) that some people are just born with their talents, "God bless us!" Indeed. But now everyone has a chance to see how well they hold up against these blessed champions.
Green is one of six athletes motion-captured for the game, which lends a very real look and feel as your characters leap hurdles or chop through the pool. You can play the game alone or with up to three friends-making for a perfect afternoon of javelin throws, dashes, and shout-downs. To play the 100-meter dash-one of the 10 events in the game (which can be played individually or in a complete Championship mode)-you merely have to press alternately the u and p buttons in standard track & ?eld format. But many of these events take some serious ability to handle the timing and appropriate ?nesse; you won't get the gold in the horizontal bar your ?rst time out.
Extra, Extra
The beauty of the DVD format plays out with several videos of the motion-capture ?lming and interviews with the athletes (available after you win a certain number of events). You can also unlock a variety of sounds for your athletes, such as cartoony effects or animal grunts, which adds to the merely mediocre soundtrack and effects of the game.
Medal Count
You've probably played this game before-or at least one that's extremely similar. Yet you've never seen it look so good-in most events you can make out details of individuals in the crowd. If you're a fan of track & ?eld extravaganzas, or just love multiplayer button-mashing, be sure to put this event into your personal decathlon.
