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Button Mashing for Sydney 2000

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 12 / 16
Date: August 29, 2000
Author: Amazon User

It's been awhile since we saw an Olympics game for the PC. Thelast one I remember was Bruce Jenner's Decathlon from Interactive Magic. Now it's the year 2000 and we now have this new Olympics game for the PC- Sydney 2000. Lets go then to our review:

Graphics: Spectacular. Almost real, life-life character animation. Works well with any video card since the graphics engine they used for this game is generic. However, that doesnt mean the graphics are lousy. Computers with average graphics power should not have any problems.

AI: Nothing much on the AI here since the game doesnt really need a lot strategy to beat the AI which then leads me to my next criteria for review which is Gameplay.

Gameplay: I thought that this game was going to be like Bruce Jenners Decathlon where there was a bit of strategy involved to beat the game. However, with Sydney 2000 it all boils down to one thing: how fast can you mash your buttons. To make things even worse, you need to mash two buttons alternately. If your thumbs are in steroids then you can beat this game just by tapping and mashing the buttons to death. This simply spoiled everything since it is a battle of thumbs rather than a battle of minds and strategy. Forget about playing this game multiplayer because the guy who's got his thumbs on steroids wins the match. Forget about training your athletes cuz a puny athlete can easily beat it if the player has his rhythm in button mashing. The game only represents 32 countries. Also, the mens and womens events are all mixed up. Platform diving and swimming are represented by women, the rest are men. They should've put an option where one can play mens or womens events.

My two-cents: Got the power to mash a button? Grab this game. But if you're looking for something more mind powered, avoid this game. END

sydney 2000- the games are on your home now!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 10
Date: August 29, 2000
Author: Amazon User

the olimpic games- celebretion of sports and human spirit. who of us have not had a dream to be there and win the medal. now, every one can! the sydney 2000 computer game brings you the real thing directly to your house! you can be the star of the games i the most important sports game in the olympics, such as:"swimming", "cycling", and ofcourse, the major event of the games: "athletics" the graphic of the computer game and its music and sound, make you feel like it's the real thing! from now on you can run faster, jump faster, and be the best in the most important sporting event in the world. join the celebretion of the world with sydney 2000- the computer game. enjoy

Dissopointing but Multiplayer mode saves it.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: September 13, 2000
Author: Amazon User

In a nut shell this game has the gameplay of the ZX81 and Spectrum Olympic games with Y2K 3d graphics.

Every event is similar and in one player mode you will probaby get fed up VERY soon.

Instead of trying something different, its the old button hitting techniques for EVERY event. Sometimes you use a third button to jump a hurdle or throw a hammer but dont expect major advances in this genre.

The graphics are lovery as is the commentry but how much fun can you have hitting 2 buttons?? The training modes is utter dire but strangely this game is saved by getting your mates round and playing against eachother. One of the miracles in gaming? You wouldn't think it from playing it for the first few times single player, but this is quite a good laugh with friends. You will get bored of the single player mode though

Having said that, I haven't bashed my keyboard around in years!! took me right back to the old days!!

Fun multiplayer, dull single-player...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: October 20, 2000
Author: Amazon User

So, I am not so interested in sports ( pc games ), but I wanted to pick this up just to try it ( and my friends pushed me; they said: yes, sports games can be good! ). So, I tried this first time with my friends, and how this was fun! Trying to compete each others records is really fun! Even if you have only one friend to play with. Time flies, and the events doesn't seem bad, as they're simple. But then my friends left and I continued on practising. Immediately it stroke like a million volts: "What's the meaning of this game without friends?" Yes, there isn't any. You get bored really quickly competing against your own records. But when you get few friends around making their records out, you get exciting games...

So, I would rate this 5 stars for multiplayer, 2 stars for singleplayer ( and three and a half as a result ).

So if you have lots of friends who like sports games, and live near to visit you a lot, I recommend you to pick this game up. You'll love it when there's others to BOO you when you get a bad result or to Cheer you if you get your new record... Heh, you know how they react if you beat THEIR record..

Hehheh...

Pretty good game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 10, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The game is pretty easy and fun. If you are into track and field this game can be really exciting. The one thing I would change about the game is that it is wayyy too easy. They need to make you not do phenominal in all the events. For example, in the 100 meter dash I ran an 8.80 in arcade mode. That is just wayy too easy. Other than that I think the game is pretty fun.

Here's a list of my PR's, to go fast, use one hand and 2 fingers and hit both of them on the keypad at the same time.
100 8.80
110H 11.68
High Jump 2.56m
Triple Jump 19.73m
Skeet Shooting 25
Weight Lifting 270.00kg
Javelin 81.86m
Hammer Throw 86.87m
100 Freestyle 53.40
Diving 420.3pts
Kayaking 169.332
Biking 40.60

Athens 2004 could be better?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: January 19, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I managed to buy a used copy of Sydney 2000, and I was pleased and disappointed at the same time. This game has some good sides, but a lot, and I mean, A LOT of bad sides to it.

First, the bad sides. Start with the soundtrack to this. Where is the Olympic Fanfare and Theme!? Where is it? I couldn't even hear the Fanfare and Theme. Instead, you've got this trumpet fanfare that sounds like a corny hymn from a cheesy royal comedy! I only laugh at that, not because it's hilarious, but because it's ridiculous. Then you've got another hymn that sounds just as cheesy, when the flame is lit. Speaking of the flame, at this opening ceremony, it is not lit in the right place, let alone the right style. The flame was lit in the center of the upper seats, and then, as if by magic, was at the back of the stadium! And it was lit in the conventional way, not a la standing in the center, and lighting around you, and watching the cauldron rise out of a water fountain (think: Cathy Freeman.)

Next, the people. First, the facial features don't show any emotion. They're not even smiling! It seemed as if the torch-bearer didn't even want to light the torch! Can you believe that!? Not surprising, since this was Eidos's first go at the Olympics, but it didn't look right. Next the skin tones for some of the players was, how should I say it, mercenary-like? You have blacks representing countries like New Zealand, Singapore, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and some other countries where the skin tone is predominantly white. Heck, at the Opening Ceremony, there are even some black athletes from China! WTF!?

Not stopping there, the jerseys for the athletes seemed rather out-of-place. You even have New Zealand's jersey matching the Netherlands. Shouldn't the New Zealand jersey be solid black? Or the Dutch jersey be orange and blue? Canada's and the USA's jerseys don't seem right, either. Basically, the only jersey that was appropriate was Australia's, though it may pass for Jamaica's...

And you can't forget the button mashing. Even though I don't mind it, after a while, it can seem frustrating. Athens 2004 had better divert from the button-mashing, though an alternate sense of mine suggests that this may not change (*cries, sobs, sniffs*). As of this writing, my fingers got fatigued from it.

Finally, the commentary seems read out of a script. Not any natural emotion, and it repeats! And there's a third announcer named "Neal"!!? Isn't he supposed to be Marty? I'm confused. If this "Neal" guy is going to be announcing in the game, he is obligated to be mentioned in the credits, period. Also, having to put three initials as your name is annoying, too. In Athens 2004, they'll probably replace that with your name.

Now for the good sides, if there are any. First, the scenery. I would give this a 3.9 out of 5. It is good, but it could be better. Stadium Australia seems well simulated. (Though those annoying commentators call it the "Sydney Olympic Stadium" instead of "Stadium Australia"...) The Athens Olympic Stadium may be better simulated in Athens 2004. The gameplay, overlooking the button-mashing, is good. With 12 sports, and 32 countries, you have a lot of options to do there. Add some gym training to boot your strength, skill, and morale, and it will make it easier. Throw in an Arcade mode in which you jump into the action, and also a Coaching mode, where you try out the event, and you have a plethora of options.

I've only tried a few events so far, but my favorite has to be the 100M Sprint, since that's the easiest. When you do the training, I suggest that your morale builds up to 100%, and stays there, so in case you falter on a workout, you are only down to 99%, then 98%, and so on. Once you master that exercise, your lost points should be restored. Additionally, the Event Arena option has you building your personal best, and while beating the qualifying score, your skill and morale increase. Once all your levels are at 100%, the qualifying should be a breeze, pending your button-mashing technique is mastered. Then the Olympic event begins (the only options are the ones in which you qualifies in). After the corny Opening Ceremony, you select the events you qualified for. Take for example, my 100M Sprint. Apparently, when I began the race, I somehow, through rapid, yet steady button-mashing, managed to destroy the competition, even get to 9.52 in one race. And I finished 4 or 5 lengths ahead of the pack! I don't know if there's a bug in the program, or if the AI gave up, but if all your meters are at 100%, it should be a piece of ice cream torte. But I wonder, can a 9.52 actually be run at Athens? Hmm, we'll wait and see...

In all, the experience is good, but a grip of improvements must be made for Athens 2004. I give this 3 out of 5 stars. If you really want a game like this, but better, wait till next year, and try out Athens 2004. Hopefully they'll improve on it, and add the Olympic Fanfare and Theme. I plan to put that on my wish list. Beware though, button mashing may be back...

Not satisfied

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 29, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game did not meet my expectations. The graphics are fairly detailed, although the people can look awkward at times, and they never show any expression, plus the team uniforms look nothing like they're supposed to. Doing repeated exercises can get tiring, and I didn't like that you have to lose your morale if you mess up on one thing. I tried to enter diving without any morale - big mistake. I got second place, and did not qualify, while second placers usually qualify. I know that in games and real life, the commentators' jobs are to comment on the athlete, but they seem extremely rude at times. This may be because the game I got was $3.00 and was used, but the game sometimes freezes the computer up, and then we have to restart the whole computer. Most of the game seems like it is just hitting the buttons over and over - I did swimming and my fingers are really sore. Overall, it's an okay game.

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